Letters of love for Ukraine

Date published: 20 April 2022

School children from across the borough, and beyond, have supported the Rochdale Ukrainian Community by writing thousands of inspiring and hopeful letters to other children in refugee centres across Eastern Europe and an orphanage in Lviv.

Rochdale Borough Council employee Michael Buczman is volunteering for Rochdale Ukrainian Community group, coordinating the initiative. Alongside many volunteers from the group, he contacted local schools to take part in the letter-writing project to children in Ukraine who are being displaced by the war and are witnessing unimaginable devastation.

3,000 letters have come in from all across the borough and beyond, including St Michael’s Primary Middleton, St Luke’s Primary Heywood and Meanwood Primary Rochdale. Neighbouring Oldham school, Blue Coat, got involved in the initiative too and provided over 800 letters alone.

Michael said: “The response to this has been phenomenal, the show of support is something we really hope the children and their families will appreciate. The time and effort young people have put into these letters is incredible, the letters are beautifully decorated and full of hope.

“We know the scenes in Ukraine must be really challenging for young people in the UK to understand so to see their letters full of love and kindness is really uplifting. Thanks to all the schools that have taken part so far and the volunteers who have been working with the schools, it really means a lot to so many. We hope more schools will take part as we know that children here in the UK can make a difference.”

It is hoped that the letters show young people and their family/carers that people across Rochdale and the North West are supporting them and thinking about them. The first few boxes will be leaving in the next few weeks.  

The orphanage the volunteers are supporting in Sambir, which is in the Lviv region of Ukraine, is now also providing care for refugees who have fled the conflict in the east of the country. The Rochdale Ukrainian Club has been supporting the orphanage for many years and the borough of Rochdale has been twinned with Lviv since 1992.

Each year the Ukrainian flag is raised outside the town hall to show support and solidarity with the region.

Follow Rochdale Ukrainian Community’s Facebook page to find out ways you can support the local effort.