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‘Small hands, big hearts’: Kelowna students help disabled Ukrainian boy

Nine-year-old Dimtry needed a generator to power his life-sustaining medical equipment
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Nine-year-old Dimtry and his mother Olena. (Contributed)

Bonnie Penner, The Bravery Foundation

In a world often marked by division and conflict, there still are beacons of hope.

The small hands and big hearts of Aberdeen Hall’s Grade 3 class recently came together to make a difference in the life of Dimtry, a nine-year-old Ukrainian disabled boy living amidst the chaos of war-torn Kharkiv, Ukraine.

It began at Aberdeen Hall’s annual community market where students crafted bookmarks, bracelets, necklaces, purses, and keychains to raise funds for a meaningful cause.

When they learned Dimtry needed a generator to power his life-sustaining medical equipment they donated the $1,107 they’d raised at their school market to support him.

The Ukrainian Canadian Volunteer Association (UCVA), a not-for-profit society based in the Okanagan, joined forces with Kelowna-based Bravery Foundation to help.

Through the acts of kindness by the students of Aberdeen Hall, UCVA, and the Bravery Foundation, a profound difference has been made in Dimtry’s life.

Their collective effort stands as a testament to the universal impact that compassion, collaboration, and empathy can have, transcending borders, nationality, and distance.

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