During the presentation of the association’s wishes to its members, partners, donors and elected officials, Narbonne-Ukraine, through the voice of its president and members of the board of directors, expressed its gratitude. The broad outlines of the projects were presented: these are based on the loyalty that everyone has already demonstrated and an even tighter mesh of a network anchored throughout the territory.
Thursday January 20, in a crowded Cultural Activities Center, it was with a brief introduction that Anne-Sophie Ledoyen, mayor of Ginestas received, this year, the ceremony of wishes for Narbonne-Ukraine, after Raissac in 2024. The The association’s board of directors first, action by action, recalled what had been accomplished. Gilles Bourguignon, the president, as master of ceremonies, invited each member of the board or responsible for an activity to report on the actions, their effects and the need for their continuation. Convoys of vehicles, reception and accommodation of young people and wounded veterans, shipment of medicines and pharmaceutical and medical equipment were possible thanks to other actions such as the Barques en Scène bodega or the concerts of Olya Polyakova which were not could have been a success without constant volunteer commitment and an extensive and solid network in more than 50 municipalities.
A necessary pursuit
solidarity and volunteering
In 2024, a Ukrainian language and culture learning class was even created, which was an opportunity for its students to present their wishes in Ukrainian. The articulation for the presentation of the projects was then natural. As support for Ukraine cannot stop, even if 2025 offered an end to the conflict, as the needs are great and the country’s wounds remain gaping, continuing to help always makes sense.
In our territory, the end of emergency accommodation still leaves 14 families to be rehoused. The collection, which in 2024 made it possible to send the equivalent of €480,000 in medicines and pharmaceutical or medical equipment, continues throughout the year. Led by Annie Bourguignon, it requires regular volunteer activity to collect, list, classify and store all donations from professionals and individuals. The toy drive, which aims to provide a toy to each of the 18,000 children in Mykolaiv, also continues all year round.
-Risk-taking that bets on commitment and participation
A convoy of ten vehicles is planned for April. There could be two more, requiring a team of 25 conveyors. A concert by two choirs M.Choir and Cœur des Hommes is planned for March in St-Marcel. An application form will be submitted for the renewal of the Bodéga. Welcoming young people and children or adults with disabilities will still be relevant in the coming year. In September, two big concerts are planned. The novelty will be the multiplicity of artists: Inspire Extraordinary circus artists, the Mykolaiv Popular Dance Ensemble, Anastasiia Dymyd, a young 11-year-old singer and Margarita Meleshko a vocal singer. The possibility of French musicians accompanying the ensemble and reducing costs is being considered.
Before closing the speeches, Gilles Bourguignon expressed his certainty about the loyalty in the support and solidarity of volunteers, elected officials, donors and partners in projects which are, despite their necessity, a risk-taking .
Canada
