Am 19. Oktober hat Elke Büdenbender in Berlin auf Einladung des Botschafters der Ukraine an einem ukrainischen Kulturabend zugunsten der Olena-Selenska-Stiftung teilgenommen und ein Grußwort gehalten.

Mit der Veranstaltung "HURTOM“ – ukrainisch für "zusammen" – unterstützte die Botschaft der Ukraine das Projekt "Home for Foster Families" der Stiftung von Olena Selenska, der Ehefrau des ukrainischen Präsidenten Wolodymyr Selensky, beim Bau ersten 14 Häuser für kinderreiche Pflegefamilien aus den Frontregionen.

Ansprache von Elke Büdenbender:

When I spoke to the First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, a couple of weeks ago, she told me about her foundation, the Olena Zelenska Foundation, and the project we are fundraising for tonight – the "Room for Childhood" project. Right away I was convinced by the concept. When children lose their parents in the war, it is one of the worst things that can happen. It is our duty to do everything we can to be there for those children, to give them comfort and to help them find someone who takes care and leads them through life in a caring manner. When they lose their family, we need to find someone who does their best to replace it.

It is good to know that there are institutions where children find shelter after losing their parents – institutions like orphanages or children’s homes.

However, often these are big places where a lot of children live together in big groups with only a few adults taking turns looking after them. Of course, these are good institutions, and all the people who take care of the children are doing their best. But children, especially the ones traumatized by war and violence, often feel more comfortable and safer in a smaller, a family-like surrounding.

Hence, Mrs Zelenska’s idea of building houses is very important and laudable. The plan is to build fourteen houses in which children who lost their parents in the war can live with foster parents in a family-like environment. This idea reminded me of the concept of the SOS Kinderdörfer, which has been working very well for nearly 75 years.

Tonight, you will be collecting money in the auction which will go to the Olena Zelenska foundation and to the "Room for Childhood" project. I highly appreciate the idea and the concept of these houses. Children are our future, and they all have the right to live a good life and to live in a safe environment.

Growing up surrounded by war and losing their parents is already contradicting this fundamental right. But if we cannot prevent this, we need to do everything to help these children overcome their pain and allow them – as far as possible – to find their way back into a normal and good life after that.

As a mother and as patroness of UNICEF Germany, I know that it is often the most vulnerable, that means the children, who suffer most from war and violence and other crises. It is therefore them who we have to support the most. I would therefore very much appreciate it if you would all go into the auction with the children in Ukraine in the back of your minds. Children who have not done any harm to anyone. They are innocent victims of this cruel war, that Russia has brought upon Ukraine.

I thank Olena Zelenska for doing so much for them, and I am willing to support her in this wherever necessary and wherever I can – and have already done so. Together we are patronesses of a book project called "Better Time Stories" which is meant to give children who had to flee from their home country comfort in listening to stories in their mother tongue, often read by relatives who had to stay behind in Ukraine. This is a valuable means to help the children stay mentally healthy.

We are also planning a big event together with the Federal Ministry of Health, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, and the Berlin Charité hospital – a big congress in which we will discuss measures and solutions regarding mental health issues. Mental health is such a big issue – one which is growing in importance each day. The world is facing so many challenges – we are surrounded by wars, conflicts, and natural disasters. People – young and old – feel threatened and insecure. We need to help them cope with all this.

I thank you, Excellency, for organizing tonight’s event which will hopefully support Mrs Zelenska’s valuable project. And I thank you for inviting me and allowing to make at least a small contribution to this great cause. I wish these events were not necessary, and I hope that this terrible war will end soon. And I assure you: We will always be by your side.

"Hurtom" is the title of tonight’s event – and together we stand!