Oranta non-profit organisation hopes to meet new friends and old
The Oranta humanitarian organisation – made up mainly of Ukrainians helping countrymen, women and children, still in Ukraine – is holding an event on Sunday (February 23) in Praça Gil Eanes, in Lagos, to commemorate three years of war launched by Russia on February 24, 2022.
Considering the desperate context of the last few days – with the United States seemingly ‘brokering a peace deal’ directly with Russia, and blaming Ukraine for the war having started in the first place – organisers are hoping people will still care enough to come by, take part in some way, and perhaps discuss things with Ukrainians who now live in this country.
Portugal has a vibrant community of Ukrainians in many areas – the Algarve being just one of them.
Thousands arrived here thanks to a temporary settlement deal which has been renewed as the war drags on. Considering the current context, it is very possible that many of the ‘temporary arrivals’ will end up deciding to make their stays permanent. But, for now, the focus is on seeing this war come to a close in a way that saves the integrity of Ukraine, its people and culture – and does not leave the door open to further conflict in years down the line.
Sunday’s event begins at 3pm, and also includes the screening of “The Hardest Hour” – one of a number of films made about the war (to be shown in Lagos’ council building at 7pm). The Hardest Hour deals with “very tough material”, warns Oranta’s president Roman Grymalyuk, thus it is not advisable for children. But it is what is happening, everyday, in Ukraine, and as such, Ukrainians in Lagos hope people here still understand what their country is going through, and has been going through, for the last 1,092 days.
For readers in Portimão, there is a screening at Algarcine on Saturday morning at 11am of the film ‘Bucha’. Tickets for this screening will be €7 euros.
