The Permanent Representative of the Mission of Ukraine to the UN, Serhiy Kyslytsz, first visited the Ukrainian Studies School "Nova Khvylka" in early 2022. Then, high school students had the opportunity to discuss the role of the United Nations, demonstrate their awareness of the activities of this international organization, and most importantly, hear profound words of guidance from the head of the Ukrainian Mission to the UN about the importance of cultivating their native language. "As long as you preserve the Ukrainian language, are in the Ukrainian space - you remain Ukrainians!", - our honored guest emphasized then. The meeting took place at a time when the results of the essay writing competition "If I were the Secretary-General of the UN" were being summed up. The competition, in fact, was announced among high school students at the initiative of the Mission of Ukraine to the UN on the occasion of International Mother Language Day.

This time, Mr. Ambassador arrived at the festival together with Andriy Dobryansky, the Head of the Essay Writing Competition Commission, and the Secretary of this Commission, Yaroslava Sochko, with the pleasant mission of congratulating the participants of the competition and presenting the diplomas of the laureates to sisters Anna and Khrystyna Obertos and Yulia Ilytych and Viktoria Tychynska. And although our graduates did not take prizes, their works contained many interesting ideas and suggestions.

Mr. Ambassador thanked the school for the patriotic education of Ukrainian youth. Noting the active position of all four participants of the competition, he invited the Head of the Competition Commission, Andriy Dobryansky, to the stage to present them with diplomas, and from himself he personally presented books by modern Ukrainian writers with the authors' autographs.

In the photo: The diploma of the laureate of the competition "If I were the UN Secretary-General" is presented to Victoria Tychynska by the Head of the competition commission Andriy Dobryansky. Left: Guest of honor of the festival Ambassador Serhiy Kyslytsia.

Myroslava Rozdolska