A group of almost 200 students at St. Brendan School in Norwood helped unveil a mural in support of the people in, and fleeing, Ukraine, a country which has been under attack from Russian troops since Feb. 24, causing the greatest displacement of refugees since World War II. So far, it has resulted in “five weeks of bombardment, thousands of deaths in ruined cities, and the displacement of more than 10 million people inside Ukraine and beyond” according to a report by BBC News. There have also been several reports of war crimes carried out against civilians, including the an air strike on a train station on Friday, April 8, where people were trying to flee to safe parts of the country.

 

The steady stream of images of the destruction in Ukraine has moved many Americans to ask how they can help. Kevin Corraj, 13, a St. Brendan student, was among those who viewed the photographs and video reports and was moved to act. He said he remembers coverage of one aspect of the war as being especially heartbreaking. “There was one thing that really struck my heart,” the teen said. “It was the mass graves that I was seeing. It was so devastating to see all these people that were now killed because of the invasion and their bodies thrown in a mass grave. It made me feel terrible for them.”

The eight-grader wondered what he could do. After initial discussions with his teacher, Mr. Bond, the idea of a mural, comprising paper cut-outs of hands in the blue and yellow colors of the Ukrainian flag took shape. Once the principal approved the project, it became more inclusive and other students were invited to contribute enough hands to cover one wall of the school gymnasium. The students also wrote words of support on the paper cut-out hands.

 

The hands are just one visual representation of the unity and support for Ukraine at the school. Corraj, his teacher, and the principal agreed that the school could also help raising funds.

 

Michele Pasquale has been associated with St. Brendan School for 20 years, the last 18 as principal. She explained how “dress down days” at the school were identified as opportunities to collect funds to support Ukrainians. “When we do a dress down day, we normally ask for donations,” she said. So, we thought, ‘Let’s make this a bigger project.’ So now, all of our dress down and other donations that we collect are all going to go to Ukraine, right now.”

 

“Dress down days” can be exciting for the students at the Catholic school. Pasquale explained, “Normally, the children wear uniforms, so a dress down day can be a very big deal because they get to wear their own clothes. So, when we support a good cause [like] Ukraine at this point, we ask them to bring in a donation. We say two dollars, but if they can bring in a dollar [or] they bring in 50 cents, or [even if] some of them can’t bring in [any money] it’s ok. We’re all just showing solidarity.”

 

At the ceremony marking the unveiling of the mural on Monday, a banner showed that $1,039 had been collected for the cause. By Wednesday, it had increased $1,083. By Thursday, the students’ donations had been matched with a further $1,000 from Deacon Paul Hveem and his wife from St. Brendan Church.

 

Asked how the money will be used to help Ukrainians, Paquale responded in an email, writing, “We are working with the Archdiocese of NY to connect with a charity that is working with Ukrainian families that are now in Poland.”

 

Before a prayer service at the ceremony on Monday, superintendent for Catholic schools for the Archdiocese of New York, Michael J. Deegan, reminded the students of the impact their help is having at a local level. “The reason I’m here [at St. Brendan is]… I want to let you know that what you’re doing today is happening in 170 Catholic schools all over the Archdiocese of New York. That’s 60,000 children and teachers all praying for the same thing, for peace in Ukraine” he said. “You know, you’re a part of something bigger than yourselves.”

 

For his part, Corraj, who has attended the school since second grade, expressed appreciation for all the support this project has received. “I feel grateful that the Archdiocese approved this idea to represent my family and St. Brendan School,” he said. “I’m proud knowing that I’ve helped Ukraine as much as I can, and I made a change in the world. No matter how small it was, I did make as much of a change as I could.”