04 May, 2013

before Mother’s Day

Today’s session of the Gabfest Club (Window on America center Dnipropetrovsk,Ukraine) was dedicated to the introduction of important dates: Mother’s Day (9 May) and the International Day of Families (15 May).
Mother's Day in the United States is annually held on the second Sunday of May. It celebrates motherhood and appreciation of mothers and mother figures. Many people give gifts, cards, flowers, candy, a meal in a restaurant or other treats to their mother and mother figures, including grandmothers, great-grandmothers, stepmothers, and foster mothers.
We have watched several videos about the US mothers raising Olympians.  The story of gymnast Debby Douglas impressed the club members most of all. We have listened to the songs about mothers in English.
The video about American Ukrainian singer Kvitka Cysik   opened to the club members a new page in the American-Ukrainian relations.  The Ukrainian song “My Mother” performed by Casey Cysik was very touching. All the mothers present enjoyed the songs and beautiful slides with poems about mothers.
The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed that 15 May of every year shall be observed as the International Day of Families. The day reflects the importance that the international community attaches to families as basic units of society as well as its concern regarding their situation around the world.
We have explored the UN's International Day of Families web pages. This year’s theme of the day is “Advancing Social Integration and Intergenerational Solidarity”. We have clarified the meaning of the term “intergenerational solidarity” and told private stories of the generation ties in Ukrainian families. The club members explained to our foreign club member Toby why we do not know much about our family trees.
The session was quiet but very educational.

Have a look at more pictures, please 
 

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