A fête to celebrate Europe Day held in St. Giles’ Church Saturday 14th May raised more than £1,100 for Cambridge4Ukraine, a volunteer group that holds demonstrations to rally political support for Ukraine, holds cultural and educational events in support of Ukraine, and assists refugees from Ukraine in finding shelter in the UK.
Hundreds of Cambridge residents, including many recently arrived from Ukraine, joined in activities at the fête, which included music from 4Tunes Friends, Dragan Cvejic, Jeremy Harmer, Les Ray and ReSound a cappella, stalls selling food & drink, books, and plants, ganes and activities for children, and a raffle with Cambridge City Council Leader Cllr Anna Smith and Cambridgeshire County Council leader Cllr Lucy Nethsingha helping to draw the winning tickets.
Michael Clegg, Secretary of Cambridge for Europe, a local branch of the European Movement UK and the fête organisers, said:
“We had a great day of music, food and fun in the sunshine. It was a chance to celebrate being European and the European values of openness and solidarity. The horrifying recent events inflicted by the Russian government on Ukraine were in our minds, but we were pleased to have a chance to offer friendship and to raise money for Cambridge for Ukraine.”
Andrii Smytsniuk of Cambridge4 Ukraine commented:
“Ukraine will defend democracy and freedom until the Russian invaders have been driven from its territory, but sadly the war is not likely to end soon.
We would like to express our gratitude to Cambridge for Europe, Mums4Ukraine and everyone who was involved in the fête. This support matters a lot to us!”
Local charity Mums4Ukraine organised games and arts & crafts activities for children, and Rend Platings, Chair of Mums4Ukraine, said:
“We feel privileged to have participated in Cambridge4Europe’s Europe Day Event that was so well supported by St Giles Church and the local community.
This has been a huge effort and I have too many people to thank than I can name individually here but you know who you are. Thank you so much for making all this possible.”
Cambridge for Europe would like to thank St Giles’ Church for hosting the event, our committee members Amanda Hawkes and Cecilia Hall for organising it, and of course all the volunteers on the day. We thank everyone who donated food and items for our stalls, and raffle prizes, without which the fête would not have been able to raise the sum it did. We are especially grateful to Aromi Cambridge, Mill Mediterranean Coffee Spot, Lucy Cavendish College, and the University of Cambridge Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics for their generous donations.
Europe Day is held annually on 9th May, and marks the anniversary of the presentation of the Schuman Declaration, an event which led to today’s European Union. On Europe Day people in many countries gather to celebrate shared values of freedom, democracy, human rights, equality, human dignity and the rule of law.
Paul Browne, Chair of Cambridge for Europe, commented:
“The Schuman Declaration opens with the words “World peace cannot be safeguarded without the making of creative efforts proportionate to the dangers which threaten it.”
As the shadow of war falls again over Europe, we can take inspiration from the Schuman Declaration, which was presented only five years after the devastation of World War II, and sought to create a new, very different future based on cooperation, friendship and solidarity between former enemies.
We need that vision and ambition again today as we face the enormous challenge of supporting Ukraine through this war and to rebuild after it, and to ensure Ukraine takes its place in a united and peaceful Europe.”
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