Young people in Ukraine have been holding ‘clean-up raves’ in order to keep a bit of normality to their lives whilst doing a bit of good and enjoying electronic music.
At one event, more than 200 people turned out to have a dance in a bombed out building in Northern Ukraine this Sunday, taking time out from the heavy lifting and shifting to enjoy the tunes.
Brought together by a love of techno music, the young people are attempting to rebuild an area that was under Russian occupation until very recently.
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Check out this video of the event:
The day-time event was organised by a group of young Ukrainians as a way to help out with the rebuilding process and recovery of areas that have been decimated by Russian bombardment.
One of the organisers of the event, Tatyana Byrianova of volunteer group Repair Together, told the Associated Press: "Techno parties, especially rave festivals, it was our lifestyle before when we met with friends and spent time.
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“Last summer every weekend festivals (were) here in Ukraine, in Kyiv. So, we miss it and we want to come back to normal life but our normal life now is volunteering."
Obviously, it’s not the same as it would or could have been, but through music the young people are doing some good for their homeland and community as well as enjoying themselves.
It’s a vital touchstone of normality in a world that has been turned upside down in recent months.
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Tatyana added: "We came here and wanted to support people who survived after Russian occupation. Because in Kyiv it was [a] normal situation, but here it was really awful.
“People left their homes. and their houses were broken, a lot of houses [were] ruined. We wanted to help them rebuild, fix their houses and clean the territory."
Most of the volunteers helping to salvage the old village cultural hub that was destroyed by a rocket strike in March have come from Kyiv, around two hours away.
Others have travelled from Lviv and Chernihiv, as well as a number of foreign volunteers from as far afield as the USA, Portugal, and Germany.
The vast majority of those helping out are in their 20s and 30s, who would – under better circumstances – be able to dance in the bars and clubs of Ukraine.
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So far, the group has held eight events in the village of Yahidne, and the group has helped to repair 15 village homes damaged by the war.
If you would like to donate to the Red Cross Emergency Appeal, which will help provide food, medicines and basic medical supplies, shelter and water to those in Ukraine, click here for more information
Topics: Ukraine, Russia, World News, Music