A two-week wellness program for former political prisoners, volunteer fighters, and their families has begun in Italy, bringing together 26 people from Belarus and Ukraine. They have been offered a special program focused on rest and recovery: days by the sea, walks and excursions around Florence, workshops, and a warm introduction to the picturesque region of Tuscany. The organizers have worked to create a safe and welcoming atmosphere where every participant can feel cared for and at peace.
The Head of the Belarusian Democratic Community Center in Florence and representative of the Belarusian diaspora in Italy, Yuliya Yukhno, says the idea for the project was born out of a desire to help those who have gone through the most difficult ordeals. The first such program was successfully held in Venice, while the current retreat is taking place in a picturesque nature reserve in Tuscany, where the peaceful surroundings support emotional and physical recovery.
Yuliya Yukhno: “We brought together former political prisoners, relatives of political prisoners, and former volunteers and organized this two-week recreational trip for them so that people could rest, recover, spend time with their families, and not think about any problems during this time. As a representative of the People’s Embassy and the Talaka Association, my team, the volunteers, and I will do everything possible to ensure that these programs continue next year as well”.
The initiative is being implemented by the Talaka Association. The project has been made possible thanks to the financial and practical support of numerous partners, including Regione Toscana, Consiglio Regionale della Toscana, CISL territorial organizations in various provinces of Tuscany, and ISCOS Toscana. Other organizations that joined the initiative include the Belarusian Solidarity Center, A Country to Live In Foundation, and the International Humanitarian Fund.
