Ukrainian Saturday School

Oct. 2022

Spielende Kinder auf einer Wiese

The EduCare Europe Fund of the PATRIZIA Foundation makes it possible for Ukrainian children traumatised by the war to receive therapy from trained emergency educators in order to enable them to return to school. An comprehensive package of relief activities and a targeted volunteering programme support this project at various European locations, including Warsaw and Augsburg. The Ukrainian Saturday School in cooperation with the local organisations “Ukrainischer Verein Augsburg e.V.” is one of these projects. PATRIZIAns Nadine Rabija Mujezinovic and Giancarlo Tosto supported the local team as volunteers at the sports festival. Their conclusion: It only takes a little effort to bring a lot of joy.

Football and games course

Nadine Rabija Mujezinovic (PATRIZIA Fund Management) and Giancarlo Tosto (PATRIZIA Fund Accounting) didn’t really know what to expect at the sports festival at the Ukrainian Saturday School in Augsburg-Göggingen. But then everything was easy. “We were directly involved, marked out a football field, helped to set up a games course, and lent a hand everywhere we could,” says Giancarlo Tosto. There was no strangeness – on either side: “It was as if we had always belonged to it, as a matter of course,” says Nadine Rabija Mujezinovic.

There were no language barriers either: “You wouldn’t believe how well talking with hands and feet works, especially in sports,” laughs the 25-year-old. And if things actually got “difficult”, a supervisor from Ukraine, who has lived in Germany for a long time and also supports the Saturday school on a voluntary basis, helped.

After setting up, sports and games were played in two groups: the kids up to 11 years of age and the “youths” from 11 and up to 14 years of age. “This allowed us to act according to age – and everyone really got their money’s worth and could really let off steam,” says Giancarlo Tosto.

If you ask the two PATRIZIAns what they take away from their volunteer work, they agree: “It was an unbelievably valuable experience for us to see how much fun, joy and gratitude this in itself small, low-key action triggered in the children and young people,” says Giancarlo Tosto. “We were able to look at beaming, smiling faces the whole time. Against the background of what these kids have experienced, it is very touching,” the 30-year-old continues. Would the two of them recommend such a volunteer assignment to others? Absolutely. Because, as they sum up, you get back at least twice what you put in.

Are you interested? The PATRIZIA Foundation supports all those who want to work as volunteers with training courses. In these face-to-face trainings and webinars, volunteers can learn how to deal with traumatised people.

Weitere Informationen dazu unter EduCare Europe Fund – Patrizia Foundation.

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Kinder spielen auf der Wiese mit einem großen bunten Stofftuch

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A Musical Programme with Lasting Impact

Young musicians from the MiSST programme welcomed guest with an opening performance.

Throughout the evening, the students further captivated guests with their performances, including Adoration by Florence Price and selected pieces from The Phantom of the Opera.  

An Evening of Shared Vision and Personal Stories

In his welcoming speech, founder Wolfgang Egger talked about the importance of investing in young people and creating opportunities that allow them to thrive — academically, personally and socially. Ambassador Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber delivered a passionate speech on the importance of protecting arts education in the UK, particularly at a time when music and creative subjects continue to face significant cuts within the school system. He spoke movingly about the responsibility to ensure that every child, regardless of background, has access to creativity, culture and music education.

Chairwoman of the Board Astrid Gabler, together with Board Member James Muir, reflected on their recent visit to one of the programme’s partner schools. James shared how deeply a passionate music teacher had influenced him during his own school years and how this experience continues to shape his belief in the importance of the support in education infrastructure. 

Rachel Landon, CEO MiSST, brought the programme vividly to life through inspiring footage and powerful stories from participating students, offering guests a meaningful glimpse into the daily impact of the initiative.

 

One of the evening’s most memorable moments came from Rain Spiegel-Johnson, a former participant of the programme, who shared her personal story and reflected on the impact music education has had on her life. Growing up in a low-income household, opportunities to take part in extracurricular arts education were often out of reach, leaving her feeling excluded from experiences many others could access. Through MiSST, however, she discovered a creativity and confidence that had long remained hidden.

Speaking about her experience, she described music not only as a form of artistic expression, but also as a powerful sense of belonging:

“Through music, I discovered not only artistry, but the profound feeling of being part of an ensemble so unified, disciplined and unwaveringly beautiful.”

She also emphasized the broader importance of the programme, calling MiSST “an outstanding microcosm for the future of music and the arts in this country.”

Thank you!

Thank you to everyone who joined us and our Ambassador, Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, for the “Thrive Cubed with Music” evening in support of music education in the UK — and for your shared commitment to creating new opportunities for young people through the power of music!

PATRIZIA Music Programme

With the PATRIZIA Music Programme, the PATRIZIA Foundation continues its commitment to educational support and equal opportunities across Europe. The programme was established to provide children and young people from disadvantaged communities in the United Kingdom with access to high-quality music education and to open new pathways for their personal and academic development. In partnership with MiSST, the programme supports schools in Morecambe and Manchester by providing classical musical instruments, professional music tuition and regular performance opportunities. Over the course of three years, the PATRIZIA Foundation is funding 300 instruments, creating long-term access to cultural education and helping young people build brighter futures through the transformative power of music.

PATRIZIA Music Programme