It was a tennis match...

....but in reality so much more. Yesterday at Wimbledon, a Ukrainian, Elina Svitolina was playing a game against a Belorussian. It was, by all standards, a brilliant game, with the outcome never clear. A fitting end was a nail-biting tie-break. Svitolina won.
But this was never only about tennis. Here I quote Svitolina's own words.

“I was thinking back home there’s lots of people watching and cheering for me,” she said, holding back tears, "I know how much it means to them and any moments that they can share happiness…I was just thinking there are tough times in Ukraine, I’m playing here in front of your guys, I cannot complain, I just have to play and fight and try to win every single point and in the end, here I am, I won the match.

“I feel responsibility, as well. So if I’m going out to play this match against Russian, Belarussian, I feel of course more pressure that I need to win. That’s why it means a lot to get these kinds of wins. In my own way, to bring this victory, small victory, to Ukraine.”

There was no shaking of hands at the end of this game. 

We often see this level of commitment, emotion and passion here.

Today was a teaching day. At the UNICEF tent in Odesa...


We also started a new English class for adults...not quite beginners. This, in a small restaurant, which the owner has allowed us to use for the lessons. It's quite funny doing a lesson with dining customers present. Could quite ruin their lunch. As we would say.... only in Ukraine. They also kindly turned the background music down :)

Tomorrow we plan to be back on the road,  collecting aid. All doing our little bit to help.



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