Leonida Edizioni: a book series for Ukrainian children in Italy

Reggio Calabria to host the presentation of a publishing project for Ukrainian children: a cultural bridge between Italy and Ukraine launched by Leonida Edizioni

Reggio Calabria, 30 March 2026 — The prestigious Salone dei Lampadari of Palazzo San Giorgio will host a conference presenting the project “Living Language, Identity and the Future of Ukrainian Children”, a cultural and educational initiative that brings Italy and Ukraine together through a new series of books for Ukrainian children living in Italy.

The event is organised by the publishing house Leonida Edizioni, headed by the publisher and writer Domenico Polito, who initiated and inspired the project. It was his vision and commitment that made it possible to launch an international collaboration that today brings together institutions, publishers and associations from both countries.

The project aims to support Ukrainian as a heritage language for children who are living in Italy because of the war, by creating educational and cultural materials that help them preserve their identity, their memory and their sense of belonging. The book series is being produced in collaboration with the association SME.RE.CA APS, which represents the National Congress of Ukrainian Associations in Italy in Reggio Calabria.

Larysa Vatrych played an important part in shaping the partnership by proposing to involve the Chernivtsi region. The Ukrainian regional institutions, in turn, identified the ideal publishing partner in the Bukrek publishing house, known for its expertise in creating learning materials for children.

The project is part of the Memorandum of Cooperation signed on 30 April 2025 between the National Congress of Ukrainian Associations in Italy and the Chernivtsi Regional Council, and is an example of grassroots cultural diplomacy built on mutual trust, personal ties and cooperation between communities.

On 25 March CNAUI President Lara Levchun presented the project at the European Commission in Brussels, where it drew attention and high praise as an innovative model of humanitarian and cultural cooperation.

The event in Reggio Calabria will be attended by representatives of local institutions, schools and cultural organisations, as well as the region’s Ukrainian community.

This project is more than a publishing initiative: it is a gesture of care for children, an investment in their language and identity, and a cultural bridge that strengthens the bond between Italy and Ukraine.