European Parliament President Roberta Metsola presents the European flag to Ukrainian pupils
100×100: Мости освіти#100×100#Main events
Europe Days 2026 in Rome: Ukrainian schoolchildren from Ternopil took part in “Luci d’Europa” and became its symbolic heroes
On 8 and 9 May 2026 Rome hosted large-scale celebrations for Europe Day, where pride of place went to a delegation of pupils from School No. 19 in Ternopil, accompanied by their headteacher, Lidiia Bachynska.
The presence of young people from Ukraine was a natural part of the international initiative “100×100: Bridges of Education”, a wide-ranging project of educational and intercultural diplomacy that builds lasting ties between schools in the two countries.
Coordinated by the National Congress of Ukrainian Associations in Italy (CNAUI), the project has already brought together hundreds of Italian and Ukrainian schools, opening up room for partnerships, joint lessons and hands-on experience of European citizenship.
The high point of the programme was the evening event “Luci d’Europa” in the majestic Piazza del Campidoglio. More than 3,000 young people from all over Italy gathered in the heart of Rome to celebrate Europe Day together and to feel part of the wider European community. The square became the stage for a unique meeting between the European institutions and young people — those who will be shaping the continent’s political landscape tomorrow.
During the official ceremony came the gesture that became the emotional heart of the whole celebration. The delegation of Ukrainian pupils presented the flag of Ukraine to the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola. In return, Ms Metsola handed the children the flag of the European Union — a symbol of trust, support and a shared future.
The exchange, which took place in the presence of senior EU and Italian officials, including European Commission Vice-President Raffaele Fitto and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, sent a powerful message of solidarity from Europe to Ukraine’s young people.
“100×100: Bridges of Education” is growing at an impressive pace. It now involves more than 400 Ukrainian schools and over 100 partnership coordinators. Having started as a grassroots movement, the initiative has reached the institutional level: in March 2026 Petition No. 1667, calling for a National Programme of School Partnerships between Italy and Ukraine, was formally announced in the Senate of the Italian Republic.
As CNAUI President Lara Levchun put it: “We are building a bridge of trust — between schools, teachers and mediators. Only where there is trust can a real partnership be born, and with it a shared responsibility for our children’s future.”
For Ukrainian children this project is a chance to be heard. As Ternopil Mayor Serhii Nadal stressed, the pupils spoke words that every Ukrainian feels today — about the strength of the state, about freedom and about the unbreakable spirit of our people.
“100×100: Bridges of Education” continues to grow, reaching new regions such as Vinnytsia and Chernihiv and running distinctive events such as joint “Lessons of Resilience”. It is not just an educational programme but a living network in which every pupil becomes a young ambassador of Ukraine within the great European family.
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