The photo shows friends in a flat in Kyiv, Ukraine, celebrating their country winning the 2022 Eurovison Song Contest. Ukraine won with "Stefania" by Kalush Orchestra. The song "Stefania" won the televote with a huge margin as people across Europe chose that song as their favourite of the night.
Ukrainian people have been speaking about what the win means to them; Ivanna Khvalyboga, now living in Poland after feeling her home, said, "When they said that we had won, I shouted at the whole apartment. The win means incredible happiness for Ukraine and Ukrainian people."
Eurovision fan Yura Solodzhuk said, "It's important to remind the world about us again and again, that Ukrainian culture and music exists."
The lyrics to the song are about the lead vocalist's mother, but the song has become a rallying cry for soldiers on the front line about their own mothers. Ann Fedirko said, "Every soldier remembers his mother, who prays for him at night and he has to win a free life for her."
People in Ukraine were unable to celebrate their win in public places because of curfews in place across the country. People met in their flats and apartments to watch the contest. Denys from Kyiv said, "It's something that unites us with the whole of Europe. For us it is very important to be part of this, especially this year."
Alina, who held a small party in her flat, said, "In Ukraine we have war and some say it's not a time to have fun. But we need to have fun, we need to live and have understanding and feeling of life. Now we see support of the whole world and it feel great."
When Eurovision was first held in 1956, the aim was to heal a broken Europe after the war by bringing countries together. Today, Eurovison fans across Europe are saying the aims of the contest have become real again. Maria from Sweden says, "The reason that Eurovision started from the beginning was to unite Europe through music. And rarely has this need been more important than right now."
- what is Eurovision
- how does Eurovision work, who takes part, how is the winner chosen?
- Why are people saying it is so important that Ukraine took part this year?
- should Ukraine take part in a song contest while they are at war?
- look at the people in the photo - how do they feel about Ukraine taking part while they are at war?
- "For us it is very important to be part of this, especially this year." - why?
- "It's important to remind the world about us again and again, that Ukrainian culture and music exists." why? what is the image we have of Ukraine today?
- "we need to live and have understanding and feeling of life" how does watching a song contest achieve that?
- how do you think Alina and her friends felt when they heard they had won?
- back in 1956, why do you think people invented Eurovison? What was the situation and what do you think the aim was?
- Maria from Sweden says, "rarely has this need been more important than now" what does she mean?
- what can we learn from Alina and her friends in Ukraine?
- what does Ukraine wining the contest with such a huge vote show us about people in Europe today?
- why is this about no outsiders? (because the people of Ukraine are shown they belong and have support across Europe)
The winning song is here https://youtu.be/obZi8fbESWw
Children might also be interested in the UK song, that came second in the contest https://youtu.be/RZ0hqX_92zI
www.no-outsiders.com
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