Just before they began their summer holiday, pupils at Oakhill Church Primary School performed a song for the Ukrainian families living in their village, a song they had written and recorded especially for them. Between them, families in this small Somerset village of just 750 residents have taken 30 Ukrainian refugees into their homes. Each week there is a coffee morning for those who have come from Ukraine and the families who support them. It was here that the children sang their special song, 'Song 4 Ukraine, We Will Not Fall'.
Headteacher Jude Clements shared with us how the song came about.
‘When the war broke out in Ukraine earlier this year, as a staff team we reflected on the best way to approach this with the children, at this point the possibility of hosting refugees was not even on the national agenda.
‘We agreed to raise awareness across our school family in class, so information shared was age appropriate, and during Collective Worship we adopted a special candle seated in a hurricane lamp which remained alight for the remainder of the day. This centred our thoughts and attention to pray for the Ukrainian people. It was during this time that the Year 4/5 Class composed a song with their teacher, Mrs Ford and the School Council organised a Ukrainian mufti day in March when £620 was raised.
‘We continued to daily light the candle and reflect, so when we were approached by people from the village who were hosting Ukrainian families it was as if we had been expecting them.
‘The children arrived to Oakhill at the beginning of term 6. During their visit to the school one of the children spotted the piano and asked to play. As we listened together with her mother and host, there was not a dry eye in the building. We worked closely with the host families and our vicar to ensure our families were made welcome and felt part of our school and the local community.
‘A parent who is a professional producer agreed to record the song which the Year 4/5 children had written - what an incredible learning experience! The song was launched at the Ukrainian coffee morning at Oakhill Village Hall.
‘I am immensely proud of my school family who have welcomed our Ukrainian friends. Our lives have been greatly enriched by their presence. We have enjoyed the food they have brought to share, their music and karate. I am reminded by the words found in Matthew 25:40: 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'
‘We each have a responsibility to care for those in need and this song has been a beautiful outworking of this and I hope that its legacy continues to raise awareness and money for the Ukrainian people.’
You can listen to the song below.