MINSK, Dec 30 (BelTA/APP) : Equal opportunities are more accessible now in Belarus than ever before, provided people are willing to work hard, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said at a New Year’s charity event held at the Palace of the Republic, BelTA has learned.
“I am fully aware that the children in this hall are all quite different from one another. It is a common notion – different children. And indeed they are different, including in their personal circumstances. But, my dear friends, take it from my life experience: while our childhoods may vary, today, more than ever, we all have equal opportunities. The key is our willingness to work hard,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
The head of the state emphasized that education must be the foremost priority for school students. “If you study diligently, you will have a bright future. It means you can become the person you aspire to be. So, without any lengthy lectures – just study. If you waste this time, you will never regain it. It will simply slip away,” he stressed.
In this context, the president noted that educators and teachers were also present in the hall of the Palace of the Republic alongside the children. “Thank you for the tremendous effort you invest in our children. I know how hard it is. Perhaps, as a state, we have not given you the attention you deserve. Please guide us on this, and we will certainly address this shortcoming,” the head of state assured.
Aleksandr Lukashenko again expressed his gratitude to the teachers for nurturing true patriots of Belarus. “And if you raise patriots, then you yourselves are patriots. And you must definitely be these patriots,” he added.
“I have already spoken a lot about work and study. I know you did not come here solely for that. Perhaps you have already seen Father Frost and Snow Maiden. You, I, and the millions of people who will see you are all awaiting this magic from our Father Frost and Snow Maiden,” Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked, inviting the children to thank these fairytale characters for the holiday.
The president took part in the country’s main New Year’s celebration at the Palace of the Republic. This celebration is the central event of the Our Children charity campaign. This year, a spectacular performance, “The Magic of the New Year,” featuring fairytale characters and the main symbols of the winter holidays, has been prepared for the children.
About 2,400 children from all regions of Belarus have been invited to the event at the Palace of the Republic. Students from cadet schools and specialized lyceums, winners of various Olympiads, creative competitions, and contests, students who have distinguished themselves in community service, orphans, children from large families and refugee families, and children affected by the Chernobyl disaster had the opportunity to see this breathtaking New Year’s performance. The event provides children with both a joyful atmosphere and gifts from the head of state.