Students of the Junior Diplomatic Academy visited the Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium in Ukraine

Students of the Junior Diplomatic Academy gained an extraordinary experience in international communication. The young diplomats were welcomed at the Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium in Ukraine.

The students of the Kyiv Palace of Children and Youth were personally received by Luc Jacobs — Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Belgium to Ukraine.

Of course, the "Ukrainian side" was nervous, as the responsibility was considerable: the impression that the Junior Diplomatic Academy students would make, the messages they would convey to the official representatives of Belgium in Ukraine — all of this is important, especially during the full-scale war that the aggressor country is waging against Ukraine.

The visit to the Belgian Embassy in Ukraine opened with a presentation from the Ambassador, who shared insights into diplomatic service, European integration values, Belgium’s foreign policy priorities, and the support provided to Ukraine since the start of the full-scale invasion. Truly, the slogan “Belgium — a small country with a big impact” rings true, as Brussels has stood firmly with Kyiv throughout the most challenging periods in Ukraine’s recent history.

In response, the Junior Diplomatic Academy students shared with the Belgian diplomatic corps in Ukraine a glimpse of projects connected to Belgium. They presented a video of a masterclass with designer Charles Kaisin, discussed their impressions of Frédéric Laffon’s documentary about Ukraine during the war, and highlighted the delicious Belgian chocolate generously offered by Brussels’ Deputy Mayor, Marie-François.

Naturally, the conversation also touched on the traumatic impact of the war on Ukrainian children. The Kyiv Palace of Children and Youth students presented the Belgian Embassy in Ukraine with two books — “War Diaries. Not for Children” and “Moshchun. Angels of Victory” — authored by young journalists from ITA “Yun-Press.” To commemorate the visit, they gifted the Belgian Ambassador a symbolic memento: a shell casing hand-painted by students from the Visual Arts Department, symbolizing both the hardships Ukraine has endured and the support it has received in its fight against aggression.

Attendees had the chance to ask questions, gain deeper insight into the Embassy’s work, and discuss the vital role of dialogue in international relations.

"It was an amazing experience — we wish we could do it all over again," the students of the Junior Diplomatic Academy said as they returned to the Kyiv Palace of Children and Youth with gifts from Mr. Luc Jacobs.

Our heartfelt thanks to the Belgian Embassy in Ukraine for their kindness, warmth, and unwavering support for Ukraine!