Lukashenko: We wish our children to have safe and peaceful childhood

"We really hope you will like all the surprises and gifts that we have prepared for you. This is extremely important for us. We wish only one thing - to see you smile and to know that you live a safe, secure and peaceful life. If a child smiles, it means that the state is strong and society is healthy. Our hearts ache for millions of other children (I really want you to know about them) who are wishing a new toy or a gadget for the New Year," Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

He urged to remember about those children who ask for peace and warmth in their homes. These are the essentials for every person, especially a child, the president said. "I emphasize: there are a lot of children in the world who do not have warmth in the homes, who are hungry and who want peace on their land. We must always remember these people, these children. If we remember, this trouble will never come to our land," the head of state is convinced.

"Fortunately, our little Belarusians have other dreams, children's ones. May this always be like this, and may these dreams come true. This is the magic that everyone is waiting for on New Year's Eve," Aleksandr Lukashenko added.

This is what the beautiful legend about the bison, the symbol of Belarus, is about, the president said. Today's show was inspired by it.

"From the bottom of my heart I once again wish a Happy New Year to all of you, children and adults, the future of our Belarus, teachers, educators and parents! I wish you great spirits, good health and, most importantly, success in your studies. Studying is the most important task for you at this stage of your life. Now it is with great pleasure that I give the stage to our hosts – Father Frost and Snow Maiden," the Belarusian leader said.

The New Year charity campaign Our Children is running in Belarus from 15 December 2022 to 15 January 2023. During this time, top officials of the country, the heads of government agencies and organizations, companies and banks, the largest public associations visit orphanages, hospitals, large families and family-type homes. Regional New Year festivities make an integral part of the campaign. More than 20,000 children will take part in the campaign at the national level. In general, up to 1 million children will participant in the campaign across the country.

The New Year's party for children with the participation of the president and the Bison Constellation show became the main event of this year's charity campaign. More than 2,300 children from all regions of Belarus have been invited to the country's main New Year Tree event. These are orphans and children left without parental care, students of cadet schools, children from refugee families, children from Donbass, children of those killed in the line of duty, winners of international, national and regional Olympiads, competitions, festivals and contests.