Safari Park treat for 50 Ukrainian orphans
Children invited to enjoy a day out at Blair Drummond
Fifty children from a Ukrainian orphanage who have been housed at a safehaven in Callander after fleeing the Russian invasion this week enjoyed a day out at Blair Drummond Safari Park.
The youngsters, aged between four and 17, as well as nine “house mothers” arrived in Scotland last Wednesday.
The children were brought to Scotland and given sanctuary in a property near Loch Venachar by a Scots charity.
The charity Dnipro Kids organised the evacuation of the children, after the Russian assault on their city was stepped up.
After an appeal to see them given refuge in Scotland was launched, the help of Stirling Council was enlisted.
The children faced an anxious wait to finally travel to Scotland.
Their plane came down in Edinburgh last Wednesday night after an two-week travel visa hold-up.
The young people were then transported to the Callander base where they will live until they are moved to a new property in Edinburgh at a later date.
Whilst in the area, the kids were given a special treat with a visit to see the animals housed at the safari park.
Dnipro Kids took to social media to say: “Thank you to everyone at Blair Drummond Safari Park for inviting the kids along and arranging such nice weather.”
Thank you to everyone at Blair Drummond Safari Park for inviting the kids along and arranging such nice weather. Dnipro Kids spokesperson
Dnipro Kids was launched in September 2005 when Hibernian travelled to Dnipropetrovsk for a UEFA Cup tie. Hibs supporters organised a charitable collection for some local orphans.