Megawati's Warm Embrace for War Survivor Children

All the attendees inside the San Salvatore Church Museum, Rome, Italy, Sunday (2/2/2025) evening, were silent. They watched a film titled Romchyk which was screened at an event held by an alliance of philanthropic institutions for victims and survivors of war, the Unbroken Kids Alliance. The 5th President of the Republic of Indonesia, Megawati Soekarnoputri, who was present with her son and daughter, also listened attentively to the short film made by Kostiantyn Bidneko.

The film Romchyk is based on the true story of a child survivor of the Russian-Ukrainian war, Roman Oleksiv. The film tells the story of an 8-year-old Ukrainian boy who loves to dance suddenly changes drastically because of the war.

The missile attack caused almost half of the little boy's body to burn. At the same time, he also had to lose his mother. Rhomchyk also had to wear a mask to cover his head and face after recovering and returning home from the hospital. The mask only opens at the eyes, mouth, and ears, similar to the masks worn by superheroes.

Romchyk's life was not easy after the missile attack. She was traumatized by the sound of explosions, even when hearing the sound of balloons bursting. She also did not want to immediately return to ballet practice with her friends like before the war. It took months for her to get back on her feet, accept her condition and return to ballet practice.

The atmosphere turned somber when Roman Oleksiv was asked to introduce himself after the film finished. Accompanied by his father, Yaroslav Oleksiv, Roman stood and spoke in front of a row of chairs occupied by Megawati, Indonesian House of Representatives Speaker Puan Maharani, Italian Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Policy Maria Teresa Belluci, and 5P Global Movement co-founder Arsjad Rasjid.

Megawati took the time to greet Roman and his father after the event. The Chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) hugged and patted Roman's shoulder several times.

To Roman, Megawati told that she could also dance, but Indonesian dance. Not to forget, Megawati gave support and encouragement to Roman.

"Be strong, be careful," Megawati said. At the event, Megawati also received a painting of a child's face.

Puan and Megawati's son, M Rizki Pratama, also approached the child survivor of the Russian-Ukrainian war. They then took a photo together.

Megawati is currently in Rome to carry out a number of agendas. In addition to meeting with volunteers and children who survived the war in Rome, she will also attend and speak at the World Leaders Summit on Children's Rights and is scheduled to meet again specifically with Pope Francis.

Not only Roman Oleksiv, on that occasion Megawati also met with war volunteers. Together with a number of figures who were present, Megawati signed as a form of support for humanitarian movements to provide hope and change for children and families of war victims. Those who signed included Puan, Teresa Maria Belluci, and the Indonesian Ambassador to the Holy See, Vatican Michael Trias Kuncahyono.

"I am very proud and honored to be in this extraordinary forum. We all have a responsibility to safeguard the future of children in any part of the world because they are the future hope for world civilization," Megawati said in her speech.

The Unbroken Kids Alliance was formed by three humanitarian organizations, namely the Unbroken Foundation, the National Confederation lf Misericordie of Italy, and the 5P Global Movement. The alliance was announced on January 29, 2025 in Rome, Italy, on the sidelines of an international meeting on children's rights. The alliance was formed to provide assistance, both medical and psychological, to ongoing rehabilitation, for victims of war.

One of the founders of the 5P Global Movement, Arsjad Rasjid, in his speech said that the Unbroken Kids Alliance was formed with the aim of providing new hope for children who are victims of war. Not only rehabilitating, but also trying to fulfill their rights.

We all have a responsibility to safeguard the future of children wherever they are in the world because they are the future hope for world civilization.

Megawati said that what the humanitarian organizations that are members of the Unbroken Kids Alliance have done is a noble deed. The volunteers and humanitarian fighters that are members of it have fought to save children who are victims of war. This means that they have saved the future of world civilization.

"You all have saved the world. You have made a big step because the children of war are the beacon for a better future of civilization," he said.

Therefore, on behalf of the Indonesian nation, Megawati expressed her high appreciation for the humanitarian fighters. After the event, she also had a dialogue with volunteers from the National Confederation of Misericordia Italia who carried out many humanitarian tasks in Palestine and Ukraine. The volunteers then escorted Megawati to the vehicle that would take her back to the hotel where she was staying in Rome.

Support for this initiative also came from the Italian authorities. In her brief remarks, Maria Teresa Belluci said that Italy is committed to continuing to help people affected by war, especially the most vulnerable groups, such as children, women, and people with disabilities. "We, the Italian Government, will always help those in difficulty," she said.

The Italian Minister of Labor and Social Policy expressed his concern over the war that has caused many victims. Currently, there are at least more than 470 million people who have become victims of war in 59 countries around the world. Most of the victims of war, whether in the Middle East, Africa, or Europe, especially Ukraine, are children.

"These figures are sobering that we must strengthen our humanitarian commitment and relentlessly defend peace and children's rights," he said.