Let it shine: Children all over the world show support for kids in Ukraine with song

A schoolgirl from Ukraine sings the new lyrics: 'Though the war's going on, I'm going to let it shine'. Photo: YouTube/A. Mark Long

To show their solidarity and support for children in Ukraine who have been impacted by the war, young ones from different parts of the world sing a specially relyricised version of the well-known children's song This Little Light Of Mine, on YouTube.

On Feb 24 this year, Russia invaded Ukraine in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War that began in 2014. Schools were closed and children were forced to learn online.

"Shine with the Children of Ukraine" is the project of an online English class that was held three hours a week in Ukraine from Mar 15 to July 7, when the schools were closed. Many Ukrainian schools never reopened for the school year and millions of students received their lessons through online classes.

The online English classes were via Smart Osvita Ukraine, an educational NGO established in Ukraine that has enabled children across the country to have access to online education since the invasion.

The song 'This Little Light Of Mine' was adapted by one of the online English teachers A. Mark Long from Vienna, Austria. Photo: YouTube/A. Mark LongThe song This Little Light Of Mine was adapted by one of the online English teachers A. Mark Long from Vienna, Austria.

New lyrics were created for children still inside Ukraine as well as other children outside Ukraine in a show of solidarity with these young victims of the war.

Some of the inspiring new lyrics include: "Though the war's going on, I'm going to let it shine" and "Though I'm stuck at home, I'm going to let it shine" sung by children in Ukraine, and "As we stand with you, we're going to let it shine" and "Everywhere this goes, we're going to let it shine" sung by children elsewhere in the world.

There are also captions for the hearing impaired in the YouTube video.

But, teacher Long highlights that the song is not just to show solidarity and support for the children in Ukraine, it's also to serve as a reminder of the devastating effects of war on children and to call for peace.

"The lyrics themselves are loving, uniting and yet defiant in the face of the aggression that has been released upon the homeland of the Ukrainian children. This video is not just a show of solidarity though, it is also a call that people take notice of how children are being affected by this war, both inside and outside of Ukraine.

"By allowing the 'lights' of these children to shine, we're taking on the darkness that is war. This is a call for peace from our most important citizens, our children," he concludes.