Bessemer students create ribbon wall to support Ukraine

By CHARITY SMITH

csmith@yourdailyglobe.com

Bessemer - In an effort to show support for the people of Ukraine, students at A.D. Johnson High School in Bessemer have created a wall of hand-colored blue and yellow ribbons.

"Even though we cannot be there to support the Ukrainian people, we can still show our support," said Kaylee Miljevich, a student in the high school Peer program. "Women need to be empowered and the Ukrainian women are a great example for us as young women in America," she said.

The idea for the wall came from the school's Peer 1 and Peer 2 classes and their instructor, Jamie Stiffarm. The students in the class are trained to mentor at-risk students and those with disabilities. As part of the program, students work on monthly kindness projects to emphasize how important kindness is, Stiffarm said.

"The Peer I and Peer II students wanted to support the people of Ukraine and this is the way in which they chose to show their support - with the ribbon, which is used to make people aware of various serious matters and to color it in the Ukraine colors of their flag," she said. "We are here to show our support and caring toward them."

Stiffarm said that her students have been very worried about the war in Ukaine and the "very real" prospect that it could turn into World War III. So, this was a way that the students could do something to show their support, she said.

"Lives were being overturned and the Ukrainian people are showing that everyone can do their part to make the very best of a very ugly situation," said Rylee Sordahl, a peer student, who is of Ukrainian descent.

The wall is located in the hallway on the third floor of ADJ. There are additional ribbon coloring sheets on a table in front of the wall along with coloring utensils for students to use. Stiffarm said that she believes students at Washington Elementary School will also be decorating ribbons and creating a display on a wall to show their support.