"Shchedryk" was performed in Arabic, French, and English in Ukraine.

On December 18, the Ukrainian House hosted a presentation of an international art project: "Let's return Ukrainian citizenship to "Shchedryk" - a world-famous melody was performed in Ukrainian, French, Arabic and English languages.

"This is a symbolic gesture that affirms the Ukrainian cultural tradition in the world: "Shchedryk" is a global heritage, its importance cannot be overestimated for the further integration of the national cultural tradition into the world cultural space. At the same time, there is a risk that this melody will gradually be associated not with Ukrainian culture, so it is necessary to return "Shchedryk" to his true Ukrainian citizenship", said the author of the project UNESCO Artist for Peace Herman Makarenko. The Kyiv-Classic Orchestra under his direction, a children's folk group and a folk ensemble presented several versions of the piece: traditional, folk and jazz. Saxophone solo was performed by a Ukrainian of Japanese origin - Kenta Igarashi, famous vocalist - Kateryna Vovchuk performed "Shchedryk" in English and French, and a young singer, a Ukrainian of Arab origin, Anfal Al Hamad - in Arabic.

The next step will be the preparation by Ukrainian and foreign artists for a large-scale concert-presentation of "Shchedryk" with more than 20 versions of it, including new arrangements of the famous song. As a result, the art album "Shchedryk" will be recorded, and it will represent the Ukrainian cultural tradition in the world and will be dedicated to the 30th anniversary of Ukraine's Independence. This project will feature artists and musicians from Ukraine, France, China, India and other countries, including UNESCO Artists for Peace. Ukrainian composers, arrangers, domestic and foreign vocalists, children's and mixed choirs, symphony orchestra, soloists-instrumentalists, pop singers are involved in this artistic initiative. "Shchedryk's musical album" will become a cultural calling card of our country. The world travels of a musical masterpiece will continue, but it will be known as a Ukrainian cultural phenomenon", summed up Herman Makarenko.

As it is known, the piece by Mykola Leontovych, written to the Ukrainian folk melody "Shchedryk", has more than 100 versions. Unfortunately, in the world, this melody is perceived as Canadian or American.

It should also be noted that the promotion of the Ukrainian cultural product on the international stages of Europe, Asia, the USA and Canada has been the cultural mission of the Global Harmony Art Foundation and the Kyiv Classic Symphony Orchestra for many years. Since 2016, Maestro Makarenko, UNESCO Artist for Peace, has been campaigning for Shchedryk to be included in the National List of the Intangible Heritage of Ukraine and, subsequently, in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List.

During the pandemic, together with the UNESCO Secretariat, Herman Makarenko initiated and implemented an international "Art Against a Pandemic" project, joined by UNESCO Artist for Peace from ten countries, including France, Japan, South Korea, Mauritius, Niger, Turkey, Georgia and others.

Ukrainian artists also prepared the project called "Concert for Peace" dedicated to the 75th anniversary of UNESCO. It was planned to hold on November 16, 2020 at the Organization headquarters in Paris but due to quarantine restrictions, in agreement with the UNESCO Secretariat, the event was postponed to 2021.