For the past two years, Pamela Bouhélier has volunteered to oversee the interior decoration of the Château de Menthon for the Christmas holidays, focusing on the themes of Sleeping Beauty and Perrault’s fairy tales.
Her talented team of 40 volunteers from eight different countries creates subtle decorations inspired by tapestries and architecture.
Pamela invited refugees from Ukraine to join the team, so they too could reveal their talents and experience the joy of creativity and the pride of creating beautiful decorations as part of the community project in this important Savoyard heritage site.
There were many wonderful moments of shared friendship, accompanied by Ukrainian songs as everyone worked at their tasks.
Natalia Niekluienko, who lives at the Thônes centre and regularly participates in Lake Aid activities, told us that Pamela’s projects are a respite and a balm during this difficult time, giving her the impression of “reliving her life as it was before.”
Her father was a renowned painter, and this decorating workshop allows her to express her own artistic talent.
Last spring, she also provided significant assistance to Pamela during the preparation of a set in the château’s orangery for the “Botanical Legends” exhibition (June 5 – October 5, 2025).
The Menthon family generously donated a portion of the profits from the 2023 and 2024 Christmas visits to the Annecy-Ukraine and Lake Aid associations. We are very grateful for their support.
You must be logged in to post a comment.