“Restoring Donbas” unites children of Ukraine

12:38 / 20 Oct. 2015 / 2027

Community initiative “Restoring Donbas” launches ser. of regional exhibitions of children’s drawings contest “Peace and war through the eyes of Donbas children“, which was carried out by organization in May and August 2015. Its main goal – is to get Donbas children acquainted with the children from other regions of Ukraine, to build a dialogue between them, to demonstrate that their communication is a key of a unity and a source of inner strength for overcoming the difficulties of Ukraine today.

First exhibition was opened 19 October in Zhitomir Center for artistic creativity of children and youth. Young guests were able not only to look through the pictures of their peers from Donetsk and Luhansk regions, but also to watch a few videos about feelings of Donbas children. Moreover, children had an opportunity to speak to children in other regions of Ukraine.

At the same time, each child from Zhitomir could make a responding video message. In addition, pupils of Creativity Center, who opened an exhibition with their drawings, poems and songs, obtained a collection of drawings with the pictures, letters of Donbas children and comments of psychologists and social networks users.

“The presentation of this exhibition – it is the first attempt to show other Ukrainian regions dreams and life events of Donbas children. It is planned to place the drawings in other five regions of Ukraine. We sincerely believe that Donbas children will be heard and their dreams come true “, – said Vadim Kabakov – the deputy head of the initiative – during the opening ceremony of an exhibition.

He added that Zhytomyr has greeted more than 640 children with their parents, who came from Donbas. Nowadays, they feel comfortable at schools and new classrooms.

Yuriy Pavlenko – the former Representative of the President of Ukraine for Children’s Rights, Ukrainian MP – also attended the opening ceremony. During his speech he said that the main task of adults – is to do everything to live in peace and children help to unite Ukraine via their drawings.

Young artists from Zhytomyr region prepared the drawings entitled “Let’s draw the Ukrainian sun.” 15-year-old Nastya Hnatiuk – the winner of plethora Ukrainian and international children’s art competitions – presented “Restoring Donbas” her painting. She painted the sun in fantastic colors, “which warms us and draws strength from human kindness”.

At the end of the opening ceremony, children had the opportunity to look through the drawings of the participants and the winners of the contest. Moreover, they were able to watch films, which show Donbas before the war and destructions during the hostilities.

Exhibition of drawings, which was organized by community initiative “Restoring Donbas”, will stay in Zhytomyr during a week. After that, it will be moved to other Ukrainian regions.

Let us remind that children’s drawing contest “Peace and war through the eyes of Donbas children” was announced on May 9, 2015. By August 25 – the last day of the submitting the drawings –community initiative «Restoring Donbas» has received more than 300 works from children, who are living in Donbas, and from children-IDPs. The winners were defined in 3 aged groups (5-8 y.o., 9-12 y.o., 13-16 y.o.) and “Audience Award”.

It was devoted to the perception of Donbas children their problems, worries and hopes for the future. It gives an opportunity for the parties of the conflict and those, who can influence on its resolving, to reflect on the real cost of the war and the necessity of its completion.

The restoring-donbass.com website - is an interactive platform, which was created by the "Restoring Donbas" community initiative of Oleksandr Klymenko. The latest news, blogs and analysis, background information and useful ads for IDPs and Donbas residents are available on the website.