An exhibition of drawings “Peace and war through the eyes of Donbas children” is open in Kharkov

23:01 / 14 Dec. 2015 / 1224

Today, December 14, it was opened regional exhibition of children’s drawings “Peace and war through the eyes of Donbas children” in art school for children №1 on behalf of Repin Kharkov.

This is the fifth exhibition, which is organized by community initiative “Restoring Donbas” during the autumn and winter this year. Earlier the exhibition took place in Kyiv, Zhytomyr, Chernovtsy, Sumy. Visitors of all these exhibitions had an opportunity not only to get acquainted with the presented works, but also to communicate with children from Donetsk and Luhansk regions (in absentia). In order to do it, the volunteers shot a short film about the feelings of children during the war and made a video message from Donbas children to children from other regions of Ukraine.

«Such exhibitions made  it possible to introduce Donbas children to children from other regions of Ukraine, to build a dialogue between them. We not just showing our films to children, but also offer them to make their own video messages to their peers from Donbas.

We believe that their communication is the key to the unity and a source of inner strength for overcoming the difficulties of Donbas and Ukraine”, — Svetlana Klochko – volunteer from «Restoring Donbas» – said.

At the same time, she added that Kharkov region has provided a shelter for more than a thousand children, who came with their parents from Donbas. Nowadays, they feel comfortable in their new schools.

The majority children (out of 400) children, who attended the opening of the exhibition, told about children-IDPs in their classes. It confirms the fact that Kharkov region – is the champion in amount of IDPs.

Pupils of Kharkov art school, who visited the exhibition, were presented with a collection of  drawings of Donbas children with their letters, comments of psychologists and users of social networks.

“These paintings evoke the feeling of pain and compassion for children, who have experienced the horrors depicted on pictures. We will help you in everything. A wound, which was inflicted by the war, will be with us forever, “- Elena Shevtsova – a headmaster of the art school – said during her speech.

She also supported the offer of Sumy regional center of adult education (to carry out a nationwide drawing competition “Children of Ukraine to Donbas children”.)

At the end of the opening ceremony, children had an opportunity to see the works of the participants and the winners of the contest, to watch the films, which help to learn more about Donbas before the war and destructions during the hostilities.

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 determined in 3 age groups: 5-8 years, 9-12 years, 13-16 years, and “People’s Choice Award.”

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.