«Wounded flower: childhood changed by the war» – Ukrainian Education Platform presents art book

«The book contains 25 life stories. Of course, there are many more stories that we work with every day, but we would need more than one book to describe each of them. And, ultimately, that was not our goal. The art book is like an illustration, like a personification of the most common and painful childhood experiences and emotions that we must talk about and convey to the world in order to draw attention and emphasize the importance of support», says Viktoriia Tsymbalista, head of the UEP communications department and compiler of the book.

According to the authors' idea, the artbook is filled with artistic illustrations, drawings, and photographs of children, which enhances the effect of each story. The illustrations are based on a flower growing in a pot, which symbolizes a child's life: fragile, vulnerable, in need of attention, care, and nurturing. The pot in which the flower grows is the environment on which its growth depends. The environment of every Ukrainian child has been traumatized by the full-scale invasion, and the war is mercilessly causing new cracks. The plaster that covers the crack and holds the broken pieces together represents the actions, words, initiatives, and projects that help the pot to hold on and grow.

«War steals the most precious thing from children – their carefree childhood. The world, which was supposed to be a safe place for them to grow up, has cracked. However, even in such conditions, a flower can bloom if there is a reliable adult nearby. Our calling is to help every child grow up surrounded by love. Where breaks are healed with care», says Anastasiia Khudzik, the book's illustrator.

On February 24, representatives of non-governmental organizations, authorities, and specialists working with children were invited to the presentation of the art book. In addition to the presentation of the book, participants were invited to join an open discussion entitled «Between fears and dreams: caring for children in times of war». Important topics were discussed, such as how to avoid reducing children's traumatic experiences to statistics, how to work with problems in a comprehensive manner, and how to build long-term work with trauma.

«Sometimes I encounter children and adults who have been traumatized by war. Today, I listened to a book presentation and analyzed all my patients, especially children who have suffered from war. In fact, they were all so strong that even now, when I remember them, they are probably the key, the source of inspiration to follow their example, to find the strength to live on. They motivate us. These children go through a lot. I have noticed that in the long term, it is very important to feel, as was said today, that «you are needed», shares Halyna Sayan, head of the City Center for Thermal Trauma and Plastic Surgery.

The presentation of the art book «Wounded flower: childhood changed by the war» showed how children's experiences can be conveyed to society through a combination of texts, photographs, drawings, and illustrations. The publication demonstrates not only the experiences and challenges faced by Ukrainian children during the war, but also the importance of continuous comprehensive support. The artbook has become a tool that helps to see each child as an individual and reminds adults and the community of their responsibility to create a safe environment for their development.

«A very valuable book and an interesting presentation. I was touched by the fact that the art book uses children's drawings, which so subtly reveal the story in question – this is an important participatory approach», shared Natalia Tarnovska, acting head of the Center for Child Dignity at the Ukrainian Catholic University, sharing her impressions of the art book. «It is important to raise such topics and talk about them. And to remember that children are defenseless individuals and we, as adults, must take responsibility for their safety and their happy childhood. Because who else but us will create the future of our Ukraine?».

During four years of full-scale war, the UEP has implemented and continues to implement dozens of projects aimed at providing psychological, physical, humanitarian, and financial support to children and families in globally challenging conditions.

It is important to preserve memory, to show the value of creating and implementing projects to support children, to give them the opportunity to express their thoughts and reflections, to demonstrate that behind every story, every child whose childhood has been changed by war, there is not just a number in statistics, but someone's fate, someone's life. As a tool for implementing this mission, the art book «Wounded flower: childhood changed by the war» was created – a book with stories, photographs, children's drawings, and illustrations.