Project initiated
by Khrystyna Khranovska
A poignant exhibition «War Diaries: Unheard Voices of Ukrainian Children», will showcase the personal stories of children and teenagers who witnessed and documented the war in Ukraine. The exhibition aims to shed light on the deep trauma experienced by Ukraine's young generation.
The War Diaries exhibition highlights the underrepresented perspective of children and teenagers who have experienced the devastating effects of the war. By providing a platform for these unheard voices, the exhibition fosters empathy, understanding, and meaningful dialogue surrounding the emotional and psychological consequences experienced by the younger generation.
By showcasing 14 carefully selected stories with a balance of gender, age, region, and story type, the exhibition emphasizes the vast number of narratives that remain untold. Through visual representations of war diaries from children's perspectives, including audio and video interviews, visitors will be immersed in the children's experiences. Additionally, an exhibition section will feature original diaries and sketches, allowing attendees to connect with the personal belongings of the children whose stories are being shared.
Ukrainian children changed their place of residence
Ukrainian refugees registered in the Netherlands
children in Ukraine are at high risk of developing depression and other mental health problems
of Ukraine’s educational infrastructure was damaged by russian shelling.
dead children
wounded children
missing children
deported children
children-victims of sexual violence
📍 Amsterdam City Hall
August 17th
📍 Anne Frank House
"DRAWING A MAP FROM THE PAST TO THE FUTURE”
September 16th-17th
📍ArtHall D12
KYIV, UKRAINE
October 12th
📍 Palace of Europe
Strasbourg,
France
January 22th-25th
📍Rotes Rathaus
📍 Hotel Continental Art Space
Berlin,
Germany
February 15th-20th
📍 Ukrainian Institute of America (New York)
New York,
USA
May 29th
📍 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC, USA
July 8th
"Adults, let's take off our masks of arrogance, because we see adults here today. Regardless of the number of years that have passed since your birth, you become adults only when you are conscious and responsible. And this consciousness can catch up with everyone at different times: someone at 5 years old, someone at 19, and someone never. We see a lot of unconscious adults who think they are the best, but are actually infantile, who justify not only their own actions but also try to justify the bad actions of other people. We talk a lot about our resilience nowadays. And, unfortunately, it appears only when there are challenges. And today these children give us hope that there is a way out. "
At the UN General Assembly debate on Ukraine, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine read excerpts from the diaries of three Ukrainian children
"The full-scale Russian invasion has deprived 7.5 million
Ukrainian children of a normal life. Almost two-thirds of them are displaced or have fled Ukraine. Russia continues to abduci and deport Ukrainian children on a massive scale. Our wish. shared by millions of Ukrainians and children whose diaries
read at the UN General Assembly, is for a swilt end to this war with a Ukrainian victory and the return of a just and lasting peace."
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On January 23, the exhibition was officially opened in Strasbourg during the winter session of 2024 of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). The exhibition started a few days before an urgent debate on the situation of Ukrainian children illegally abducted by Russia.
Among the invited guests of the exhibition were the newly elected PACE President Theodoros Roussopoulos, PACE Vice President Olena Khomenko and Andrew Duncan, co-founder of the Weatherman Foundation.
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the FRG made a welcoming speech at the official opening of the exhibition in Berlin.
His wife Olena Makeieva and designer Frank Peter Wilde read excerpts from the diaries of Ukrainian children during the presentation of the exhibition.
During the official opening of the exhibition in New York, the Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations delivered a welcome speech and read excerpts from the diary of the project hero Yehor Kravtsov.
Violetta Horbachova, 15 y.o. Was under occupation in Nova Kakhovka, where she documented the events in the region in her diary and drew the family portrait.
“
My first thought was: ‘The war has begun’.
READ MORE >>
Arina Pervunina, 13 y.o. Approaching Mykolaiv, she,
along with her father, two brothers, and sister, fell
under the fire of the Russians.
“
I think he has the same notebook there (in heaven), through which he reads my letters.
READ MORE >>
Oleksandra Androsova, 13 y.o. Novovolynsk. Lost her father, who had been defending the country since 2015.
“
Dad, come back and keep it close to your heart and one day this will save you. Love you!
READ MORE >>
Artem Skrypchenko, 12 y.o. Toretsk. Escaped from the rubble of the house and lost his father there. The boy created a series of drawings about the war.
“
...the missile hit our house. Dad couldn’t get out, he was burned up right in front of our eyes.
READ MORE >>
Violetta Horbachova, 15 y.o. Was under occupation in Nova Kakhovka, where she documented the events in the region in her diary and drew the family portrait.
“
Remember, everything is in our hands. This is what I realized this year.
READ MORE >>
Khrystyna Khranovska, the visionary and initiator behind the War Diaries project, has been dedicated to empowering the younger generation through social, educational, and cultural initiatives for the past 15 years. She has actively contributed to the preservation of ethnic and cultural traditions, organizing Ukrainian Christmas celebrations annually. In response to the full-scale Russian invasion, she shifted to the creation of social projects that address pressing issues.
Charity initiative in cooperation with BEssARION brand presents a limited collection of silk scarves printed with a unique fragments of drawings taken from children's diaries.
For the first time, I saw the children's drawings collected as part of the "War Diaries" project on the exhibition eve in the Netherlands. Naive, touching art. But, knowing the stories of Ukrainian children, what they have to go through now, these images acquire deep and adult meanings. Then I felt a physical need to do something. To be not just an observer, but a person involved in the work to ensure that the voices of Ukrainian children are heard by the world. That's how idea came up to create a collection of scarves based on children's drawings from the "War Diaries". The collection was launched in less than 2 months. I am still asked - why scarves? For me, they are a kind of embodiment of childhood: light, fragile. Whereas the war left its mark on them forever — Bessarion Razmadze.
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