Mental recovery, genuine joy and a safe space – these are the things that children growing up in wartime need most of all today. The troupe from the Donetsk Regional Drama Theatre (Mariupol) organised a true celebration of emotions and warmth for the young residents of our region.
On 23 June, the theatre’s actors visited the ‘Pearl of Donetsk Region’ regional children’s and youth sanatorium and health resort, which is currently welcoming and providing recuperation for children from the Donetsk region in the picturesque and peaceful Carpathians.
The young audience was treated to a performance of *The Duck* – a heartfelt, profound and deeply moving story. Through the main character’s thrilling adventures and her encounters with colourful characters, the actors used the language of art to speak to the children about the most important values: true friendship, mutual support, courage, trust and the power of human kindness.
The auditorium was filled with genuine children’s smiles, delight and thunderous applause. These emotions were the best proof that art has the power to heal souls. For children in the Donetsk region, who live with the realities of war on a daily basis or have been forced to flee their homes due to constant shelling, such events hold special significance. They help to alleviate anxiety, foster a sense of support, restore faith in goodness, and remind us that there is always room in life for light, hope and a child’s dreams.
“Psychological rehabilitation through culture and art is an integral part of our children’s recovery. Every smile today is a small step towards overcoming the trauma they have experienced,” say the organisers.
We are working for the future of Ukraine, safeguarding the heart of every child.