The Donetsk Regional Children’s Library, with the support of the Donetsk Regional State Administration, is launching the literary project “When Defenders Speak.”
The initiative aims to bring together veterans, military personnel, and volunteers who create literature to promote children’s reading and affirm its role in shaping the values of the younger generation.
The project will kick off with an online meeting with military personnel engaged in literary creativity, during which there will be a candid discussion about the responsibility of words in wartime, the significance of children’s literature today, and the need for the presence of defenders’ experiences in the contemporary Ukrainian literary landscape.
As part of the event, a literary challenge will be announced to collect works for children written by veterans, military personnel, and volunteers. The submitted works will be included in a future anthology, which will be presented on December 6 in honor of Ukrainian Armed Forces Day.
The project creates an opportunity to hear from those who are defending the country today—not only with weapons, but also through words that build trust, provide support, and help make sense of reality.
The event will take place on March 27, 2026, at 1:00 PM in the format of an open dialogue as part of the All-Ukrainian Children’s Reading Week. Participation requires prior registration: https://surl.li/kgizer
We invite you to join the event and support this initiative, which combines the power of defense with the power of words.