Childhood is a special time when the world is perceived through play, colors, friendship, and genuine joy. But Ukrainian childhood today is not just laughter and games, but also anxieties, shelters, and premature adulthood. In this complex reality, it is especially important to maintain faith in goodness, warmth, and hope.
With this goal in mind, on June 2, 2025, an online meeting took place between the Andriivska and Berezivska communities as part of the project "Shoulder to Shoulder: United Communities."
The event combined two different moods: the first - poignant and deep, the second - warm and inspiring.
The photo challenge "Childhood Under the Sounds of Sirens" became an emotional and heartfelt part of the meeting. Its aim is to show that childhood, even in the difficult realities of today, remains a time of genuine smiles, play, and hope.
Each photo from the challenge is like a frame from life, filled with deep meaning and unbreakable faith in a better future. Each frame is a small story of a strong-spirited child who has learned to communicate, learn, and befriend online. In every photo, there are genuine smiles, blue and yellow ribbons, and hugs that speak more than words.
In contrast to the emotional photo challenge, the master class "Butterfly from Palms - Wings of Peace and Unity" gifted participants an atmosphere of inspiration and creative unity. Under the guidance of Anna Malikhina, children from the Berezivska community created symbolic butterflies, the wings of which were made from the prints of their palms.
In each creation, there is a piece of a child's soul, a dream of peace, and hope for a happy tomorrow. Each butterfly is unique, just like the child who created it. Together, these works became a joint virtual panel of friendship (https://padlet.com/annamaluhina01/padlet-gcy838ddn4ayg2dz), which became yet another bridge between the communities.
At the end of the meeting, participants honored the memory of innocent childhood lives cut short by war. After all, soon, on June 4, Ukraine will commemorate the Day of Remembrance for Children Who Died as a Result of Armed Aggression by the Russian Federation. This painful date reminds us of the high price we pay for the right to live under peaceful skies. For behind every name, behind every date, there is a small heart that dreamed, laughed, played, loved...
This meeting became yet another proof that even in the difficult times of war, life goes on, and childhood - despite anxieties and losses - finds a way to the light. Shared emotions, creativity, mutual support, and the sincerity of children from both communities created a space of trust, warmth, and hope.
The project "Shoulder to Shoulder: United Communities" unites not only communities but also hearts. And as long as children create, dream, and stick together - our country has a future.
Based on materials from the Andriivska Rural Military Administration