This project, in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, offers 800 children and an additional 200 parents from socially precarious and economically disadvantaged backgrounds help and support, in coping with everyday life every year and now more important than ever.
At the beginning of the war, many of the project beneficiaries fled to other parts of Ukraine or abroad, but many of them have already returned since the summer. Needs have increased because parents have lost their jobs, some families are mourning losses, homes have been damaged and need to be repaired and inflation is making everyday goods more and more expensive. This is why social work and psychological counseling is more in demand than ever at the moment and is particularly welcome.
The creativity center has been offering learning assistance and creative afternoon care for children and young people for many years, as well as social counseling for adults and parent-child activities. As Kharkiv was particularly close to the front line, for many months and suffered from heavy shelling, all activities on site had to be paused as the risk to life and limb was too great. In the meantime, the bomb shelter has been adapted and repairs have been made to the building, so that it can be heated during the cold months. The children and their parents are already looking forward to being able to attend courses in person again, and not just online. This project is run by Caritas Vienna in cooperation with the Kharkiv Social Aid Service.
Yulia from Kharkiv: “I remember the moment when the war started. I was sitting in the creative center and said to my colleagues: “I’ll stay here and help you.” At that moment, tears welled up in my eyes. Everyone stayed and helped countless people every day.” This year alone, Yulia and her colleagues have already provided mobile care to almost 11,000 people. It would be too dangerous to distribute food at a central location. Yulia also runs a creative center for children and adults. All schools in Kharkiv are still closed, this center is one of the few opportunities for children and their parents to socialize, even if the courses are interrupted at least 2-3 times a day by an air raid, the pictures that Yulia constantly sends us are full of love and bright children’s eyes.
Anya, 8 years old, is in the 2nd grade at school number 17. The school was destroyed by a rocket and the first rocket was just in Anya’s class. Lessons take place, no matter what, but in online format. Anya was very happy when she saw that the family art center “Otradnoe” had resumed its work, and she was especially happy when she saw her favorite drawing teacher Svetlana Anatolyevna. Thanks to Svetlana Anatolyevna, Anya loves drawing and ceramics.
Maxim turned five last Friday. He was only in kindergarten for six months, after which the Covid quarantine began and the war started immediately afterwards. At the moment, he only goes to art lessons and is eagerly awaiting the real lessons. Maxim likes both the creative process itself and the teacher. When Maxim came to class with Svetlana, he was only 4 years old, not very tall, and the work table looked so big! He had to kneel on the chair to be able to see his work in A3 format. But the most important thing is that the child comes out happy and satisfied with his drawing.