Childhood in War, by Olha Balaban

Children from Ukraine have a childhood with the taste of war. They know the sound of alarm. They know about bomb shelters and the rule of two walls. They know the night of sleep in a hallway, bathroom, parking shelter, or subway.

Some know the loss of home, some the loss of those they love. All are traumatized.

We cannot turn off the war. But we can empower them to live in war, to respond to challenge, to live as children in childhood. This is what we do.

We listen, hold tiny hands, hug, give care, and love. Even when it hurts, when it seems that there is nothing left and only darkness around, our hands and hearts are open. We surround them with care and love. We listen and support. We are there. Every day, in creative classes, through drawings, applications or modeling, children rise above a disturbing world around them.

The children of our Center know it is possible, even when afraid and worried, to create something beautiful. In community together with teachers and psychologists, they share their fears and experiences, learn to support each other, talk about their dreams. They smile again because they believe that after the dark, hope will come. So we hold the light with all our hearts.

text by Oli Balaban, Program Manager for This Child Here

photos by Robert Gamble