ΠΠ²Π°Π½Π³Π΅Π»ΡΠ½Π° Π. (Evangelina M, 13 years, Cherkasy)
I study at an art school, play the piano, and practice vocals. I enjoy athletics, acting and was filmed in short childrenβsβ funny videos. I studied English and Chinese at school, but it all was before the war. I learned about the start of the war from my mom, she was very upset. I got very scared; I hugged my mom and began to cry. I was afraid that we would be killed. Since the beginning of the war, I learned to pack my things quickly and run to the bomb shelter with my dog and cat during the air raids. My backpack is always ready with a little bit of food and a blanket in it. I learned to sleep fully dressed and spend the nights in the basement. We were running to the bomb shelter at any time of day and night because our skies are not closed. I have not slept at home in my bed since the beginning of the war. I celebrated my 10-year birthday in a basement with a neighbor. When my parents had a chance, they put me on a bus with other kids and I was taken to Poland to live with my uncle. I crossed the border alone, without my parents. My uncle David met me in Poland near the border; we drove for another 5 hours to Warsaw. My father and my brother, who just turned 18, joined the army. They are protecting the Kaniv Hydroelectric Power Plant. Kaniv is the city where a famous Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko is buried. My dad oversees an army unit. My mom is a psychologist and stayed behind to continue working. My brother was a student and a professional soccer player: he belonged to the top league, but his soccer career had to be put on hold because of the war. I sincerely hope you will like my drawings and that I will be able to help people that are suffering from the Russian aggression: "God save Ukraine" God's Angel protects my country with his wings. "Invincible" - I showed soldiers of different times, defending Ukraine, from Cossacks to our present-day defenders. I also draw a World War II soldier and the Maidan protestors. "Invasion" - black cloud represents Russia, it blows evil on the sunflower - symbol of Ukraine. "Sunflowers" β sunflower is a symbol of Ukraine, which will sprout through the darkness and the sun always will set over my land. 5. "Ukraine is in the heart" - we love our country and will defend our land until the victory. After Ukraine wins this war, I dream of coming back to my family. I want to invite my friends over and celebrate my birthday with them. I want to hug my dog and my cat and do things that I love again. Dear people, I am beginning you to help my country. Help us close the sky so they cannot bomb us all the time. Help us to get the supplies that the army needs to free our country. I believe in the power of ordinary people who can help influence the powerful politicians so I can come home again. Thank you for everything you are doing for us!
ΠΠ°Ρ Π°Ρ Π. (Zahar D, 13 years, Kharkiv)
I like aikido and swimming. My drawing is about Ukraine β a beautiful, united and peaceful country. I learned about the war in the morning as I was woken up by explosions. My hometown was bombed. My life and the life of my family was turned upside down. For the first couple of days, we lived in the basement and then had to leave our home and my hometown that I love so much. We do not know what will happen next and what will happen to our lives. But we hope for the best and believe Ukraine will win. I am grateful to every Defender; we pray to God for peace in our native land. The first thing I want to do when the war ends is to go back home. I hope for people to never experience the war. It is very scary to realize that the life we used to have, perhaps is gone forever.
ΠΠΎΠ»ΠΎΠ΄ΠΈΠΌΠΈΡ Π. (Volodymir B, 9 years, Kharkiv)
My family is from Kharkiv, now live in Cherkasy region. I love playing sports and drawing. Through my drawings I share my dreams: dreams of clear and peaceful sky, wishes for peace on Earth. I also want to share the unbreakable spirit of Ukrainian people. I found out about the war, when my family woke up to the roar of explosions and started packing for the evacuation. Explosions were everywhere. It was very loud and VERY strange. The first thing I want to do when the war is over is to see my relatives and friends, come back to my own house and my own room (although I know our home was destroyed). Please help us maintain a peaceful sky.
ΠΠ½Π½Π° Π. (Anna B, 10 years, Cherkasy)
I enjoy dancing and music lessons. I dream of peace in our Ukraine and that is what I have drawn in my picture. When the war began, I was asleep (it was a school day), my brother came in my room to wake me up and to tell me that the war started. We were very nervous and scared at first, but in a couple of days we found strength and started spending more time together. My parents even had us do some exercises and talked to us about the nutrition. We just wanted to live our lives and feel normal. I really want to see my friends and spend time with them without worrying all the time what tomorrow will bring.
ΠΠ°Π»Π΅ΡiΡ Π. (Valeria B, 11 years, Kharkiv)
We are from Kharkiv, but now live in Cherkasy region.
Playing sports and drawing is what I love doing the most.
With my drawing I wanted to show that the sky used to be clear and peaceful, that our people are strong and we all want peace.
Please help us maintain a peaceful sky.
ΠΠ½Π½Π° Π. (Anna B, 11 years, Cherkasy)
I like to draw, play sports (gymnastics, acrobatics), play the piano, and relaxing in a cozy corner of our apartment. My mom woke me up early in the morning and said that the war had started. Our family has become much closer. Every evening we try to talk to our relatives and find out how they are doing. We are helping strangers. When the war is over, I would like for all my family and friends to come to our dacha and talk to each other. Dear Californians, I wish you to always have a peaceful sky, I wish you to always be warm. May you never experience the war.
ΠΡΠ°Π½Π° Π. (Diana B, 11 years, Cherkasy)
I love gymnastics. I love UKRAINE. In the morning my mother woke me up with the words: "Wake up, the war has begun." When the war started, I was very scared. Since the war started, I am afraid of being alone. I am no longer able to attend my favorite clubs: music and dance. During the day when the sirens are going off, I am always looking for a safe place to hide. The first thing I want to do after the war is over is to sit at a big table with all my relatives and hug everyone. Appreciate what you have. Appreciate life!!!
ΠΠ»ΡΠ± Π. (Glib D, 9 years, Cherkasy)
What are your hobbies? - I am interested in astronomy. I study two foreign languages. I play tennis & enjoy ballroom dancing. What would you like to share about the picture that you draw? - Sunflower is a symbol of Ukraine. Birds are soldiers of russia. The sunflower is broken because it was attacked. I felt its pain when I was drawing it. How did you find out that the war started? - Mom told Dad, and he told me. How has the war affected your life and the lives of your family? - I don't like distance lessons. I worry my friends will not return home from other countries; I miss them. We do not go to after school clubs. We go for walk in our backyard and sometimes near the Dniper river. I read when I am not playing games on my phone. The first thing you want to do when the war is over? - I have so many dreams. I want a new bike. I want to drive around the city through the forest with my Dad, like we did last year. I want to hug my friends. Your message to the people of California. - May you never experience the war!
ΠΠ²Π³Π΅Π½ΡΡ Π. (Evgenia D, 7 years, Cherkasy)
What are your hobbies? - I like making art with my mom and playing tennis. What would you like to share about your drawing? - The girl represents Ukraine. How did you find out about the war? - From my mom. How did the war impact your life? - We do not see our friends any longer because they moved away, left Ukraine. What is the first thing you would like to do when the war is over? - I am looking forward to my birthday and want my friends back.
ΠΠ»Π΅ΠΊΡΠ°Π½Π΄ΡΠ° Π. (Oleksandra D, 7 years, Cherkasy)
What are your hobbies? - I like playing tennis and drawing. I am learning to play the guitar. I like listening to French words. What did you draw? - I wanted to draw a field. Lately Mom has been worried about the fields not being sown and we wonβt have any food. How did your life change since the beginning of the war? - Since the war started, we only walk in the yard and never see friends anymore. What is the first thing you want to do when the war is over? - I want to get a dog and travel to the country which has a playground with a lot of swings. What would you like to say to the people that live in California? - Smile.
ΠΠ°ΡΡΠ°Π½Π½Π° Π. (Marianna D, 7 years, Cherkasy)
I like dancing and drawing. I draw a sunflower protecting Ukraine from enemy missiles. I found out about the war from my parents. Since the war has started, my sister and I do not go to school and kindergarten; we all sleep in the hallway, and every day we hear sirens screaming all over the city. When the war is over, I want to go to McDonald's with my girlfriends and family to celebrate the victory, and then I want to go to go to the beach. I would like to ask people in California to help close the sky over my country.
ΠΡΠ±ΠΎΠ² Π. (Lubov I, 11 years, Cherkasy)
I like to play the piano and guitar. This picture is one of my best drawings because I have not drawn anything recently and I do not think I am any good at drawing. I found about the war from my mom. Since the war started, we all must think about our every single movement and not argue. I do not think the war impacted me much, well maybe during the first days I was very scared (I am still scared but not as much). When the war is over, I want to get a ukulele. I am very happy that you all are doing well, are able to go to school and your lives are not at risk.
ΠΠ»Π΅ΠΊΡΡΠΉ Π. (Oleksiy K, 10 years, Cherkasy)
I like break to dance and making figurines from plasticine. I am feeling grateful to our defenders and believe Ukraine will win! When I woke up on February 24th, my mom said "Lesha, you are not going to school today because Russia announced the war against Ukraineβ. This war changed everything. My relatives were forced to leave their cities because their homes were destroyed. Air raids continue go on during the day and at night. Every time a plane flies over my house, I want it to be Ukrainian. I do not want planes to harm anyone any longer. The first thing I want to do when the war is over is get together with my friends. I would like to wish all of you to always have a peaceful sky.
ΠΠ΅ΡΠΎΠ½ΡΠΊΠ° Π. (Veronika L, 13 years, Cherkasy)
I like drawing and knitting. I learned about the start of the war from my mom. Because of the war I was evacuated abroad. After the war is over, I would do anything to see my friends again.
ΠΠ°ΡΡΡ Π. (Maria K, 9 years, Cherkasy)
I enjoy drawing, reading books and listening to music. Today I draw a sunflower field that grew in my prosperous motherland, Ukraine. Sunflower is a symbol of kindness. We are kind people, people that love their land. I believe we will win this war, because Good always wins over evil. I learned about the start of the war from my parents. They got a call from friends that live in Kiev who told that Kiev was getting bombed! My family chose to stay in our city, but our lives are not the same anymore. We often hear sirens that alert us of the upcoming bombings, we hear the roar of the planes and rockets all the time. We are forced to hide in the basement of our house. It is very scary! I dream of my family gathering at a large table. I would like to see and hug my grandparents, my sister, my god father. I wish you all to live in peace and never experience the war.
ΠΠ°ΡΡΡ Π. (Maria M, 13 years, Cherkasy)
I like dancing and drawing. I am dreaming of seeing my friends again and baking a pie with my best friend after the war is over. Even the strongest of us need help sometimes. Ukraine is going through such devastation, and I hope you will help our people in any way you can.
ΠΠ΅ΡΠΎΠ½ΡΠΊΠ° Π. (Veronika O, 8 years, Cherkasy)
I enjoy drawing and playing the piano. My drawing is called βMy Ukraine is fragile and strong ". My country the best β it is invincible because its strength is in its beauty. The beauty of its people and nature. The beauty of the sky and the sun. Only here, on my native Ukrainian land -gold wheat and sunflowers welcome us every morning. My home and my favorite apple orchards are here. The white stork will bring us the news of the victory one day. I learned about the war early in the morning on February 24 from my mom. My family remains in my city. Mom and brothers are working as volunteers. I help weave camouflage nets. I continue to study. This is, what can I do for the future of my country. My Ukraine is a country of smart and educated people! After the Victory I want to go to the beach near Odessa with my parents and brothers. The water is warm there. I would like to tell you that today Ukrainian people feel the support of the world. We are very grateful for this.