Within this grief camp, a gathering of nearly 50 Ukrainian children who have lost their fathers in the war, emotional healing takes precedence over the pressing priorities of medicine, infrastructure, and weapons that the country faces. These brave kids come together from different parts of Ukraine for two weeks of therapeutic activities carefully curated by dedicated therapists. Approaching our interviews with precision, we engage with individuals like Liza, a 13-year-old from Kyiv, who carries a cheerful demeanor on the surface. Additionally, we connect with Vlad, a compassionate soul, and witness the gradual opening up of many of these children in an environment that encourages emotional expression. However, not all are prepared to share their pain, like Yura, a withdrawn youngster from Bucha, where documented Russian atrocities have taken place. Yura, a survivor of an attack that claimed his father’s life during a bike ride, has played dead in order to live on.
Amidst their shattered dreams, we task these children with the creation of their dream homes. How does one envision a dream house when their very dreams have been shattered? Can emotional rebuilding even commence when destruction still surrounds every aspect of their lives? It is not just their fathers that these youngsters have lost; they have also bid farewell to their homes, friends, schools, pets, and the multitude of belongings, big and small, that constituted their everyday existence. Reflecting back on Liza, who initially struggled to visit her father’s grave, she has now allowed us to document her therapy session, revealing her feelings of inadequate support from her mother. In this safe space provided by the camp, Liza reclaims a vital resource that the war had cruelly snatched away from her – the opportunity to grieve. Amidst the camp’s population of 50 children, desperate to hold onto the remnants of their childhood, a disheartening reality emerges: with every passing day, another 50 children join their ranks as they too lose their fathers. The cycle repeats itself, day after day.
Ukraine undoubtedly requires assistance in acquiring weaponry to combat their adversaries, but it is equally imperative that the healing process be addressed. The conclusion of the camp is always a challenging moment, as farewells are exchanged and the children are thrust back into the harsh realities of the world. However, this transition holds an even deeper significance for these kids, as they bid adieu to their youth and re-enter the war-torn environment that awaits them.
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