“Voices of Children”, a Kyiv-based NGO, is Kryla’s very first and only partner for 2025. As Ukraine’s largest provider of psychological support for children affected by war, their work is vital, as highlighted by the founder: “Children can no longer escape the war”. This profound reality underscores the importance of their work and our support. The NGO’s strong reputation was the determining factor in the selection of our first partner organization.
Message from the founder
Depending on the course of the war, we will personally visit one of the camps held in the Western part of Ukraine at our own expense. Unless restricted by security-related concerns, regular on-site assessments and direct personal contact with our partner organizations would be standard practice for us.
“This Art Lab not only opened doors for me, but also allowed new ideas to come in. The atmosphere of the course itself was incredible, I felt like being wrapped in a warm blanket. Before the start of the Art Lab, I had a lot of anger inside me due to the war, our family’s resulting escape to Moldova and my father's death at the front in 2023. At first, I was reluctant to share my feelings with others, as I felt it was not appropriate. During the Art Lab I expressed my emotions and lived through them again. This helped me breathe. I also realized that there are many other children like me, who cope with the help of Art, too. This gave me energy and fullfilment. Thanks to this course I confirmed to myself that Art is my calling, it gave me hope, which I was very much missing, and a strong determination to never stop and keep progressing.“
"We are living in wartime, we are all experiencing fear of death, and we do not know what tomorrow will bring. Yet, amidst the turmoil, I found a sanctuary in the Art Lab by "Voices of Children." This camp offered me more than just a respite; it became a catalyst for profound personal growth. It allowed me to explore my deepest fears, transforming pain into art. I realized that every day I have to do my best to live this life, realizing that tomorrow may not come. This truth hit me most brutally when a rocket was shot down just 300 meters from my home. After the camp, I returned to Kryvyi Rih with newfound strength. One day, I want to become a lawyer, have a family, and just live in peace in my country. Above all, I wish for a future where the people who will live after me do not to suffer because of war.”
“My daughter is 16 years old, we live in Kyiv under constant heavy shelling. She experiences a lot of difficult emotions. Although we speak a lot, sometimes these feelings are so intense and scary, they cannot be simply verbalised. One way to work through them is to sublimate them into some kind of creativity. Art Labs made a big difference, they were full of warmth and kindness. Even after very hard nights, the sessions made her feel better. I observed positive changes in my child, who began to write a lot and express her feelings. I witnessed her crying when writing her homework, but I realised, that if she writes and cries, she comes out of her room with a smile. I am especially grateful for the artistic residency in a quiet place in Carpathian mountains free from shelling and explosions. She told me: "Mom, I finally slept without explosions!” Art Labs were therapeutic and made her more resilient to what she will have to go through. Now she probably has more ways to live these emotion, many and unknown of which are yet to come…”
Building on the hoped-for success of our fundraising initiatives, Kryla will be able to expand its reach to other impactful children's initiatives. Starting in 2026, we plan to support selected small-scale organizations in Ukraine that align with our mission and values. We already have some in the pipeline. At the appropriate time, we will evaluate and prepare them in detail.
