The initiative group of social and cultural activists with the support of UNDP in Ukraine and other partners helps to restore community buildings such as schools and hospitals, as well as develop cultural and educational spheres of the Donbas community. The project is aimed at people who live in the liberated territories, but who still need to be liberated from problems, fear, panic, and distrust.

 

The team of caring people tried to bring positive change to the local community of Mykolaivka through the culture, kindness, and support. "We noticed how people have changed, especially children. We noticed that this is a difficult process. I think that killing people is much easier than changing them. We have to change our citizens and ourselves. Our project "Novyi Donbas", in fact, is aimed at it," highlighted a head of the project Larysa Artyuhina.

 

Ms. Larysa, who is also a filmmaker of the volunteer project «# BABYLON'13», and the main project manager Oleksandr Fomenko, who heads the initiative "Tvorcha Varta," presented the results of the first expedition of the project, which took place from 5 to 20 October. After the tragic events that took place in early July, many buildings were destroyed in Mykolaivka. Among them there is the school №3, which has a single concert hall for all schools in the town, where all events take place. So, activists directed their efforts to restore Mykolaivka's school that was partially destroyed after combat. It is expected that all work will be completed by mid-December, and children will be able to celebrate St. Nicholas Day in the renovated school.

 

The documentary movie on a trip to Mykolaika demonstrated how the "Novyi Donbas" team helped install new furniture in the classrooms, teachers' office, and concert hall and perform other maintenance work. In addition, the school was equipped with modern technical equipment to establish a computer lab for students and install equipment in classrooms. Activists of the project initiated volunteer work, which was supported by parents and children, for cleaning up school's debris that remained after combat.

 

As part of the educational and cultural programme, specialists conducted workshops in art therapy, street art, acting, pantomime, and eurhythmics. Amongst other things, children were helped to launch a theatrical performance. The Children Film Studio gave a series of lectures and practical workshops, where children tried out their skills of film directing and production. Discussion clubs for fiction, documentary, and scientific films were held. The youngest children enjoyed animated films. Trained psychologists provided group and individual counselling. In addition, the human rights activists provided legal assistance to local citizens.

 

Kyiv Youth Theatre's actress Rymma Zyubina held some interesting lessons on vocational guidance, and gladly joined cleaning of the school with students. But that's not all! Rymma presented a children's musical play "Trumpeter" that was produced in Ukraine. Moreover, Ms. Rymma organized a trip to Uzhhorod for a group of students from Mykolaivka to introduce them the culture of Transcarpathia. Students became friends with local students and even met the mayor of Mukachevo, who impressed them with his knowledge of six languages.

 

"I'd never paint all people in one colour. I believe it is the most primitive manner of separating the world into colours and categories. I think once a person starts doing it, he/she destroys him/herself. Division into East and West is simply not acceptable. Therefore, these cultural exchanges that should be in the programme of the Ministry of Culture and Education are very important. I set a goal to bring these children to my home city, Uzhhorod, and show that there never was such a problem where I sat in a class with children of at least six nationalities, where we spoke different languages. In fact, people only enriched their knowledge about languages and cultures of each other without destroying each other. We even have a church where the service of different faiths occurs in one church. I think that my young friends from Mykolaivka understood many things," Ms. Rymma said.

 

The "Novyi Donbas" project does not end there. Activists plan to continue helping people in eastern Ukraine, which suffered during the armed conflict. In the coming months it is planned to launch several expeditions to other small towns in Donbas.