"CHILDREN OF WAR" in Albania

From June 5 to 15, 2023 in the capital of Albania, the Tirana Art Gallery, hosted an exhibition of works of art by children from Ukraine "CHILDREN OF WAR", where 42 works of young artists under the age of 15 who are experiencing war were presented. The works were made by children from different parts of Ukraine, who have been living under the bombardment for more than a year. Despite the difficult trials of war, young artists retain a sense of the beauty of the world in their hearts.

The project is organized by the Association for the Development of International Relations ADRUM, the promotion and production company STUDIORAR under the patronage of the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine and the Embassy of Ukraine in Albania.

The exhibition was opened by the president of the development of international relations ADRUM, Tetiana Kolesnichenko, the director of the Tirana Art Gallery, Mr. Abazu Hado, the head of international projects, Ms. Olmira Lulani, and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Republic of Albania, Volodymyr Anatoliyovych Shkurov. Mr. Ambassador began his speach with a short video about Ukrainian children who were deprived of their homes, families and happy childhood by Russia. Addressing the guests of the event, Mr. Ambassador reminded of the tragic consequences of the Russian war for the most vulnerable category of the population - children. The guests also watched a story about a seven-year-old girl Oleksandra Pascal, who lost her leg as a result of enemy shelling, but despite everything fights for a full life: after rehabilitation, little Sasha won her first gymnastics tournament, not backing down from her dream even with a prosthetic leg. The story about the little heroine helped the audience to better understand what an incredible burden has fallen on the fate of Ukrainian children, and how courageously they overcome pain and horror, building the future of Ukraine with their lives.

Mr. Ambassador presented Certificate of appreciation to the main organizer of the exhibition, the president of the Association for the Development of International Relations ADRUM Tetiana Kolesnichenko, with thanks for the popularization of Ukrainian culture abroad, the presentation of the art exhibition "Children of War", stories about the life, experiences and dreams of Ukrainian children in the conditions of Russia's aggressive aggression against Ukraine.

Representatives of the diplomatic corps of Greece, Slovakia, Palestine, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Albanian artists and cultural figures, teachers and schoolchildren, Ukrainians living in Albania visited the exhibition. The guests were impressed by the pictures that show the war through the eyes of children, separation from relatives, loss of loved ones, as well as boundless hope for a bright future and unshakable faith in Victory.

The guests immersed themselves in the atmosphere of the Ukrainian spirit, emphasized by wonderful songs, which accompanied the video of the works of the exhibition participants, which was broadcast on the screen.

The event was widely covered by the Albanian media, including television.

We sincerely thank all friends and partners who helped to realize this project. Special thanks to Kleart Duraj and Najada Samarxhiu, Tetiana Derevinska and Anastasiia Cyfers.