In Kyiv, a summer acting class led by Olesia Korzhenevska becomes a beacon of hope for teenagers overcoming the impacts of war and personal trauma.
Artistic Resilience: How a Play is Inspiring Hope in Ukrainian Teens
Artistic Resilience: How a Play is Inspiring Hope in Ukrainian Teens
Ukrainian youth find hope and healing through a summer acting program in Kyiv, amidst the ongoing struggles of war and mental health.
In the midst of a conflict that has claimed countless lives and upended communities, a group of teenagers in Kyiv is finding solace on stage. This summer, they participated in a unique acting course that culminated in the performance of an original play titled "It's Okay!" under the guidance of their instructor Olesia Korzhenevska.
Korzhenevska, who took to social media to promote her class, aimed to create a safe space for "happy children, free in their thoughts and dreams." The reality, however, told a different story for many teenagers in Ukraine. The prolonged pandemic compounded by the grueling war with Russia left many young souls confined to their homes, often plagued by loneliness, fear, and uncertainty about a volatile future.
Just two days after her hopeful post, Korzhenevska received an inquiry from the mother of a 16-year-old boy named Sasha Suchyk, who expressed a desire to join the class. Sasha was not a typical student; just a year prior, he had left the same acting course and struggled profoundly, even spending time in a mental health facility battling clinical depression and self-harm. The festering wounds of the conflict had left a deep mark on him.
Despite his challenging past, the stage became a transformative platform for Sasha and his peers. Through rehearsal and the shared experience of storytelling, they found a medium to process their emotions and experiences, fostering resilience and encouraging connections in a world that had often felt isolating. As they staged their production and breathed life into their characters, they created a space of empowerment and creativity among the shadows of their reality, thus igniting a flame of hope amid darkness.
Korzhenevska, who took to social media to promote her class, aimed to create a safe space for "happy children, free in their thoughts and dreams." The reality, however, told a different story for many teenagers in Ukraine. The prolonged pandemic compounded by the grueling war with Russia left many young souls confined to their homes, often plagued by loneliness, fear, and uncertainty about a volatile future.
Just two days after her hopeful post, Korzhenevska received an inquiry from the mother of a 16-year-old boy named Sasha Suchyk, who expressed a desire to join the class. Sasha was not a typical student; just a year prior, he had left the same acting course and struggled profoundly, even spending time in a mental health facility battling clinical depression and self-harm. The festering wounds of the conflict had left a deep mark on him.
Despite his challenging past, the stage became a transformative platform for Sasha and his peers. Through rehearsal and the shared experience of storytelling, they found a medium to process their emotions and experiences, fostering resilience and encouraging connections in a world that had often felt isolating. As they staged their production and breathed life into their characters, they created a space of empowerment and creativity among the shadows of their reality, thus igniting a flame of hope amid darkness.
