“It feels as if the entire land has turned black—filled with pain, death, horror, and fear. But our land still remembers the bright times, which I painted on the horizon. That light must return to our country. There is great hope in that.” — Nastia, 13, Ukraine
Despite the slightly pixelated resolution of my screen, I can see that her eyes are filled with emotion—as bright as the pale end-of-winter sun filtering through the window. Her metallic voice rises from the speakers of my laptop, calm yet resonant, and I feel this is one of those conversations we remember precisely in moments when we doubt our ability to make a difference in the world. Iryna clears her throat, and I know that from now on, her voice will stand in contrast to that inner one we all carry—the one whispering “What’s the point? Who am I to change anything?”. This late morning, from Ukraine, I meet Iryna Shkira, the curator behind The Healing Exhibition. Both physical and entirely digital, the exhibition showcases artworks created by children affected by war, emphasising how crucial it is to consider their trauma not only for collective memory but also to help rebuild the future. After launching the exhibition at the Ukrainian Embassy in Portugal—an event that gathered diplomats, ambassadors, and even the President of the Portuguese Parliament—it was exhibited on the Nova Business School campus in Lisbon and will now be travelling throughout Europe.
Iryna led a successful career in the corporate world, but the war in Ukraine completely overturned her life. That’s when she began working with nonprofits, including the Rescue Now Foundation, which organizes therapeutic camps for Ukrainian children. Iryna also decided to create Cordial, a social impact marketing agency. Between two sparkling smiles, she tells me that her goal is to bring to life projects that serve communities. The moment you hear her speak, you just know: Iryna is one of those rare women who creates possibilities with a quiet humility—so unassuming, she doesn’t even realise that as she talks, I’m thinking she’s one of the most powerful souls I’ve ever met.
Iryna wanted to create real impact—not just to raise awareness about the current conflict, but also about the marks it will leave on the hearts of the children who are living through it. The more souls are touched, and the less this war and its consequences will be forgotten. So, she immediately thought of the children. Children who watch their parents leave, lose their homes, grow up hiding, forced to invent new reference points. She wanted them to be seen and most importantly, to feel heard.
In collaboration with the psychologists of the Rescue Now camps, she proposed that some of the children exhibit their drawings, accompanied by some fragments of their stories. Each camp hosts around 60 children, but some were hesitant to share such intimate thoughts. Art has the power to release trauma—but also awaken it, especially during healing. With close support from psychologists, and with the consent of the children’s parents or caregivers, eight artworks were eventually selected for The Healing Exhibition. Iryna’s intention was clear: “Ukraine’s best and brightest are on the front lines—the medics, the soldiers, the volunteers. We need to make sure the next generation, the children, are supported and equipped to rebuild the country. We must ensure that their trauma doesn’t define their whole lives.” If trauma must not define their lives, it should at least move us not to remain indifferent.
But now, how does one create an exhibition with such an ambition?
First step: finding a way to show the artworks to the public. To make the invisible visible, Iryna chose to present the exhibition in both traditional art venues and in online platforms. Each artwork was digitised and is displayed with a portrait of the child and their words, now available on the exhibition’s website. Moving people is now possible anywhere—and anytime—thanks to this accessibility. Indeed, the exhibition is available online for free and on Instagram as well. Donations support the Rescue Now therapeutic camps. With each new therapeutic camp (the next one will take place in May), new artworks will be added to expand this growing archive of resilience.
Art has the power to touch us straight in the heart, and seeing these drawings gives you chills. What strikes you most in the exhibition is, of course, the horror of what the children have endured—but above all, the poetry in their works. Dreams, horizons, colors: “There’s one I’ll never forget: a girl drew a ‘Tree of Dreams,’ where each leaf was a dream. There was a little suitcase in the tree, and every time a dream came true, the suitcase got lighter.” That child who drew the ‘Tree of Dreams’ is Valeria (11), who lost her father. Holding Valeria’s hand, there are seven other children, aged 11 to 13, whose works and stories are part of the exhibition.
Iryna smiles as she speaks of the drawings and the hopes they carry. There’s something in her that seems unshakable. War affects adults and children alike, but Iryna has chosen to make them particularly visible by stretching a great canvas—so that other small–but–immense souls can trace what they have to say. As the exhibition’s title suggests, each artwork is a story of resilience.
When I ask her about her goals for the future of the exhibition, she answers immediately: “My goal is to bring it literally everywhere I can.” Now, Iryna is searching for new places to welcome the project. As she emphasises: “Really, this exhibition can be hosted anywhere—galleries, museums, municipalities. The more awareness we raise, the better. Even if the war ends tomorrow, the trauma these children experienced will remain. If left unaddressed, we don’t know the consequences for their future.”
After closing my laptop, I return to the children’s artworks one by one. I reread their stories. Later while walking outside, I think about the fear that must grip them at night—and the hope for a better future. We are not decision-makers, we cannot stop the war tomorrow. But Iryna’s voice, and her inspiring path, still resonate. These children must be seen, and their stories must echo so that they may inspire our individual journeys, reminding us that we can make a difference—in ways that are unique and true to us.
Words by Aurélia Gervasoni
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