Ukrainian Child War Diaries Presented in Netherlands
2023-08-26
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1An exhibition of war stories and artwork from children in Ukraine recently opened in the Netherlands.
2The event is being held in Amsterdam, where Anne Frank wrote her famous World War II diaries as she hid her family from Nazi occupiers.
3The exhibition, called "War Diaries," shows the experiences of children caught in the war in Ukraine.
4The conflict began when Russian forces invaded the country in February 2022.
5Khrystyna Khranovska developed the idea for the show.
6She said it is meant to describe the pains of war "through the children's eyes."
7Khranovska added, "It strikes into the very heart of every adult to be aware of the suffering and grief that the Russian war has brought our children."
8The exhibition includes notes like those written by Anne Frank in the Amsterdam home where she hid with her family from the Nazis during World War II.
9The show shares the stories Ukrainian children have faced during the war, as told in writings, photos and video.
10Among those taking part was Mykola Kostenko.
11The boy, who is now 15, spent 21 days surrounded by Russian forces in the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol.
12Kostenko created drawings with pen and paper torn from notebooks.
13One of them showed the small basement where he and his family sheltered from Russian forces before they fled the city.
14Kostenko told the Associated Press, "I put my soul into all of these pictures because this is what I lived through in Mariupol. What I saw, what I heard. So, this is my experience, and this is my hope."
15Katya Taylor is a curator for the exhibition, meaning she helps collect the materials included in the show.
16She said she thinks the diaries and artwork are useful tools for helping the children deal with the harmful effects of war.
17Kostenko said drawing and painting helped calm him and provided a healing effect.
18"It also was an instrument to save the emotions that I lived through. For me to remember them in the future because it's important," he added.
19Ukrainian officials have estimated that more than 500 children have been killed during the war.
20In addition, the United Nations children's agency, UNICEF, estimates about 1.5 million Ukrainian children are at risk of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health problems.
21The youngest diarist was 10-year-old Yehor Kravtsov, who also lived in Mariupol.
22In writing appearing next to the diary, he describes his dream of becoming a builder.
23But he said his experience living through the war changed his mind.
24Kravtsov wrote, "When we got out from the basement during the occupation ... I was very hungry, I decided to become a chef to feed the whole world."
25I'm Bryan Lynn.
1An exhibition of war stories and artwork from children in Ukraine recently opened in the Netherlands. 2The event is being held in Amsterdam, where Anne Frank wrote her famous World War II diaries as she hid her family from Nazi occupiers. 3The exhibition, called "War Diaries," shows the experiences of children caught in the war in Ukraine. The conflict began when Russian forces invaded the country in February 2022. 4Khrystyna Khranovska developed the idea for the show. She said it is meant to describe the pains of war "through the children's eyes." Khranovska added, "It strikes into the very heart of every adult to be aware of the suffering and grief that the Russian war has brought our children." 5The exhibition includes notes like those written by Anne Frank in the Amsterdam home where she hid with her family from the Nazis during World War II. The show shares the stories Ukrainian children have faced during the war, as told in writings, photos and video. 6Among those taking part was Mykola Kostenko. The boy, who is now 15, spent 21 days surrounded by Russian forces in the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol. Kostenko created drawings with pen and paper torn from notebooks. One of them showed the small basement where he and his family sheltered from Russian forces before they fled the city. 7Kostenko told the Associated Press, "I put my soul into all of these pictures because this is what I lived through in Mariupol. What I saw, what I heard. So, this is my experience, and this is my hope." 8Katya Taylor is a curator for the exhibition, meaning she helps collect the materials included in the show. She said she thinks the diaries and artwork are useful tools for helping the children deal with the harmful effects of war. 9Kostenko said drawing and painting helped calm him and provided a healing effect. "It also was an instrument to save the emotions that I lived through. For me to remember them in the future because it's important," he added. 10Ukrainian officials have estimated that more than 500 children have been killed during the war. In addition, the United Nations children's agency, UNICEF, estimates about 1.5 million Ukrainian children are at risk of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health problems. 11The youngest diarist was 10-year-old Yehor Kravtsov, who also lived in Mariupol. In writing appearing next to the diary, he describes his dream of becoming a builder. But he said his experience living through the war changed his mind. 12Kravtsov wrote, "When we got out from the basement during the occupation ... I was very hungry, I decided to become a chef to feed the whole world." 13I'm Bryan Lynn. 14The Associated Press reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English. 15______________________________________________ 16Words in This Story 17exhibition - n. an event at which objects such as paintings are shown to the public 18diary - n. a book containing information about meetings and other things to remember 19Nazi -adj. related to the National Socialist German Workers' Party which ruled Germany from 1933 to 1945 20grief - n. very great sadness, especially at the death of someone 21soul - n. the spiritual part of a person which is not material and is believed by many to be eternal 22basement - n. the area in a house that is below ground 23post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) - n. a mental condition in which a person suffers severe nervousness and depression after a very frightening or shocking experience