In brief
In Kyiv, a summer acting class led by Olesia Korzhenevska aims to help teenagers heal from the trauma of war and isolation. Among the participants is Sasha Suchyk, whose struggle with depression highlights the emotional challenges faced by youth amid conflict.
In a touching initiative, a summer acting course in Kyiv has become a beacon of hope for teenagers grappling with the lasting impacts of war and the pandemic. Led by instructor Olesia Korzhenevska, the program focuses on fostering imagination and joy, even when surroundings can feel overwhelmingly bleak.Korzhenevska expressed her vision for the course on Facebook, describing it as a space for "happy children, free in their thoughts and dreams." Yet, finding such youthful optimism amid the crisis proved challenging. Many children had been confined to their homes for years, living in fear and struggling to envision a peaceful future.The class eventually attracted participants, including 16-year-old Sasha Suchyk, who epitomizes the struggle faced by many youths in Ukraine. Just a year earlier, Sasha, battling severe depression exacerbated by the stresses of ongoing conflict, had dropped out of the same class and found himself admitted to a mental facility.Through the theater, Sasha and his peers are given a rare opportunity to express themselves and reconnect with joy, despite the shadows of their environment. The performing arts serve as a transformative outlet, allowing these young individuals to cultivate resilience, forge connections, and, ultimately, reclaim their narratives in a time fraught with uncertainty.
