Art classes for Ukrainian children in Dublin

My name is Olga Vnukova, and I am a Ukrainian mum with two young children living in Dublin, Ireland. I have lived here for 9 years with my husband and we became Irish citizens in 2019. In the middle of March my parents and grandmother arrived to Ireland from Kharkiv, Ukraine and thanks to the generosity of some friends are now living safely in Stepaside, Dublin.

I and some friends have decided that we must do something to help Ukrainian children and so we set up art classes in Dublin for them. The classes are for both refugee children and those already living here, as you can imagine all our children are affected by the trauma of this war.

The classes will be an outlet for the children to be creative, express their feelings with their peers, feel safe and have something in a new country that they feel belongs to them.

As families come into Ireland, they face an arduous process of building a new home and community. We want to provide a place for these children to meet up where they can feel part of their new community and meet fellow Ukrainian facing the same emotions as them.

We have joined up Jole Bortoli, founder of Art to Heart and visual art facilitator in The Ark - cultural center for children in Temple Bar. Jole will lead the children in creative art classes. To start with we have received support from a local school in Killiney (St Joseph of Cluny Secondary School) who will provide a location to get these classes off the ground free of charge.

Right now we need funding to purchase much needed art resources for the classes and cover the costs for those coming on board to support the children. We are aiming to raise 10,000 EUR which we estimate will provide materials and support for at least 100 children for 3 months. Roughly €30 per child per month. The classes will be provided by a team of volunteers.

Thank you so much and if you have any further questions please don't hesitate to contact me

Yours in gratitude,