Alena is a 12-year-old girl from Bakhmut, whose life changed with the start of the war. In 2014, when the shelling began, her family was forced to evacuate, and they moved to the Kyiv region, while her father stayed in Bakhmut. In 2022, the war returned, and the situation became even more dangerous. Alena, along with her mother, brother, and grandfather, left their home again, escaping the shelling. In the photograph is all the property they managed to take with them, but the most important thing, as her mother says, is that Alena has a violin, and her brother has a saxophone.

My name is Oleksandr Dykaniov, I am 15 years old, and I have been involved in music for 8 years. Over these years, I have created many memories, traveling to Kharkiv for competitions and taking first places. I have received awards, including an Ordyn, first place laureate titles, as well as many diplomas, certificates, cups, and medals. I want to continue developing in the musical field! We were forced to leave our home because it became very dangerous due to the shelling. All educational institutions were closed, and it was impossible to study at all!

Then, in 2022, when the full-scale war began, we were forced to move again, this time to Rivne. Our daughter, Anastasia, had been attending dance classes since she was 4 years old. When we moved to Rivne in 2023, we met some Christians who invited us to an excursion at the Station of Young Naturalists. There, we learned that it was possible to learn to play the guitar, and since Nastya had always wanted to, she began taking lessons. She still goes there today, and she really enjoys it.
Playing the guitar and singing helps me and I love it.