By Ivy Laidlaw-Morris
Eight-year-old Kira lives in Balaklia, a small village in northeastern Ukraine. Her favorite color is bright, bubbly, pink and her favorite scent is flowers. She loves taking walks with friends, especially in autumn. For Kira, happiness lies in surprises—unexpected gifts and moments shared with loved ones. In her future, she envisions herself as a successful programmer, creating innovations that improve lives and inspire others. She also has an even bigger aspiration of owning a cat one day!
Everything about Kira would tell you she’s your typical, happy, eight-year-old girl, but what makes her truly special is her resilience. For half of her life, the world around her has been in crisis. She grew up during the uncertainties of the pandemic, and shortly thereafter, was forced into the realities of war. In March of 2022, Kira’s hometown of Balaklia was occupied by Russian forces, and despite the village’s liberation, the feeling of war still permeates everyday life for local residents.
And yet, Kira keeps dreaming of her brightest future. She finds solace and support at our community center in Balaklia, where art therapy sessions provide a space for her to unwind, breathe, and create. LHI seeks to uplift Kira and children like her to follow their dreams… together, we want to build a future where eight-year-olds can be eight-year-olds, free of burdens of displacement, trauma, and violence.
About Ivy: Hi, I’m Ivy, an intern working with LHI. Like Kira, my favorite time of year is autumn. My favorite thing to do in my free time is explore the nature of Brooklyn, and my favorite holiday is Halloween! Since I was little I’ve been involved with refugee aid through my parents, and LHI’s mission of uplifting and empowering those fleeing persecution and violence is so important to me. I look forward to continued work for and with those like Kira!