A few weeks ago, two amazing handmade dolls came to us with a group from Zhytomyr, Ukraine. This was a gift we received for the efforts we, our partners, donors made to help Ukraine.
We asked Ms. Viktoria Krotiuk, a teacher living in Ukraine,
to describe, introduce us to her passion and tell us a bit about the dolls, so that our visitors could learn more about their history.
Here is what Ms Viktorija wrote to us:
"Every minute we feel your help! You are true friends and decent neighbours! Peace and prosperity to your homeland!"
This is the beginning of a message from Ms Viktorija.
"I made my first pair of Scandinavian dwarves even before the war.... It was a spontaneous desire to try something different. That's how the Lovers were born.
Later I created another pair of dolls - Ustyma and Odarochka. All my creations became Christmas presents for loved ones. Then came the worst February..."
For Ms Viktoriya, like many other Ukrainians, time stopped, she had no plans, she felt only powerlessness and hatred towards her oppressors. Hope returned at the end of March.
"My hands themselves reached out to do something pleasant. It was my own survival in the hell of war. I always gave the dolls old and forgotten Ukrainian names, such as Orian and Zoriana, Naum and Sijana, Blagomyr and Zabava, Bazan and Zhadana."
Our dolls are Svyatobor (majestic and holy in battle) and Myloslava (the one who celebrates love; she does not think about the negative, that in difficult situations she looks for a positive solution)
Thank YOU for the beautiful gift, it is really special to us and we have great hope that soon Ms Victorija will be creating her works with peace of mind for her free homeland. Which we wish her with all our hearts.
