The Project «Faces of Resilience: Living with the Consequences of War»

The project aims to collect and publish, in Ukrainian and English, the life stories of civilians undergoing external rehabilitation after being injured as a result of military operations in Ukraine. These stories will include people with different life experiences, professions and views, and will show how they are rebuilding their lives, finding new meaning and overcoming personal and social challenges. We will look at their psychological journey, the development of a new self-identity and the reaction of society to their changes.

The experience of injured or disabled civilians undergoing rehabilitation shows that society often lacks a sufficient understanding of the challenges they face after their injuries. People with injuries – both visible and hidden – face not only physical pain, but also social exclusion, misunderstanding, and lack of access to inclusive environments. In Ukraine, the war has significantly increased the number of people in need of rehabilitation, but public discussion about the process of recovery from trauma remains underdeveloped. The project aims to change this by sharing inspiring stories of people rebuilding their lives after serious injury.

In addition, the stories will help society – both in Ukraine and abroad – to better understand the transformative power of caring, empathy and inclusiveness, and stimulate change towards a more responsive and open environment.

The purpose of the project

1. To tell the world stories of strength and resilience, showing how Ukrainian people adapt to the new reality, overcome physical and psychological trauma and find new meaning in life.
2. To change society’s attitudes towards people with trauma and disabilities by promoting empathy and creating an inclusive environment through personal stories.
3. To give journalism students the opportunity to gain practical experience in reporting on complex and emotionally sensitive issues.
4. To disseminate information about rehabilitation programmes in Ukraine and promote international solidarity by telling these stories on various platforms.

Target Audience

The project has a broad target audience. At the same time, we will prioritise access channels for young people aged 15-35, who will determine the future of Europe and the world for the next 20 years.

Who will implement the project

The project is implemented by the “Student Journalism Platform” NGO (TruthfulReporting online media) together with the “Ukrainian centre for volonteering” NGO (Unburned project).

Duration and format

Life stories of people who have been physically affected by the war will be published in video format on our YouTube channel. Interviews in text format will be published on the website.

The project will be implemented from June 1 to August 31, 2025 with financial support from The Fritt Ord Foundation, a Norwegian private non-profit foundation that is intended to protect and promote freedom of expression, public debate, art and culture.