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From Struggle to Canvas: A Ukrainian Refugee's Artistic Awakening in Warsaw
“When I started drawing, it relaxed me, there was some kind of relief...”
In her hometown of Kharkiv, Ukraine, Anastasiia lived a quiet life as an accountant until the war broke out in 2014 and escalated in 2022. In March 2022, she arrived in Warsaw with her niece and daughter, Veronica, now fourteen.
“To be honest, at the beginning it was difficult and emotional. I couldn't find a place for myself. Only after couple months did I get used to it a little and began to feel more comfortable in Poland,” says Anastasiia.
She moved into a collective shelter managed by the Warsaw Family Support Centre (Warszawskie Centrum Pomocy Rodzinie, WCPR) and supported by IOM. Anastasiia felt a sense of tranquillity in expressing her emotions through creativity and she found encouragement from an IOM psychologist named Emilia.
“Emilia helped me to throw out all these negative emotions through creativity and putting my thoughts and feelings on paper. That was my first attempt to find something new for myself,” recalls Anastasiia.
It was not long before she found an opportunity to use her talents to make a positive impact on others.
“I wanted to add some colour to our dining room, and I also wanted to involve the children,” she stopped and laughed, “Plus, they have always been interested in drawing on the walls, and here they could just take part in all of this.” This is when she re-discovered a passion for painting that had long been dormant within her.
Her idea was an immediate success. Not only did it brighten the room itself, but it also provided an opportunity for the community to come together, join her endeavour, and create a sense of belonging. It was not long before the dining hall was covered in images of colourful plant life and animals.
“Anastasia was attending my art therapy classes and I encouraged her to express herself through paintings as I noticed she has a huge talent,” said Emilia. Throughout the process, Anastasiia received support from IOM.
Anastasiia's emotional healing also drew from her deep appreciation for her new home, Warsaw. The city not only provided a safe haven, but also offered opportunities for personal and artistic growth. Her works were inspired by her favourite artists such as Andrzej Wroblewski and Claude Monet. She also emphasises the role of the University of Warsaw in providing her with avenues for learning and personal development. The various courses offered, from languages to handmade crafts, greatly empowered Anastasiia and further unleashed her creativity.
“Warsaw is a city that gives Ukrainians the opportunity to learn something new. You can go to the museums to see exhibitions for free, look at the works of famous artists and be inspired by this too. I believe that Poland and the Poles are providing a lot of help to Ukrainians so that we can feel at home here. I gained some self-confidence that I could do this,” adds Anastasiia.
Anastasiia’s work already made an impact on visitors to the shelter. One of the woman has ordered a painting for her daughter’s room, which Anastasiia will paint in the near future. “Any creative activity relaxes and energizes you with positivity,” adds Anastasia.
Anastasiia is just one of almost 250,000 people that IOM Poland has supported since February 2022. The vast majority of refugees from Ukraine in Poland are women. As the war in Ukraine enters its third year, IOM will continue to support refugees from Ukrainian in Poland, including women like Anastasiia.
This story was written by Alex Foster, Social Media Assistant and Ewelina Kawczynska, Public Information Coordinator, for IOM Poland.
The collective shelters in Poland are supported by IOM with the kind generosity of the Governments of Norway, Germany, France, Japan and the United States.
