Yoshiki Foundation Helps IOM Bring Music and Arts to People in Ukraine

IOM expresses its sincere gratitude to Yoshiki Foundation America for the generous contribution for IOM Ukraine’s response. It allowed to support 12 initiative groups, including the destroyed and displaced music schools from Sviatohirsk and Lysychansk to deliver music lessons and provide instruments to displaced children and children affected by the war. The remaining part of the donation made available for creative and inclusive music-related civil society initiatives that strengthened social integration of displaced children and their families and enhanced social cohesion in communities with large numbers of IDPs.

IOM strongly believes in the uniting power of music. Continuation of music activities provides some sense of normalcy, respite from the war, and an opportunity to foster friendships and a sense of community. With the generous support from Yoshiki Foundation America IOM could support music initiatives in two oblasts. However, the team received over 70 applications from all over Ukraine, which proves that there is an opportunity to do more.  IOM, therefore, seeks to continue and expand the activities piloted under this project in more oblasts and communities. Below you can read more about the 12 initiatives supported under this project. With many events to follow in the next months, we warmly invite you to join us in person to meet the drivers of positive change and unity through music.

Truskavets Art School

Truskavets has seen a large influx of Internally Displaced Persons. The two music events united children and adults from both host and IDP communities, releasing tensions and helping to overcome vulnerabilities linked to displacement.

June 02-03: The XI Festival of Young Pianists and Summer Music School    

Bilohorodka Village Council

A series of outdoor music and art events called “Warm Music Evenings”. The open-air concerts unite over 200 inhabitants  allowing the young talents to perform on a newly constructed mobile stage, advocating for peace and positive change.

June 24: Open air concert and creative workshop for kids

July 01: Performances of accordionist and vocal-instrumental ensemble “Dictant” (adults)

July 08: Evening of Ukrainian music

Aug 19: Circus school concert  Sviatopetrivske village, Volodymyrska str., 2b

Lysychansk (displaced) music school

The displaced music school lost all of its music instruments due to their relocation following the invasion. The new music instruments received under this project, enable the school to continue giving free of charge classes to hundreds of children, included IDPs. The school will also conduct a year-end concert of their graduates.

July 13:  Year-end concert of graduates 3B Budarina street, Kyiv 

Tetiiv Music School

The music school started working in 1965. Currently, it has over 193 students, among them 92 belong to vulnerable groups in their community, including low-income families, children with disabilities, children of veterans, and IDPs. Thanks to the project’s support, the school is able to continue giving classes and initiate local events for their communities, such as the Festival of street music.

June 01: Master class on jazz improvisations lead by a local composer

June 24: Open air concert Street music festival from 5:30 to 9pm 

Kyiv oblast, Tetiiv city, Сentral park 

Lychakiv Centre for Children and Youth

This Initiative group will open a professional music studio for IDP children and children affected by the war, including those with disabilities. Besides regular music programs, it will conduct open air dancing and singing events, as well as the two summer schools with activities on acting, dancing, singing, music, directing, screenwriting, theater artistry and smartphone photography. 

July 07-28:  Summer Arts School              Lviv, “Capsule” сlub, str. Pekarska, 22 

Aug 10:  The Opening ceremony of a professional music studio    Lviv, str. J. Washington, 5a

Aug 01-17:  Summer school of sport dances    Lviv, “Capsula” club, str. Pekarska, 22., “Many Hearts” club, str. J. Washington, 5a 

Aug 18: Open air street dances  Lviv, Pidvalna str. 4, square near Porokhova tower 

Aug 25:  Open air public singing event  Lviv, Solomia Krushelnytska str. 11-13, park named after Ivan Franko 

"L.Stage" Ballet School Theatre

This initiative engaged and united children and youth affected by the war through a joint preparation for a ballet performance: handcrafting decorations, music classes, ballet classes and finally the two performances. Magic happened not only on the stage, it happened in the hearts of its adult and young audience who enjoyed the pastime, found comfort, mutual understanding, support and even new friends.

June 20:  Ballet perfomance  Drohobych, Lviv Regional Academic Music and Drama Theatre named by Yuriy Drohobych

June 24: Ballet perfomance    Lviv, Lviv National Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra

Happy Radio

The team of “Happy Radio”, together with invited special guests conducted a series of music performances and workshops for children with disabilities from inclusive centres in Kyiv city and Kyiv oblast.  

July 08: Performance for children in Bucha inclusive center Bucha, Vokzalna str. 46-A

July 11: Performance for children in Okhmatdyt hospital Kyiv, V. Chornovola str. 28/1

July 12: Performance for children in specialized center No.1 Kyiv, Akademika Hlushkova ave. 41-Б

July 13: Performance for children in specialized center No.7, Kyiv, Kostiantynivska str. 37

CSO "Mother's Love"

This Initiative Group conducts a series of art-weekends for IDP children and youth, particularly from collective centers. They foresee master-classes on painting and hand crafting, art sessions, interactive music quests, vocal and dance workshops.

June 17: Musical quest and master classes Kyiv, F. Maksymenka str. 21

June 18: Open air public dancing event Kyiv, F. Maksymenka str. 21

June 24: Open air singing event and a vocal workshop Kyiv, F. Maksymenka str. 18

June 25: Open air cinema, lecture and discussions Kyiv, F. Maksymenka str. 21

July 06: Music quest and master classes Kyiv, F. Maksymenka str. 18

July 16: Improvis show in the nature Kyiv, F. Maksymenka str. 18

Novoiavorivsk Art School

The art school closely cooperates with the social centre “Regina” that provides assistance to people with disabilities, as well as with the Novoiavorivsk consultative center for IDPs that counts over 180 IDP children. Thanks to the project’s support, the school is able to continue giving classes and initiate local events for their communities, such as an art exhibition and music activities that will strengthen dialogue and networking among Novoiavorivsk inhabitants, including people with disabilities. 

July 07: Art exhibition  Novoiavorivsk, Shevchenka str. 1

Sviatohirsk (displaced) music school

The Municipal Music school of Sviatohirsk, Donetsk oblast, was destroyed by an air strike on 21 May 2022 after being refurbished by IOM in 2015-2016 with funding from the Government of Japan.

Despite the attack, the school staff was able to rescue part of the music instruments and equipment. Supported through this project, the school is able to continue providing online music classes to their displaced students across Ukraine and abroad. 

July 25-28: Open online music lessons and performances 

Oleksandr Shkoda, elderly activist

The 70-year-old IDP activist is currently staying in Vynohradiv geriatric facility, Zakarpattia oblast. Equipped with an acoustic guitar and a button accordion he is giving free of charge lessons to IDP children and children from low-income families. Beyond the classes, he shares his passion by holding improvised music performances for inhabitants of his center and local communities. 

July 19: improvised music performance for residents of Vynohradiv geriatric facility 

Zakarpattya oblast, Vynohradiv, Persykova Street 49

Bila Tsekrva Art School

The Art School has become a real platform for exchange and friendships for many children and youth from IDP and host Communities. It also ensures inclusive education programs for children with disabilities. Besides the classes, the Art school is actively engaged into local initiatives, such as the Open music events that will unite various communities, including those with minority backgrounds. 

Aug 11: Open concert Bila Tserkva, Heroes of the 72nd Brigade Str. 7

Aug 15: Master classes Bila Tserkva, Heroes of the 72nd Brigade Str. 7 (school building)