In 2022, local Trevor Dane volunteered at a Ukrainian humanitarian center in Przemyśl, Poland, aiding refugee families during the Russo-Ukrainian conflict. Services like art therapy for children, veterinary care, a hair salon, and food offered by the World Central Kitchen attempted to create a sense of normalcy, but where Dane noticed a spark of humanity was in the artwork.
Wall to wall, kids’ drawings with crayon-written messages in dozens of languages expressed solidarity with Ukraine. Children from countless countries were represented on these walls, but Dane was shocked by the lack of art from the United States. He returned to Bentonville on a mission to increase the representation of U.S. support for Ukraine, but he couldn’t do it alone.
After moving to Northwest Arkansas from Ukraine in 2018, Nataliya Chapovska was eager to help her home country while it faced conflict. She and her best friend, Greta Rozensweig, originally from Lithuania, scoured NWA for humanitarian aid foundations, but found came up short. It was when Chapovska noticed the Ukrainian flags waving outside a Bentonville home that she met Dane. With their combined commitment to making a change, the trio started the non-profit organization Hugs From Friends.
Inspired by the work Dane noticed in Przemyśl, Hugs From Friends believes that children’s drawings can communicate hope, support, and friendship across borders. The non-profit facilitates a connection between schools and community organizations in the United States and Ukraine to send children’s artwork, books, art supplies, and so much more to those impacted by conflict. “The kids are quieter and more withdrawn than before,” Chapovska explains, “They don’t get enough sleep, and they are stressed. Many kids used to go to gymnastics, art classes, or swimming, for example, but right now, you have to limit your activities for safety. And still, they go to school.”
The organization’s first community event invited Bentonville Public Library visitors to create art that would be sent overseas. Soon after, Hugs From Friends connected with local schools like R.E. Baker Elementary and Arkansas Arts Academy to launch its School Partnership Program, getting Bentonville kids involved in the mission.
The School Partnership Program connects students in the United States with students in Ukraine to exchange art, letters, gifts, and culture. The program started with exchanging packages until a fifth-grade class at Arkansas Arts Academy said they wanted to do more.
“We sent this class’s work to a school in Chernihiv, Ukraine,” shares Dane, “But the kids told us, ‘We want to meet the kids we’re sending it to.’” So they made it happen. The kids from each class met on a Zoom call and instantly opened up to each other. “It was amazing. We went with it, and now we have two schools that meet regularly.” Because most Ukrainian schools teach English, the language barrier between them is minimal. But even when there is confusion, the kids always find a way to communicate. “One of their favorite things to talk about is their pets,” Chapovska notes. “They also ask questions about life in each other’s countries, like, ‘How do you celebrate Easter in Ukraine versus in the United States?’”
Universally, kids possess the innate desire to learn, explore, and connect with others. Even when these qualities are suppressed by hardship, they never disappear. Kids deserve the chance to open up and express their creativity, knowing that they have someone who truly cares for what they are going through. As for the schools partnering with Hugs From Friends, students get to do this knowing they are wholeheartedly cared for by dozens of other students.
Joe Papania, a teacher at Arkansas Arts Academy, has been involved with the organization for four years, connecting students via virtual meetings. “Oftentimes, history can seem so distant,” Papania says. “This program allows my students to participate in active history by bridging the cultural gap between Ukraine and the United States. The program has helped build empathy in my students over these four years, helping them understand the challenges others their age face. I highly recommend participating with Hugs From Friends for any school that has the opportunity.”
Joli Holzhauer teaches art to students from kindergarten to 5th grade at DeWitt Elementary in southeast Arkansas. When asked about her experience with Hugs From Friends, Holzhauer gushed with appreciation. “I learned about Hugs From Friends during the Arkansas Art Educators Fall Conference held in Little Rock. In the spring, Greta Rozensweig called me, needing student art to include in some shipments; we turned it into a schoolwide project to celebrate Kindness Week and spread love to others.”
“I have tears just remembering how much my young artists wanted to help. They used brightly colored paint sticks to draw hearts, sunshines, smiling faces, and write messages like ‘You are not alone’ and ‘I love you.’ Even before the artwork reached Ukraine, I knew that my students had learned a valuable lesson and had put themselves in the shoes of others. Two months later, I received a message from Greta with a thank-you note, several photos of the Ukrainian students with our artwork, and a short video of the students thanking us in their language.”
Join The Hugs From Friends Mission:
Hugs From Friends currently partners with seven schools–most in Northwest Arkansas–as well as local organizations like Crystal Bridges, Art on the Bricks in Rogers, Bentonville Together, and Bricklane Books. With the support of individuals and community partners, Hugs From Friends has been able to send care packages with new clothes, toys, books, and art supplies, plus over 2,000 pieces of art created by local students.
www.HugsFromFriends.org
info@hugsfromfriends.org