Letters from children:
Echoes of Innocence Amidst the Shadow of War
In the midst of four years marked by chaos and uncertainty of war in Ukraine, the voices of children have remained steadfast—vulnerable yet resilient—written onto paper as a heartfelt expression of their hope, strength, and unwavering spirit.
Some seek comfort, others ask questions too heavy for their years, and many simply pour out their hopes for peace. Each letter offers a window into their inner worlds shaped by loss, longing, fear, but also flickers of hope and dreams of a brighter tomorrow.
As we listen to children’s voices, we are reminded what is at stake: the future of a generation whose childhood has been rewritten by war, yet whose spirit refuses to be broken.
To truly grasp their stories, see the letters firsthand. Keep exploring, their voices deserve to be heard.
"The last four years have completely flipped my life upside down. It started with moving, losing my friends, my usual in-person school, all my childhood dreams and plans. Then it escalated to losing loved ones, and my dad my dad going to the frontline", shares Kate, 17, an IDP from Kharkiv
"There's so much I could say, so many horrors of war I could tell. But the one thing I truly want is for other children, in other countries, to never, ever experience war", she adds.
Maksym, 13, from Kherson region shares, "My life has changed a lot in the last four years. I learned pretty early what fear and not knowing what tomorrow will bring feel like. I used to dream about living at home, going to my school, and seeing my friends, but the war got in the way of all that. The hardest part was leaving my hometown and not knowing if I'd ever go back there. Even with all of this, I haven't stopped dreaming. I really want the war to end so all kids can live without sirens and fear".
"These last four years were super hard for me and my family. Before the war, I really wanted to go to school, meet my classmates, and make new friends. Also, I wanted to go to a water park and go to the sea every summer because I love the sea so much. But the war stopped all of that. Now I learn from home, and I haven't been to the sea for four years", shares Maksym, 10, from Mykolaiv, now living in Kyiv.
"We have learned to play in the shelters, laugh, and not think about the bad things. These four years, my country has been crying. And I dream that this crying will turn into joy and laughter. I wish many children could live peacefully and quietly", shares Gloria, 12, from Kyiv region.
"For almost four years now, my country's been caught in this horrible, full-scale war. My home city is occupied, and I had to leave my home and move to a safer region, but it's dangerous everywhere in Ukraine. Every day, sirens wail. Peaceful people hide in shelters, you hear terrible sounds of explosions, and there's no electricity in homes for hours", shares Illia, 11, IDP from Luhansk region.
Maria, 12, IDP from Kharkiv notes: "In these four years, I've changed four schools, four groups of classmates. My mom, sister, and I moved to Kyiv. Here, I started my fourth school, where I made friends with wonderful girls – Maria and Kira. And also – my dream came true. I started doing horseback riding. And I really want to have my own horse someday."
"My life has changed a lot in the last four years. I used to live in Kharkiv, but because of the war, we moved to Kyiv. I left my home and my friends. Now in Kyiv, I go to school because in Kharkiv, schools only work online. I love playing games outside, and I go to football. Before, I dreamed of traveling to different countries, but now I only dream of peace. I want to go home to see my dad, so that it's quiet and rockets and drones aren't flying", shares Artemiy, 11, IDP from Kharkiv.
Across Ukraine, World Vision’s comprehensive child protection initiatives have become a vital lifeline, reaching over 111,640 children - almost 10,6K of whom were supported in 2025 alone. These programmes, centred on mental health and psychosocial support, positive parenting, and safe recreational spaces, serve as crucial avenues for restoring a sense of normalcy and security.
With 15 Child Friendly Spaces fully operational, more children are finding sanctuary and hope amidst ongoing adversity. By the end of 2025, over 90K children have benefitted from these protective environments, reaffirming our commitment to safeguarding their well-being and nurturing resilience in the face of hardship.
"At World Vision Ukraine, we remain committed to supporting children and their families, working tirelessly until peace and normalcy are restored.” - Arman Grigoryan, World Vision Ukraine Crisis Response Director.
Built with Shorthand