Daily news is exhausting, wartime tests Ukrainians for strength every minute. To abstract from the terrible reality, sometimes the best thing you can do is open a book.
This is exactly what was done in the Olhopil community in Vinnytsia. There, residents gathered side by side to read their favorite books aloud over a cup of tea and to simply talk.
Someone read passages that touched them.
Someone shared stories that helped them get through difficult moments.
Someone listened – and for the first time discovered new meanings for themselves.
But even more important is the conversation. The same book sounds different for everyone. It is not just a text, but a point of contact. That which unites people, builds trust and helps them understand each other better.
This is how a community is born in a discussion. Which has the ability to speak, hear, think and move forward together.