‘War with Children’s Voices”: Azad Safarov, co-founder of the Voices of Children charity foundation, talks about a unique book

The book, titled ‘War in the Voices of Children’, has become a unique publication that allows the world community to see the war in Ukraine through the eyes of children. Azad Safarov, co-founder of the Children’s Voices charity foundation, spoke to Hromadske Radio about the process of creating the book and its importance as a tool of cultural diplomacy. The publication of the book in the United States was an important step towards drawing the attention of the international community to the events in Ukraine. The book features quotes from about a hundred children, as well as illustrations created by famous personalities. This is not just a collection of quotes, but a way to share the real feelings, fears and hopes of Ukrainian children who are forced to live in war.

War in the Voices of Children as a tool of diplomacy

Recently published in the United States, the book ‘War in the Voices of Children’ has already become a symbol of advocacy and support for Ukraine at the international level. According to Azad Safarov, about a hundred children took part in the creation of the book, sharing their experiences of the war. Their thoughts were collected under one binding and complemented by illustrations created by famous people.

This book has become an important part of advocacy activities abroad. It was presented at international forums and handed over to politicians and diplomats. For example, Ukrainian Nobel laureate Oleksandra Matviychuk presented the book to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. This was yet another indication that children’s voices can reach major political figures, helping them to better understand the situation in Ukraine.

According to Safarov, many people are surprised by how deeply children understand the essence of what is happening. Their words are not directly related to military actions such as shelling or tanks. Instead, they talk about their emotions, their sense of loss of home and their longing to return. For example, one child who was forced to move abroad wrote: ‘Everything is better at home, even borsch’. These words reveal the child’s strong desire to return to their home. Another example is a quote: ‘We are Ukrainians and we will not give our flag to anyone,’ which shows the strength of patriotism among Ukrainian children.

Creating the book and its Ukrainian edition

The idea to create the book War in the Voices of Children appeared before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, but after February 2022, it became clear that the war should be its main topic. The organisers encouraged parents to send quotes from their children via social media, and within a few months, they had collected the necessary material. About 100 children became its authors. The first edition of the book was published on the anniversary of the start of the full-scale war, and this is only the first step. Safarov encourages further submissions of quotes and drawings by children to create a new book in the future. Contact details can be found on the Children’s Voices website or on their Facebook page.

Photo: voices.org.ua

Children’s drawings as part of the book

In addition to the quotes, the book also contains drawings that children created to express their emotions about the war. For example, little Tanya, who was in Portugal but whose father served in the Ukrainian Armed Forces, wrote:

‘I want to close my eyes, travel back to Ukraine, hug my dad and inspire him with strength.’

She also drew a picture of this moment, and this picture is in the book. This emotional connection between a child and her father and her native land is striking in its depth and power.

Each quote has an illustration. The children themselves, as well as designers, artists, photographers and famous people from all over the world, contributed to the creation of the images: illustrators Nikita Titov, Sergey Maidukov, Alexander Grekhov, Irina Vale, singer Jamala and her son Rahman, singer Svyatoslav Vakarchuk, and chef Yevgeny Klopotenko.

Photo: voices.org.ua

How the book helps with international advocacy

Children’s words can convey the truth about war in a simple yet powerful way. When politicians, diplomats and celebrities read children’s quotes, they begin to understand how even the youngest Ukrainians are fighting for their freedom and the right to a happy childhood. Safarov notes that this book helps the international community to understand the situation in Ukraine more deeply. During their advocacy tours, the Voices of Children team is often asked how they can help. The answer is always the same: we need psychological support for children and weapons to protect them.

When the book was edited by Olena Rozvadovska, the team tried to present children’s quotes in a way that would make foreigners understand how strong and mature Ukrainian children are. These children grew up in a war, they know what artillery and ballistic missiles are, and they understand their danger. The cover of the US edition of the book features the child of 47th Brigade commander Oleksandr Shyshyn, a soldier known for his photo reading Timothy Snyder’s book in a trench.

Support from international partners

Children’s statements can influence politicians and change their perception of war. Safarov says that he often receives requests for the book from international institutions such as the Office of the Prosecutor General and the Ombudsman’s Office. They use it for presentations at international events. The book has even been presented to Karim Khan, the prosecutor who issued the arrest warrant for Vladimir Putin.

Immediately after the publication of the book War in the Voices of Children, it was supported by the Federation of European Publishers. This action was only the beginning. The Children’s Voices Foundation team presented the book at the OSCE headquarters, on 27 April at a meeting of the European Parliament’s Cultural Committee, on 19 September on the sidelines of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly, and on 3 October at the Warsaw Security Forum.

Where to buy the book

The book ‘War Through the Voices of Children’ is available not only in the United States but also in Ukraine. The first edition was published a year ago, and some copies are still available for donations. Information on purchasing the book is available on the website or social media of the Children’s Voices Foundation.

American edition of the book and plans for the future

In the American version of the book, the children’s quotes are presented in Ukrainian as well as in English. In addition, a transcription in Latin has been added so that foreigners can understand how the words of Ukrainian children sound. The process of publishing the book in the United States was quite fast, which demonstrates the great interest in the topic of war in Ukraine. The American publishing house also plans to translate the book into other languages, except for Russian and Belarusian. This will allow even more people to hear the voices of Ukrainian children and learn the truth about the war.

Charitable Foundation ‘Voices of Children’

The Children’s Voices Foundation is not limited to publishing books. One of its main activities is organising creative workshops for children and teenagers, where they can express their emotions through art, including writing essays and scripts. In the future, it is planned to organise a trip to the Carpathians, where teenagers will be able to write essays that may be included in the next book. The main goal of the foundation is to provide psychological support to children both in Ukraine and those who have moved abroad.