“Ola, Boris and new friends” is a fairy tale that familiarizes children from Ukraine with a new reality. It was created on the initiative of Dr Justyna Ziółkowska from SWPS University and Prof. Dariusz Galasiński from the University of Wrocław (UWr). The story was created by 20 specialists of various disciplines. Like traditional fairy tales, it is supposed to help children deal with difficult experiences and prepare them for the unknown.
The fairy tale tells the story of Ola and Boris who come to a foreign country and gradually get used to the new place. It was created with heart and in an impulse of solidarity with the citizens of Ukraine. Two days were enough to assemble 20 people team who started that pro bono work immediately.
“This fairy tale has two goals. First of all, we want to give a gift to the Ukrainian children. This is a sign that they are welcome. Secondly, the fairy tale will help them with the new reality, to show that it is not as terrible as they think, “says Prof. Dariusz Galasiński.
The fairy tale “Ola, Boris and new friends” was created for children in preschool and early school age who were forced to leave Ukraine due to the outbreak of the war. The heroes of the fairy tale, Ola and Borys, find their way to Poland, and although they do not feel confident at first, the people and situations around make them feel safer and act bolder.
The prepared book is to be a gift for the visiting children. It is free, everybody can download it from the websites of the Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Health and Disease of the University of Wrocław, the websites of the SWPS University and the University of Wrocław Publishing House. Its creators are looking for funding to print publications.
“We would like to present this book to every Ukrainian child who comes to us. That is why I am addressing everyone who could co-finance our project. We need money for printing now. Not in July, not in the fall, but now. Whoever saves lives, he saves the whole world, we have many worlds to save,” emphasizes Prof. Galasiński.
Arkadiusz Słomczyński