Cross-cultural gatherings with facilitated dialogue

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Culture and education in times of war and crisis are powerful tools for healing the trauma of war, challenges of adaptation and integration, and, at the same time, a source of post-traumatic growth.

The methodology of cross-cultural meetings involves cultural meetings between Lithuanian and Ukrainian families and youth to strengthen mutual understanding and empathy. The usual duration of the events is 2-3 hours. Successful examples of such events include:

  • Immersive performances that reveal the experience of war through women’s stories;
  • Photo exhibitions and playback theaters;
  • Introduction to the life and work of prominent figures from Lithuania and Ukraine, such as M.K. Čiurlionis and Mykola Lysenko;
  • Culinary evenings and movie screenings are dedicated to Ukrainian and Lithuanian history and culture.

Facilitated dialogues build empathy and understanding, helping to overcome cultural and emotional barriers between participants from different countries, including between the host community and IDPs.

In 2022-2023 in Lithuania, our team conducted 40 dialogues during 20 cultural meetings involving more than 600 participants to support the resilience of communities and families.

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I love seeing the moment someone’s shoulders drop — when the body feels safe enough to be itself. In our spaces, people find warmth, rhythm, and the kind of joy that doesn’t ignore pain, but makes space for it gently.

Mariia Dormidontova

Since 2022, I’ve been part of Open Nations, where I co-create spaces for connection, emotional safety, and shared experience — especially for communities affected by war and displacement. I design and facilitate camps, workshops, and rituals that bring together children, teenagers, and adults in moments of presence, laughter, reflection, and trust.

My work blends psychology, applied theatre, embodiment practices, and a deep attention to group dynamics and nature. I often use music, playback theatre, and somatic exercises to help people reconnect with themselves and each other. I care about creating moments that feel real — where people can breathe out, feel held, and remember what it means to belong.

Since 2022, I have joined the project. During a rather difficult period in my life and the life of my country, the project became a place where I could fulfill my need to be useful and help both myself and others. My role is to be a photographer, but I also often take an active part in events, supporting project participants and becoming part of their lived experiences. Direct involvement helps me better capture genuine human emotions and create a space of trust between the camera and the participants.

Tata Lark

Over these three years, I have become grounded in my values and have grown more confident in carrying my philosophy not only into the project but also into my life.
Humanity and love. Mutual respect and trust.
The importance of simply being human for others, giving love, serving in order to expand the space of love and trust around us, and spreading kindness and respect.

The core values of the project for me are trust, openness, and readiness for change. In addition, all project participants are like a large family that share boundless love.

Iryna Bila

I am a teacher, historian, museum educator, author of educational programs and games, and curator. Together with Open Nations, we launched family camps and created cultural evenings and events. Currently, I work as an education specialist with children aged 9-12. My key skills are event organization, creation, and development of educational and cultural programs, and games. With children, I practice non-violent communication and empathetic listening. I love watching how children gradually open up and become a team.

The most important thing is to keep together in the process of finding inner resources for healing trauma, finding in contact with others the joy of creating space, acting for common goal and supporting the desire to live. Also, very important for me was the common passion of our team to take care of our camps participants with kindness and tolerance.

Marichka Koreneva

Marichka is a theatre director, performer, and certified Gestalt therapist with a focus on shadow work.
She creates documentary and physical theatre grounded in personal narratives of displacement, resilience, and survival.
Maria was born and raised in Kharkiv, Ukraine, studied theatre creation and performance in London, UK, practiced her art for some time in the USA, returned to her native Kharkiv to play an active role in local cultural movements, and studied to become a Gestalt therapist. With the beginning of full-scale invasion, she found her shelter in Vilnius, Lithuania, where she co-founded Lekuči Collective — a cross-cultural initiative dedicated to embodied, politically and socially engaged performance. Also, she became an applied theater practitioner in family camps where she led workshops for adults and teenagers.
In her creative and psychological practice with groups and individuals, she creates specifically charged spaces where the possibilities and resources for healing become noticeable and available.
Key expertise: Facilitation of applied theater groups, community theater, especially musicals, PlayBack, and Storytelling

I will not change the course of the war. But what can I change and give to people here and now? Warmth, love, compassion, support, material support, my knowledge and expertise, my time. No matter what, life goes on and we have to live it - to plan, to create, to do good deeds and to believe that our children will live in a better world.

Laura Jasinskaite - Baranauskiene

In the project, I was responsible for the preparation of documents and communication with stakeholders: the Central Project Management Agency, project implementers, suppliers, and others. In this context, it was particularly important to ensure that all documentation complied with the Fund’s requirements and rules. Later, I joined the team working in the camps as a group facilitator. I took part in the development of the camp programme, facilitated familiarisation sessions, was responsible for creating and maintaining a safe space throughout the camp, helped to solve misunderstandings, and ensured smooth cooperation between the team.

I know how to work with what is invisible at first sight – group dynamics, emotional atmosphere, moments of tension; having completed a 3-year body-movement therapy course, I can use different movement practices to warm up the group and to maintain a good mood and energy; I can keep a cool head in case of conflicts in the group.

Support, unity, mutual assistance, team integrity, beauty of interaction

Olena Gavrylenko

I have a pedagogical education (National Pedagogical University named after Dragomanov). Work with kids from newborn to 3 years old and older and their parents (caregivers) by the International creative early development programs through music, movement and art Kindermusik and ART Music since 2010. Practice conscious movement and free dance meditation since 2011, I am a teacher of the International freedomDANCE school since 2014. Work at family and kids studios, kindergartens as an Educator of early development via music, movement, art, and as an English Teacher. I have been practicing physical and alternative theatre since 2017, am a performer, actress, and singer of Lekuci Theatre (Lithuania-Ukraine). I am a master of harmonious communications. Practicing dance meditation, we get used to listening to the body and switching off the endless flow of thoughts. Movement helps to awaken the intuitive wisdom of the body and teaches us to act spontaneously according to our true interests. We are awakening – again and again – in our live body, and in our life.

This is a project that has changed not only the lives of many people, but also mine. It opened up for me the depth of humanity, the strength of the spirit and how music can heal the heart and bring hope even in the darkest moments.

Alla Cheres

Three years ago, I became a part of this incredible project called Openations, which helps Ukrainians find themselves and their place in Lithuania. I play the bandura, sing Ukrainian songs and try to convey all the depth and emotions that we, Ukrainians, are experiencing at this time. Music for me is a language that speaks for me. Through the bandura, I express what is impossible to express in words: feelings, thoughts, mood, state of mind. This instrument is a part of my identity, it connects me with culture, with history, with something deeply real.

Trusting relationships between the following individuals: child-teacher; child-parents; teacher-parents.

Roman Honcharenko

I am a primary school teacher by education and currently work in Vilnius at the Ukrainian-Lithuanian school “Gravitas,” teaching younger grades.

Since joining the Open Nations team, I have been working with children aged 9–12 — a truly inspiring experience. I’m fascinated by how children develop communication, social, and adaptive skills through games and interactive activities.

My work focuses on art therapy, adaptive communication, and inclusive practices. In our sessions, we don’t just play — we teach children how to negotiate, find common ground, and work as a team, even when each child is different.

I feel happy when I see smiles on the faces of our participants. In the space we create, people can relax, regain their strength, and find the inspiration to keep living and acting. Adults get a chance to let go of control for a moment, be themselves, speak about what hurts, and receive genuine support and care. And children — they find friends, feel free, create, and play without fear.

Iryna Pashkevych

Since November 2022, I’ve been part of Open Nations, where I manage day-to-day operations and help design programs that connect people across different life experiences. I believe our key goal is to build trust, resilience, and a sense of belonging through shared stories and experience.

My strengths lie in turning ideas into action and making sure everything runs smoothly — from budgets, surveys and reports to public events and international exchanges.

In this project, I’ve organized and managed cultural events, three-day integration camps for Ukrainian and Lithuanian families, study visits to Norway and Lithuania, and rehabilitation camps for Ukrainian families from frontline cities, and the Resilient Community Architects program. I also facilitate public dialogues that foster mutual understanding.

Grounding, Giving and receiving, trusting Body Wisdom, Healing in Nature and Community

Raima Drąsutytė

I am an artist and an Integrative Bodywork & Movement Therapy practitioner. I work with adults and neurodivergent children. Somatic movement practices help people to find better connection with themself and other people, can help to regulate the nervous system, accept all feelings, and be more resilient and more grounded. In Open Nation camps, we often do those activities in Nature, so people can relax, explore, and share their experiences in a safe, supportive space. Integrative body movement therapy and education, bodywork, dance movement therapy practices, sculpture, land art.

I would like to think and believe that: trust, responsibility, sincerity and ACCEPTANCE (this is the main thing)

Tetiana Liuta

At first, I thought that the Open Nations project was just a club — a “small school.” But I quickly realized: it’s a space of opportunities for the children and myself. I started listening more to the kids and to my own feelings, seeking answers not in manuals, but in real experience.

It became a journey of growth, insight, and understanding children with PTSD — even after 20+ years in education! Now I know for sure: just give the child space to be themselves, and you’ll grow too. Freedom of choice, dreams, trust — that’s what true learning is.

What I love most are the week-long camps — that’s where real connection is born. A life “in flow,” filled with closeness, laughter, and farewells. And afterwards, no one is the same. That’s what we call a new life.

I have supported stable and efficient processes that enabled both the team and participants to work with clarity, creativity, and motivation. Ensuring alignment at every stage — from planning to execution — allowed each participant to explore their potential within a safe and supportive environment. Personally, I deepened my understanding of the importance of trust, transparent communication, and emotional engagement in intercultural and cross-sectoral collaboration.

Tetiana Vasylkevych

I coordinate projects at Open Nations, overseeing communication with participants, partners, and technical teams, as well as ensuring deadlines and quality standards are met throughout all stages of project development and delivery. My role focuses on creating a comfortable, effective work environment and a safe space for participants by paying close attention to process, context, and team dynamics. With over 15 years of experience in project management and creative communications, I bring together structure and inspiration in every aspect of the initiatives I lead. Project management, large-scale event organization, event direction, creative strategies, and digital communications. Experienced in hosting public and cultural events as a stage presenter and moderator