In our recent Spotlight Ukraine stories — UCARE: Nearly Three Decades of Hope and Healing for Ukraine’s Children and My Home — Ukraine: Through the Eyes of Children — we explored how the nonprofit organization, UCARE, has transformed lives by meeting Ukrainian children’s most basic needs, creating safe spaces for healing, and amplifying their voices through art.
Today, we turn to one of UCARE’s next artistic endeavors — Dream Trains – Voices of Hope, a project that takes children’s art, their dreams, and their words and sends them on a journey across continents to connect with their peers in the United States.
Our featured image above was created by Anya. She is 16 years old and describes herself as kind, friendly, and open. Anya’s painting is titled “Crimea,” and she dreams of “Peace.”
Bridging Worlds Through Art
This initiative was born during a recent rip to Ukraine by UCARE’s founder, Vera Petrusha. Vera spent over a month visiting UCARE-supported summer camps that include healing through art workshops. “I asked the children to just be free and paint their dreams,” she recalls. “Their dream might be something simple — like the sun coming out that day — or something big, like graduating or visiting the mountains for the first time.”
Alongside their paintings, children completed short questionnaires describing themselves, sharing what they would want to ask a peer in America, and reflecting on how kids can change the world. The result: a collection of deeply personal snapshots of what it means to be a child in wartime Ukraine — from colorful scenes of hope and nature to the occasional war-related image reminding viewers of the reality these children face every day.
Painting Their Dreams (shown below): In these moments, children at camp set their imaginations free, filling the page with color and images that reflect their inner world. Each brushstroke becomes an escape — a way to forget, if only for a moment, and to capture a glimpse of what is in their hearts.
Building Bridges of Empathy
Vera brought these paintings and writings back to the United States to share with American students, who are now responding with artwork and reflections of their own. “It’s like finding an art pal instead of a pen pal,” Vera says. “Kids here are looking at the paintings, choosing one that speaks to them, and replying with their own dreams or answers to the questions the Ukrainian children asked.”
The responses are heartfelt, often simple, but profoundly moving — proof that children’s voices can bridge continents. For many of these American students, the project is their first real engagement with the war in Ukraine. For the Ukrainian children, it’s a sign that they are seen, heard, and not forgotten.
Below is a collection of artwork created by Ukrainian children at UCARE’s camps. Click the images and then scroll through to see the full image.
The Dream Train Arrives
On October 16, 2025, these artistic exchanges will be unveiled during an event at the historic Michigan Central Station in Detroit — a location as symbolic as it is stunning.
Once a bustling gateway that connected people and places, the station has been lovingly restored after decades of abandonment. Its reopening is a story of renewal, making it the perfect backdrop for an evening that celebrates healing and connection. The metaphor of a “dream train” carrying children’s hopes across continents feels even more powerful in this space — a reminder that dreams, like trains, can travel far and carry us toward a new destination.
Guests will stroll through the soaring hallways of the station, experiencing a curated collection of paired works: Ukrainian children’s original paintings alongside the responses from their American counterparts.
The event will feature the art exhibition, plus live musical performances, hors d’oeuvres and beverages, and a silent auction — and it will help to raise funds to support UCARE’s ongoing programs to help Ukrainian children.
Why It Matters
Projects like Dream Trains – Voices of Hope are about more than art — they are about connection, healing, and dignity. They engage people to see Ukrainian children not as statistics, but as dreamers with hopes for their futures — hopes that can be nurtured with our support. In a world where the war in Ukraine can feel distant or overwhelming, this initiative reminds us that at the heart of the conflict are children who want what every child wants: to feel safe, to learn, to play, and to dream about their future.
As Vera puts it, “We call this a celebration because despite the heartbreak, there is so much to celebrate — the resilience of these kids, their ability to keep dreaming, and the communities here who want to help them heal.”
Climb Aboard — Be Part of the Story
Tickets for Dream Trains – Voices of Hope are available now, with proceeds benefiting UCARE’s programs for vulnerable children in Ukraine.
Event Details:
Date: Thursday, October 16, 2025
Time: 6:00 – 9:00 PM
Location: Michigan Central Station, Detroit, MI
Reserve Tickets & Learn More »
If you can’t attend in person, you can still help keep these dreams moving forward by supporting UCARE directly at ucareinc.org. Together, we can help Ukraine’s children heal, build resilience, and write a brighter future.
Be sure to visit UCARE’s website to learn more about the non-profit organization’s meaningful work and find out how you can join in to support Ukraine’s children.