Faces of the Ukrainian Dream: Ukrainian Children’s Voices Heard at Bletchley Park
The exhibition Faces of the Ukrainian Dream has opened at Bletchley Park, bringing the hopes, memories and resilience of Ukrainian children to one of the United Kingdom’s most historic sites. Organised by Ukraine Appeal CIO in partnership with the Sunflower Ukrainian Supplementary School and the All‑Ukrainian Association Patriot, the exhibition forms part of Bletchley Park’s international Summer of Peace programme, marking the anniversaries of VE Day and VJ Day.
From 12–20 August 2025, visitors are invited to step into a deeply moving collection of drawings, letters and reflections created by children whose lives have been shaped by Russia’s full‑scale invasion of Ukraine. Many of the young artists now live in Milton Keynes, having fled the war with their families and found safety, community and education through the support of Ukraine Appeal and the Sunflower School.
Children’s Dreams in the Midst of War
The exhibition gives voice to children who have endured shelling, displacement, loss and separation from loved ones.
Despite these experiences, their artwork reveals dreams that remain unbroken — dreams of peace, home, family and a future free from fear.
Each piece offers a window into a young person’s world: memories of the home they left behind, symbols of national pride destroyed in the early days of the invasion, messages of longing for grandparents and relatives still in Ukraine, and visions of victory, safety and reunion.
These stories, shared through colour and imagination, remind visitors that behind every headline is a child whose life has been changed forever.
A Milton Keynes Community Effort
The exhibition highlights the strength and unity of the Ukrainian community in Milton Keynes. Children from the Sunflower Ukrainian Supplementary School — run by Ukraine Appeal CIO — are among those whose works are displayed. Their voices reflect both the trauma of war and the resilience they have found through community support.
Ukraine Appeal’s Chief Executive Officer, Viktoriya Shtanko, emphasises that the project is not only about art, but about ensuring the world continues to hear the voices of Ukraine’s youngest generation. Through education, cultural programmes and humanitarian support, the charity and the Sunflower School help families rebuild their lives while preserving their identity and connection to Ukraine.
Bletchley Park: From Codebreaking to Peacebuilding
Bletchley Park, once the home of British codebreakers whose work helped end World War Two, now becomes a space where the voices of children affected by a new European war are heard. The exhibition invites visitors to reflect on the meaning of peace today — and on the responsibility to protect it.
Museum staff have described the children’s stories as some of the most moving shared at Bletchley Park in recent years. Visitors have responded with compassion, recognising the parallels between past and present conflicts.
The exhibition stands as a reminder that while the war continues, Ukrainian children continue to dream — and the world must listen. Ukraine Appeal CIO and the Sunflower School invite residents of Milton Keynes and visitors from across the country to experience these stories firsthand, reflect on the cost of peace, and stand with the families who have endured so much.
Dates: 12–20 August 2025
Venue: Bletchley Park, Milton Keynes, MK3 6EB
