According to official statistics, about 400 thousand Ukrainian students are currently studying online. Among them are students of the Marganets Lyceum №10 in Dnipropetrovsk region. Online lessons, unstable connection, power outages, and air raids — all of these are part of their routine. Despite everything, Yana Tsykunkova, teacher and ambassador of the еTwinning Ukraine project finds opportunities to bring children together for live conversations, shared experiences, and heartfelt communication.
This time, the meeting was dedicated to the screening of Giovanni and the Water Ballet. It is one of the most popular films in the DOCU/CLUB Network’s collection. The film tells the story of a boy who dreams of competing in a water ballet tournament and is not afraid to be different. For Marganets teenagers, this was the first encounter with documentary cinema.
“To be honest, we were a bit worried before the screening, since it was the first time our students watched a documentary. However, their emotions during the screening, active discussion, and parallels they drew with the protagonist’s life proved our success. The meeting was warm and heartfelt. They are really awesome kids,” says Olha Babchuk, the event’s moderator and communications manager of the DOCU/CLUB Network.
Photo: Screening of the film Giovanni and the Water Ballet in Marganets
Indeed, the choice of film was on point. From the first minutes, it captivated the viewers with honesty rather than special effects. Children were listening carefully, reacting emotionally, and stayed after the screening for a long time. They discussed dreams and fears, acceptance and lack thereof, as well as the importance of not giving up even when life seems hard.
“I teach the children that we’ve all achieved something even without support from the others, and it’s crucial we don’t give up on the way to our goals. Giovanni’s story became a good reminder for them. Besides, we just couldn’t leave after the screening! Everyone wanted to share their impressions. It is some sort of magic,” says Yana.
However, this magic had specific tools at hand. After the screening, moderators used interactive methods BIKABLO 2.0 — visual tools for discussion that help formulate thoughts, see senses, and ask questions. This is when, according to the organizers, the most profound conversations started. The teenagers spoke about their own experiences, stereotypes, and inner strength openly and bravely.
Photo: Screening of the film Giovanni and the Water Ballet in Marganets
This was more than just a film screening. It demonstrated how a film club can function within a community, even in a city that lives under constant shelling, and education is only possible in online format. A space for dialogue can be created anywhere, be it a school classroom, a concert hall, or an apartment. The main thing is the desire to hear one another.
Marganets does have this desire. There is the teacher who won’t give up. There are children who are reflecting and feeling deeply. There are parents who support them under any circumstances. And there is documentary cinema — honest, vivid, and capable of bringing together different generations in one room.
On February 14, people in the city did not talk about Valentine cards. They talked about dreams, courage, and the right to be themselves. Perhaps these meetings support life in the country no less than good news.
The project is implemented with the support of the DOCU/CLUB Network, funded by the Embassy of Sweden in Ukraine and Fondation de France.
The opinions, conclusions or recommendations are those of the authors and compilers of this publication and do not necessarily reflect the views of the governments or charitable organizations of these countries. The authors and compilers are solely responsible for the content of this publication.
