I’m Home
I've returned from Poland and wanted to update everyone on the program.
I was in Krakow for two weeks this time, as it has always been my intention to create community and a sense of normality for the refugee population. The additional time in the city of Krakow helped me achieve my objective as I was visited by familiar faces daily.
Not only was I visited by familiar faces, but those familiar faces would also help me with all the new visitors to my table. This was beautiful to witness. All of these women and children normally would not probably know each other, but here at my table they all work together and find some peace, dignity, friendships, and normality.
One mother said to me, "Thank you for soothing my soul."
A grandmother commented, "Thank you for giving me back some time for myself."
A young girl wrote on her painting, "Everything I love is here."
Through a translator, I had a message written on a piece of paper that I would show everybody that came to create with me. The message basically said to create a piece to take home and create a second piece to put into an art show, if interested. I was very surprised at the enthusiasm for the art show! Word spread and more and more people came to create. Work created by the refugee population will open on Oct. 11th at the JCC Krakow and they will be on display until December. There will be an opening reception on October 11th for all to attend and take pride in their contribution.
The word is not only spreading across the refugee population about my program but also among Americans visiting Krakow. I had social workers, therapists and psychiatrists stop by because they had heard about my program or read an article. It was really validating to me to see such interest from these professionals and to have an ear to share with during these difficult days.
I will admit that this trip was really hard emotionally. As I develop friendships with these women and children, I start to learn their stories. The missing husbands, the injured husbands, the aging parents left behind, the dead classmates, and the rape. The level of rape that is occurring and the stories I heard were very painful to hear.
The situation is worsening. There are now over 8 million displaced Ukrainians. From my personal experience, I would comment that there were more than double the number of refugees this trip compared to my last trip in May.
It's important that we don't forget this ongoing crisis. The media is starting to forget, and we must not.
I continue to ask for your support by helping me spread the word. If you know any journalists who are interested in covering this story or if you know of any organizations that would be interested in hearing me speak, please let me know.
I will return on October 2nd to Poland and continue to fundraise for this next stage of the program.
Thank you for your support,
Suzanne Horwich
Instagram: artists_giving_back
Facebook: Suzanne Horwich