On August 12, 2022, on the Day of Youth of Ukraine in the White Hall of Heroes of Ukraine at the Mariinsky Palace the President of Ukraine awarded honors to the children participating in the “Children are war heroes” campaign, which is held by the State Emergency Service of Ukraine. The event is dedicated to children who, despite their age, help the defenders of the homeland and fight against the occupant. Among the eight young heroes mentioned was Maksym Brovchenko, whose talent is engaged by the “Child with Future” Foundation for several years in a row.
The little “Ukrainian Picasso,” as Maksym was nicknamed in the media, was invited, along with other brave and meritorious children, to the awards ceremony for assistance to the Armed Forces of Ukraine and his contribution to the fight against the aggressors.
Maksym Brovchenko draws unique pictures of Ukraine in war, distant space, and unexplored planets with inhabitants from whom earthlings have so much to learn – to be kind, fair, responsive, and, most importantly, peaceful – everything our country fights for today with the enemy. The funds raised for his work are donated by the boy to the Ukrainian army. See more about Maksym’s creative work and volunteer activities in the Channel 5 story.
The presidential award impressed the boy and his mother because it is a family tradition to do things from the heart and without the expectation of praise.
“This is a historic day for me. I never thought that my son, at ten years old, would be fighting to win. He fights with his drawings. I never imagined that ordinary children would become heroes and unite with adults in the fight for the right to live, to be free, to live in their home, their city. Ukraine will win!”, mother Oksana said.
At the event, Maksym and the Zelensky couple exchanged gifts. Thus, the young artist gave the First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska a “Mother and Daughter” picture on which he showed Ukraine, which asks for weapons to save its children from the enemy. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky presented the little artist with a canvas with his autograph and asked Maksym to draw victory on it. Also today, one of his most cherished dreams came true – the President of Ukraine has gifted the boy with a telescope. The 10-year-old artist shared his impressions:
“Today was a very responsible and exciting day for me! So exciting that I even forgot what the name of the President of Ukraine was. I saw the woman I was painting. I talked to her! With Olena Zelenska! I almost didn’t breathe. I was next to the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky! I now have a canvas with the wish of the President of Ukraine! I know what I will draw on it! There will be the victory of Ukraine! I will paint the peace! I have a dream come true! Now I have a telescope! Glory to Ukraine and death to the enemies!”
Inna Sergienko, the founder of “Child with Future” Foundation and Consul “Autism Europe” in Ukraine, commented on the event:
“Maksym is one of the most talented and sensitive children I know. I would very much like him to continue drawing his favorite space, unexplored planets and their inhabitants, rather than the war… However, I am proud to know this boy and hope that his and all Ukrainian children’s dream of Ukraine’s victory in the war and a happy future will surely come true. We all believe in it”.
A full video of the ceremony is here
Recall that an exhibition of Maksym Brovchenko’s paintings is on view in Zaporizhzhya. It started on July 28, 2022, on the Day of Ukrainian Statehood, and will continue until August 28, 2022. You can visit the exhibition of 23 paintings every day from 10:00 to 16:00, except Saturdays and Sundays at the address: 14, Valery Lobanovsky str. The entrance is free.
Find out how the first exhibition of Maksym’s space paintings was held here, read about the second exhibition here, and find out more about Maksymm Brovchenko at the “Maksym Brovchenko Space Paintings” project page.
