‘Grandma’s Hares’ is four years old

The project was born during the turbulent ‘Covid’ years and is gaining strength amid dramatic times for Ukraine. Participants in the project talk about its rehabilitative and inspirational effect. The craftswomen of the silver age sew toys, and in the meantime, they receive support from like-minded individuals. This helps them to emerge from the abyss of negativity and despair as they focus on children who need to be evacuated from frontline areas or comforted after experiencing distressing events within their families. The toys embody a grandmother’s endless care and tenderness for her grandchildren, whether related or not; her thoughts and prayers for their well-being; and her confidence in the reliable support of wise adults.

Juvenile police officers share heartwarming tales of the bond they form with the toys they name, recounting sad events that have befallen them and entrusting the toys with their hopes for a better future. Then we all feel each other’s support. We look in the same direction as Vasyl Bohdan, Head of the Juvenile Prevention Department of the National Police of Ukraine — the main and reliable partner in this multifaceted project — emphasised in his greeting.

In May 2025, the foundation’s team sent goodies to remote centres for sewing toys for online tea parties.

Our craftswomen are talented in many areas: they can sew, make things and learn new skills. They can also hold on to and support each other, enjoy meetings and celebrate important moments together. They can recognize kindred spirits and make sincere friends. The ladies from Bashtanka in the Mykolaiv region, Zlatopil in the Kharkiv region and Chortkiv in the Ternopil region greeted us from afar.

We went to the Juvenile Prevention Department of the National Police of Ukraine in person, as well as to the ladies from Ukrainka in the Kyiv region. From Kyiv, where our foundation is based, we wanted to congratulate those who are close to us in person. We were overwhelmed by the warm greetings and gifts we received.

We also had the opportunity to meet the project’s main artist and teacher, Iryna Yurchyshyna, in Kyiv. Iryna cheerfully and enthusiastically teaches newcomers, performs ‘maintenance’ on sewn products and coordinates sewing in Khmelnytskyi, as well as the delivery of toys to local juvenile police officers. We also welcomed her and enjoyed meeting her in person.

You can see some photos here.

We are already looking forward to the project’s fifth anniversary in a peaceful country, where the purpose of sewing toys is purely educational.

We are grateful to all the kind people who support Grandma’s Hares through donations and volunteering!