Milana and Olga’s connection with Mountain Seed began in the early days of the invasion when they participated in our art healing programs designed for refugees.

For those facing similar challenges, my first piece of advice is to definitely go to the mountains and climb your way to the top. Mountains heal.

At the Healing Base Camp climbing program in Kaprun, the series of climbs remind the children and mothers of how powerful and capable they are, and offer daily challenges that allow for personal growth and confidence building in a very short period of time.

As the sun cast its golden rays over the Healing Base Camp, Yeva(5) paused for a moment and joined their voices with her father in a rendition of “Oi u luzi chervona kalyna” (Oh, the Red Viburnum in the Meadow), a cherished Ukrainian folk song about a small bush native throughout Ukraine called the Viburnum.

Each mother and child achieved mental and physical summits that they will carry with them forever. They overcame fears, found peace within themselves, and established a community that will reach far beyond their time in the mountains.