Our Project
In recent months, many thousands of people have found shelter in Switzerland. The refugees are confronted with a multitude of challenges, especially when it comes to socialisation, integration, and, above all, the search for work. These difficulties especially affect artists because creative people always need marketing and networking support. On the one hand, the artists are involved in the creation of their works, but on the other hand, they have no access to potential buyers in the new environment. It is our goal to support the creative potential of the refugee artists and enable their access to the Swiss market.
The main star of our show is Mrs. Vira Syvirotkina - sand painter with many years of experience. Vira has worked with Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas and for world-renowned brands (e.g. Paul Mitchell, Nike). Now she lives in Switzerland and needs support. Our foundation is pleased to be an exclusive promoter of her unique works in Switzerland. Vira will present us the story from the book «Three Little Birds Burning in the Flames of War» with her sand art.
Supporting artists take care of the costumes and visualisation (Nina Schvydchenko, Alyona Gorshkova) as well as the musical accompaniment (Lyuba Ogorodnuchyk).
The events will be complemented by a mobile museum of exhibits from Ukraine.
Our shows will take place in September in Zurich, Geneva, Bern and Basel (details and exact dates will follow).
Lyuba Ogorodnuchyk 
Nina Schvydchenko 
Alyona Gorshkova 
Vira Syvirotkina
A very special story!
The show is based on the bestselling book by Julia Peters, «Three Little Birds Burning in the Flames of War»: «Once upon a time, there were three Ukrainian women… …A successful one, who moved to Switzerland… …A settled one, who loved home more than anything… …A humble one, who lived in the shade of others… Their lives got corrupted by war, and everything they knew was burned by its flames. Now these women have to get together in Zurich and make their way to a new beginning through numerous trials and tribulations.»
«Three Little Birds Burning in the Flames of War» fulfils a few important missions:
- It raises awareness about the problem of refugees.
- It helps readers understand refugee people and get emotionally closer to them.
- It raises funds to help refugees (with sales of the book and promotional events, we have already crowdfunded 3700 CHF to support refugee artists).
Our foundation «Good Friends for Ukraine» is a non-profit association based in Winkel. We help refugees become integrated and (more) financially independent, make social contacts and contribute with their work to the common good. Most of our members are refugees who understand the concerns and fears of their compatriots and can appropriately respond to them.
Three Little Birds Burning in the Flames of War 
With your help we can:
- Support participating artists
- Arrange necessary equipment for the events
- Design advertising materials
- Promote our event
- Organise premises for our events
- Cover our travel and set-up costs
- Motivate our helpers for further work
- Make people aware of the challenges of refugees
- Continue our other charitable actions, particularly in Ukraine (deliveries of goods, etc.)
The rewards are provided both by participating refugee artists and by friends of our foundation. If you choose a reward from our participating refugee artists, they will receive 20% of its total value.
