Photo exhibition “In Focus — Life”

In the autumn of 2025, the photo exhibition “In Focus — Life” was held in the Staryi Saltiv community. It was created based on the results of an online competition in which community residents submitted their own photographs. These works formed the core of the exhibition. The winners were selected by an independent jury, and an open public vote by residents also took place for the photographs in the “Audience Choice” category.

The exhibition presents a visual narrative of the Staryi Saltiv community — its nature, everyday life, memorable places, as well as the consequences of the war: destroyed houses and roads that bear witness to the hardships endured and the resilience of the community. We dream of presenting the exhibition in other communities across Ukraine in order to share more widely the story of the Staryi Saltiv community through the eyes of its residents. The exhibition was organized with the support of the Prague Civil Society Centre by members of the NGO “Good actions” in the premises of the Staryi Saltiv House of Culture.

The jury of the “In Focus — Life” photo contest included people who know the community well and have supported it for a long time. Among them was Britta Ellwanger, Director of Operations in Ukraine at the ForPEACE charitable foundation, who noted:
“It is a great honor to be part of your efforts aimed at reflecting your unique and personal perspective on life and reality in your community, especially under such circumstances.”

A member of the jury was also Dmytro Drizhd, a representative of the German humanitarian organization arche noVa e.V., who joined the competition as a representative of an organization involved in the recovery of the community and shared his own experience of getting to know Staryi Saltiv and its residents.

The jury also included Svitlana Levchenko, President-elect of the Rotary Club “Kharkiv Nadiya” for 2025–2026, who emphasized the importance of photography as a way of preserving moments and emotions over time:
“Photography is like sculpture in stone… these are emotions and moments that, thanks to the artist, can be seen through time. I wish you not to stop, to move forward, refining your skills and your ability to capture the ‘golden’ moment.”