All-Ukrainian competition of student drawings “Ukrainian-Jewish Meeting – 2024”: winners announced

The All-Ukrainian contest of student drawings ‘Ukrainian-Jewish meeting: our stories are incomplete without each other’ is held annually among students in grades 8–11 in Ukraine.

Its main goal is to deepen the understanding of Ukrainian-Jewish relations and to reflect their diversity and historical depth.

The organizer of the competition is the ‘Ukrainian-Jewish Encounter‘ with the support of UKRAINIAN JEWISH ENCOUNTER.

Objectives of the competition

The competition encourages youth to explore the history of Ukrainian-Jewish relationships.

It enables participants to understand shared chapters of the past and present through art.

The competition fosters a respectful attitude towards the multicultural heritage of Ukraine.

It involves students from general education and specialized schools, gymnasiums, and lyceums.

Selection process

The submissions are evaluated by an international professional jury, which identifies winners in two age categories:

• Grades 8–9
• Grades 10-11

In 2024, numerous works from across Ukraine were submitted for the competition.

Each piece uniquely depicted the Ukrainian-Jewish history through artistic expressions.

Winners of the 2024 competition

According to the decision of the international professional jury, the winners of the All-Ukrainian Competition of Student Drawings ‘Ukrainian-Jewish Meeting: Our Stories Are Incomplete Without Each Other’ in 2024 are:

Category ‘Students in Grades 8–9’

First place: ‘A Tree of Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust’, Sofia Tkachenko (Zhytomyr)

Second place: ‘Symbols of Unity’, Julia Borogan (village Aleksandrovka, Bolgradsky district, Odessa region)

Third place: ‘Indestructible Peoples: Meeting Through the Years’, Zlata Ivushkin (village Kryukovshchina, Buchansky district, Kyiv region)

Category ‘Students in Grades 10-11’

First place: ‘United Stories’, Varvara Medonchak (Poltava)

Second place: ‘War Destroys’, Nika Sosenko (Kyiv)

Third place: ‘Our Future Is in Our Hands’, Natalya Stepchuk (village Petropavlovka, Voznesensky district, Mykolaiv region)

What do the winners’ works symbolize?

The students’ drawings express key themes.

Historical memory reflects the tragic events of the twentieth century and the struggle of peoples for survival.

The symbolism of unity illustrates the connections between Ukrainians and Jews through architecture, culture, and traditions.

The future represents hope for peaceful coexistence and the restoration of historical ties.

‘Our stories are truly incomplete without one another,’ said the organizers of the competition.

How were the winners awarded?

The award ceremony took place on January 28, 2025.

Prize Pool

Category 8–9 Grades

First place – 6000 UAH
Second place – 4000 UAH
Third place – 2000 UAH

Category 10-11 Grades

First place – 12000 UAH
Second place – 8000 UAH
Third place – 4000 UAH

The winners received diplomas, cash prizes, and the opportunity to showcase their work at an exhibition organized by the Ukrainian Jewish Encounter.

Conclusion

The contest ‘Ukrainian-Jewish Meeting’ not only unveils young artists but also aids in understanding Ukrainian-Jewish history.

The works of the participants highlight the importance of preserving the memory of the past and the necessity of strengthening interethnic ties.

Nanovosti – Israeli News continues to monitor initiatives that foster mutual understanding between Jews and Ukrainians.

What other projects help maintain a shared history? Read more on Nanovo.