Stay Strong Photo Stories #5: The Ukraine edition

After four successful editions of Stay Strong Photo Stories in Amsterdam, the Ukraine edition starts in March 2024. Stay Strong Photo Stories is a photography project led by Karine Zenja Versluis in collaboration with Framer Framed. Participants document their daily lives through tailored assignments centred around the question: How do you stay connected to yourself and others in times of uncertainty?

The first edition of this project took place amidst the pandemic. During online workshops participants used photography and storytelling to look for silver linings on days marked by isolation and uncertainty. The workshops facilitated a safe space for sharing thoughts and feelings sparked by the resulting works. The fifth workshop offers young people in Ukraine the possibility to document their daily lives as well. The Ukraine edition is organised together with Molotok, an NGO in Transcarpathia. This relatively safe region in West Ukraine harbours many refugees from East Ukraine.

Stay Strong Photo Stories #5 is a collaboration between Framer Framed, Karine Zenja Versluis and Molotok. Karine is a documentary photographer with Ukrainian roots. She’s also a visual storyteller and social worker specialised in trauma. Molotok is a cultural organisation offering young people activities in film, photography, music and theatre.