Imagine a space where dreams — not schedules or programs — take center stage. That’s exactly what the session “POVIR Educational Platform and Student Dreams: A Star Dialogue” was during the event “Social and Emotional Skills for Life in a Changing World: A (Non-)Report on Results and Plans.” It wasn’t just another item on the agenda. It was a moment of silence and sincerity — a moment when the gaze of adults met the eyes of children. When behind all the statistics and analytics, there stood a child — and her dream. And a musician who dared to dream alongside her.
From Inspiration to Gratitude
Session moderator Olena Masalitina opened with powerful words:
“We’re opening a block on overcoming educational losses and gaps. But today, we also want to share inspiration and belief.”
And that’s exactly what happened.
The audience witnessed the story of POVIR — not just as a tool for catching up on missed learning, but as a third space — a space between home and school where one can simply be. A place where it’s okay to try, to fail, to feel, and to ask.
Solomiia and Topolia: A Conversation to Remember
The heart of the session was a conversation between Solomiia Havrysh, a high school student from Kyiv, and Taras Topolia, lead singer of the band Antytila, ambassador of the POVIR platform, and member of the EdCamp Ukraine Supervisory Board.
It wasn’t an interview or a lecture. It was a space of unity.
Both participants held decks of cards with questions and took turns asking each other. No showmanship. No script. Just honest dialogue.
– What do you enjoy most about your work?
– Who helps you when you face challenges?
– How do you pursue your dreams and help others pursue theirs?
They spoke about the kinds of challenges that inspire. About the people they turn to in moments of doubt. About the idea that you don’t need millions to change the world.
They also talked about the games that captivate them, and about how sometimes you get so immersed in creativity or learning that you forget the world around you. These are the moments that stay with you.
The Starry Sky of Dreams
To help participants tune into this deep dialogue, they began with a short reflection exercise called “Starry Sky”, guided by Larysa Zhedenko, a school principal from Poltava region.
This simple yet powerful practice from the SEL (social and emotional learning) program helped everyone reconnect with the idea that inside each of us is an entire universe. And every child is a star.
If Only POVIR Existed in Childhood...
Solomiia’s final question was the most touching:
“Would you have wanted POVIR to exist when you were a child?”
It wasn’t rhetorical. Taras Topolia’s answer — soft, sincere, with a quiet pause — sounded like a confession:
Yes, absolutely.
Because the kind of support POVIR provides isn’t just needed by children. It’s something we all long for — especially when we’re growing, searching, doubting.
Topolia then asked:
“In your view, how could POVIR benefit all Ukrainian students?”
Solomiia didn’t need words. Her smile said everything. The kind of smile that comes from knowing — because she had been there. She had lived it. She had become part of a community that believes.
Gifts You Can’t Buy
The event closed with a small but meaningful gift exchange. On behalf of the community, Solomiia and Taras received a white crow — the symbol of EdCamp, representing those who are different and proud of it — and a backpack for the road ahead.
Then came the group photo. No big speeches. Just a shared moment, captured for memory.
This session was about dreams.
But not the kind we postpone until “after exams” or “when we’re grown.”
It was about the dreams that live right now. In the questions we ask. In the glances we catch. In the choice — to be heard. And to hear others.
POVIR is more than just a platform. It’s a space where education begins with empathy. And where dreaming is part of the curriculum.
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