ABOUT THE PROJECT
What is “Time to Remember: Shaping History Through Art and Education”? It is an initiative in which the “Tenet” team researches and disseminates historical facts, adapting teaching methods for youngsters by using personal stories and creative approaches. We talked a lot with young people and decided that the comic format is the ideal way to engage the younger generation. To introduce youth to the topic of genocide, we not only create graphic stories for them but also invite them to events and seminars that will expand their knowledge and promote exchange among participants.
Historical comic
“Memory Guardians” is not just a historical comic but a true life story of Ivan Bilashchenko, a Ukrainian of Romani descent. The pages collect facts from his biography that resonate with our present. You will learn about the Holodomor, the Roma genocide, and World War II from first-hand accounts and about the challenges Ukrainians have faced over the past century.
The comic was created as part of the project “Time to Remember: Shaping History Through Art and Education.”
ABOUT THE MAIN CHARACTER
The past hundred years have seen Ukraine suffer at the hands of oppressors, along with everyone who called it home enduring harsh treatment. On his life journey, our hero, Ivan Bilashchenko, encountered a series of challenging historical events. This comic is about war, struggle, and the strength of spirit of those fighting for the right to live freely. In the graphic novel, you will find stories about the Holodomor, the Roma genocide, and World War II based on our hero’s testimonies.
Ivan Korniyovych Bilashchenko is a Ukrainian of Romani descent who survived the Holodomor of 1932-33 and is a veteran of World War II. He was born on May 9, 1926, in the village of Dmytrivka in the Cherkasy region to an international family. The family survived the Holodomor by exchanging their belongings for food.
German troops occupied Dmytrivka in 1941 and almost immediately began hunting the Roma. Throughout the German occupation, Ivan wanted to flee the village and join the partisans, but his mother dissuaded him.
The young man was twice attempted to be sent to work in Germany, but he managed to escape from the train and return to Dmytrivka. In 1943, Ivan joined the army, trained as a signalman in Poltava, and became a squad commander. In the summer of 1944, the Belarusian offensive operation “Bagration” began, during which he was wounded by shrapnel. Treatment in the hospital lasted for 2 months, and after recovery, Ivan returned to service.
Shortly before the end of the war, Ivan was appointed commander of a fire platoon. During one of the battles, he suffered a concussion and was sent for treatment. After rehabilitation, he went for further training to qualify for an officer’s position, which he did not manage to take up due to the effects of the concussion.
Doctors assigned him Group I disability for life. The veteran received numerous awards, including two “For Courage” medals and the Order of the Patriotic War, First Class.
HOW WE CREATED THE COMIC
The creation of the graphic story within the project “Time to Remember: Shaping History Through Art and Education” went through several key stages. The result of the team’s joint efforts is the graphic story “Memory Guardians”. We did a lot of work and are happy to share the behind-the-scenes with you.
Preparation
The first stage for us was preparing materials for the future historical comic. We found and processed the testimonies of the Roma genocide survivors.
Writing the text
Then the magic began. Using interviews, historical facts, and archival materials, our author wrote the text for the war comic, reflecting personal experiences and the historical context of the events.
Scripts for illustrations
And what graphic story is complete without illustrations? As a team, we selected the most "vivid" moments and dialogues, based on which our designer created the illustrations.
Layout and printing
Our designer laid out the graphic story, and we finally sent the comic in Ukrainian to print. This was the final stage of work on the comic. Now you can see the results of our efforts.
READ THE COMIC
For your convenience, we have made the graphic story “Memory Guardians” available on our website. Don’t miss the opportunity to learn more historical facts, testimonies, and memories about the life of Ivan Bilashchenko firsthand. Follow the link below to read the comic online. We wish you interesting discoveries and profound impressions!
OUR TEAM
Our team is a group of dedicated professionals united by a common goal of preserving historical memory through art and education. We combined our skills and experience to create the comic “Memory Guardians” – an important cultural product that tells the story of the Roma genocide tragedy and the courage of those who survived these events. Ready to meet them?
A BIT ABOUT IMPRESSIONS
Creating the comic “Memory Guardians” was an unforgettable and inspiring process for the entire team. Each member has their own unique impressions and experiences, which they are happy to share.
Working on this text was both morally challenging and inspiring for me. Many events intersect with our present day, and it was impossible not to draw parallels. At times, I wanted to take a break and cry a little from the realization of the scale of human suffering, and sometimes inspiration came at night after reading the news. I tried to make the descriptions and dialogues as realistic as possible to evoke the emotions I felt during the several months of working on the project.
I had the great honor not only to have the opportunity to speak with Ivan Korniyovych but also to moderate his talks before hundreds of young people. During each of these meetings, I never ceased to be amazed at how much kindness and wisdom one person can hold. So, when we were looking for a hero for our project, the choice was obvious. We chose the comic format to draw young people's attention to the Roma history. It is intended to serve as a kind of teaser, designed to intrigue and encourage further exploration, to ask questions, and to seek answers in the biographies of our contemporaries.
The project is funded by the EVZ Foundation and the Federal Foreign Office within the framework of the “YOUNG PEOPLE remember” program.
*This publication does not reflect the opinion and position of the EVZ Foundation. The authors are solely responsible for any statements made in this publication.
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