“I went from fear to inspiration — says artist Maryna Bondarenko. — And found the ground under my feet!” She arrived in Switzerland from Kyiv in June 2022 and in just a year and a half she created an art studio that has become a place of strength for hundreds of women and children. Her journey began with a small step — volunteering.
First steps in a new country
Marina Bondarenko is a woman who changed her own path. She began drawing at the age of four, when she entered an art studio with her older brother. Victories in children's competitions, a trip to Feodosia in Crimea, and first impressions of Aivazovsky's paintings left a lifelong mark. Then came the Donbass Machine-Building Academy, a technical specialty, and work in newspapers. But when no one was looking, the woman continued to draw - in the margins of workbooks or on random sheets of paper. And although Marina has worked in the metalworking industry for the past twenty years, in Switzerland it was drawing that became her lifeline.
“I came here with suitcases packed in a hurry. Among them were brushes, paints, and canvases. I drew every day — during phone conversations, while studying online. It helped me collect emotions,” she recalls.
Marina's first step into the social life of Bern was volunteering at the Association "Ukraine–Switzerland–Bern" (USB). Here she taught children how to draw. “It was an impulse, not an integration plan. But that’s where it all started,” Marina smiles.
How the art studio was born
The turning point was an invitation to a birthday party in Bern. A painting given to a friend turned into the idea to hold the first master class. Then came the Optima school at Ukraine Schweiz Bern, young children with brushes in their hands, women who allowed themselves to create for the first time in many years. After the first master class, a second one appeared, then a third. And so the studio emerged from volunteer initiatives.
“They usually come to the master classes without any experience in painting or after a long break. And step by step they create their first painting with acrylic or oil on canvas. Then another one, later – more… Today, Marina’s studio works in Bern and Burgdorf and gathers over 120 participants from Ukraine, Brazil, America, Moldova, Turkey. This year, an art school based on the principle of alternative academism for children began to operate at the studio, painting courses for adults are held, and collective exhibitions and children’s art marathons are planned. Women came without experience, often after a 20–30-year break. Sometimes someone unexpectedly started crying. Because in safety and among the colors, what hurt came out,” says Marina.
Thus, the master classes grew into real art therapy. And later into three directions: children's classes, alternative academism for adults, and art therapy itself.
Volunteering as a “Schnuppern”
In Switzerland, volunteering is not a fad, but a way to try yourself in a new role. German word Taste means “to look closely, to feel, literally “to smell.” For migrants, this is often the first step towards a professional career.
“For me, volunteering is a challenge and an opportunity at the same time. When your basic needs are covered, it's time to ask deeper questions: who am I, what can I do, what do I want to do, what should I invest my energy in?” says Marina. “It was through volunteering that I got a chance to feel like myself again, integrate into a new country, and at the same time support others.”
Volunteering gave her not only a sense of security and meaning, but also became the foundation of the studio, where today a community and new projects are being created. “In my case, my path coincided with my passion. But even if it didn’t, it’s still a chance to find myself,” shares Marina.
Circle of support
“The most valuable thing for me is the community that has formed around the studio,” says Marina. “Someone started their own business, someone found partners, someone — a creative force that they had forgotten about. We grow together.” “A woman who first came to draw, today creates designer candles. Another opened a massage parlor and works, including with those whose massage is paid for by health insurance,” Marina is proud of her “students.”
Volunteering in Switzerland can be the start of a new career and a new identity. "I advise you not to be afraid and to look for like-minded people. I was supported by the "USB" platform, which is now growing and becoming more and more powerful. At the very least, you can start by becoming a member of USB. And then new opportunities will open up," says Maryna Bondarenko, speaking from her own experience.
