Returning to Herself: Olena Bero’s Story and the Opening of the Beramica Pottery Studio

In the village of Troshcha, Vinnytsia region, a unique open-air pottery studio has opened — a creative space built by ceramic artist Olena Bero, who was forced to flee her native Donetsk region due to the war. This is more than just the launch of a studio. It is a story of women’s leadership, inner strength, recovery, and the search for identity in the face of displacement.

After relocating from eastern Ukraine, Olena wasn’t only looking for safety or a new home — she was seeking a space where she could once again feel clay in her hands, share her skills, and create beauty. Thanks to the support of a project focused on rural women, this dream became a reality.

That’s how Beramica was born — an open-air pottery studio equipped with everything she needed: a pottery wheel, a firing kiln, tools, and materials for workshops. But most importantly, it’s a place filled with inspiration.

Her connection to ceramics runs deep. Years ago, her parents helped establish a ceramics department at a university in Donetsk. Continuing that legacy, Olena — a graduate of the Lviv National Academy of Arts — is now building her own story in peaceful Troshcha.

The studio's opening day brought the community together. Children sculpted clay animals, adults tried their hands at the pottery wheel. The event turned into a true celebration — with music, poetry, Ukrainian proverbs, and warm conversations.

This day was a clear reminder: when a woman has support, she can not only revive her craft but also create a space that unites and inspires others.

Stories like Olena’s are not always loud — but they are always real. Stories of resilience, support, and renewal.

This initiative is part of the project “Socio-economic recovery for rural women in Ukraine in the context of war and displacement,” funded by The United Nations Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF) with technical support of UN Women Ukraine. The United Nations Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF) mobilizes critical support for local and grassroots civil society organizations working on women, peace and security and humanitarian action. WPHF is a flexible and rapid financing mechanism supporting quality interventions designed to enhance the capacity of women to prevent conflict, respond to crises and emergencies, and seize key peacebuilding opportunities.

This publication is produced with funding from the United Nations Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF), however, the views expressed, and content included do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.

Photo: Lipovets City Council