Story of Olena and her son Yaroslav from Mariupol

“You can be whoever you want to be.” – The story of Olena and her son Yaroslav

When war engulfed Mariupol, Olena faced an unimaginable challenge: fleeing with her two young children, including Yaroslav, newly diagnosed with autism. In a city transformed from a seaside paradise to a war zone, Olena grappled with the dual fears of bombs and the unique needs of her autistic son. Their harrowing five-day journey led them to Germany, where they found not just safety, but a chance for Yaroslav to thrive.
In Müggelheim near Berlin, Olena discovered a world of support and acceptance she never knew existed. From state assistance to a society that embraces differences, she found the space to understand and accept Yaroslav’s uniqueness. Yet, the scars of war remain, symbolized by a lone figurine salvaged from their destroyed home.
Watch the video to see how Olena and Yaroslav are building a new life in a country that celebrates diversity. Their story illuminates the often-overlooked challenges faced by families with autistic children during times of crisis and the transformative power of acceptance and support.

Credits

Concept and Direction – Carina Spreitzer
Production – Austausch e.V. | dim filmhouse | Daria Lukashenko
Lead production dimfilmhouse – Eric Holland
Lead production Austausch e.V. – Nataliia Zviagintseva
Camera and Sound Germany – Andrej Matalyha
Camera and Sound Ukraine – Tetiana Dorodnitsyna
Postproduction Coordination – Carina Spreitzer
Cut – Anastasiia Lukova
Colour Correction and Grading – Oleksandr Shuklin
Sounddesign and Master – Marcos Leiro
Music – Marcos Leiro
Subtitles – Nataliia Zviagintseva | Carina Spreitzer
Sign language – Iryna Ternova
Dubbing to Ukrainian – Natalka Sopit and Kyrylo Bondarenko
Set-Runner Germany – Nikita Znak
Set-Runner Ukraine – Borys Viktiuk

This video was produced within the project “Barrier-free Safety for People with Disabilities”, which is the part of INKuLtur-Programme implemented by Austausch e.V. together with Eastern Partnership countries funded by the German Federal Foreign Office.