A cultural and educational project titled “Guardians of Ostvytsia” has been prepared and submitted to the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation competition. The project is aimed at providing psychosocial support to children and teenagers during wartime through immersion in Ukrainian mythology and live cultural interaction.
The project was initiated and developed by the Strategic Development and Investment Office in cooperation with the NGO “Ostvytsia Historical Reconstruction Club.” The application was submitted to the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation’s competition programme “Culture During War,” implemented in partnership with the British Council.
“Guardians of Ostvytsia” is an innovative immersive quest-performance for children aged 10–14, combining live acting, elements of theatre, Ukrainian mythology, and modern AI technologies. Participants will interact with characters from Ukrainian mythology — Perun, Veles, Marena, and Mokosh — as well as AI-powered characters (the House Spirit, the Reed Spirit, and the Tree of Life), which will “come to life” through voice and sound effects without the use of screens or gadgets.
The quest format involves teamwork, logical and search-based tasks, and active participation of children in shaping the storyline. This approach will help develop communication skills, critical thinking, a sense of belonging to Ukrainian cultural tradition, and the formation of national identity.
As part of the project, 50 immersive quests are planned, engaging at least 1,000 children and teenagers from the Rivne city territorial community and neighbouring areas, including internally displaced children, as well as children of veterans and military personnel. Special attention will also be given to an information campaign and the popularization of Ukrainian mythology through social media, media coverage, and public events.
The total project budget amounts to UAH 1.65 million. If the application is supported, 79.43% of the budget is planned to be covered by a grant from the Ukrainian Cultural Foundation, with the remainder provided through co-financing from the Rivne community budget.
The “Guardians of Ostvytsia” project aims to demonstrate that Ukrainian culture remains modern, innovative, and vibrant even during wartime, and that Rivne is a space for developing new models of working with intangible cultural heritage and young audiences.