Choice, dignity and freedom - and the quiet strength of being heard

Natalia wrote this poem in early 2022, when she was living in Kyiv, Ukraine.

“Back then, I had no idea that I would one day share it far from home—or that its meaning would become so powerful and so relevant, not only for me, but for countless others across the world. As someone who was forced to leave home because of war, I have come to understand the true value of democracy—not as an abstract idea, but as a daily reality. This poem is about choice, dignity, and freedom—and about the quiet strength of being heard.”