Welcome to In Learning Studio! We are a team focused on exploring the intersection of literature, education, and global citizenship. Our projects aim to understand how stories—whether through children’s literature, creative writing, or art—can help young people cope with sensitive topics such as trauma, war, and human rights.

Our work spans various academic and artistic collaborations, with a special emphasis on using storytelling as a tool to develop resilience, critical thinking, and empathy. Below are some of our key projects:

1. Children’s Literature and the War in Ukraine
This Crafoord-funded research project at the Faculty of Education, Malmö University, explores the potential of Ukrainian children’s literature to facilitate reflective discussions about war. The project involves creative writing workshops where children create their own stories, integrating personal experiences into broader narratives about conflict. The aim is to develop creative writing methodologies that help children build resilience in the face of trauma.

2. Exhibition: Memories of War
In collaboration with Malmö University Library, NGO Poruch, and the «Schools of Peace» project, this exhibition showcases children’s artworks created during creative writing workshops in three Ukrainian schools. The highlight is an award-winning map of Ukraine created by children, which was displayed at the University of Tartu Art Museum. The project emphasizes the power of creative self-expression in the face of war.

3. Exhibition: Map of Ukraine – Storytelling Through Maps
In partnership with Dr. Francesca Arnavas, NGO Poruch, and Lutsk Gymnasium, we participated in the art exhibition «Transforming Literary Places» in Estonia. The exhibition featured a map of Ukraine created by 8th-grade students during creative writing workshops, where they told war stories through maps. This map was awarded the best painting at the exhibition.

4. Narrating Humanity: Children’s Literature and Global Citizenship Education
Our doctoral project at the Faculty of Education, Malmö University, investigates how children’s magic realist fiction can play a pivotal role in Global Citizenship Education. Through the analysis of contemporary children’s texts, we show how these stories can inspire young readers to reflect on human rights, environmental awareness, and sustainable values. The study demonstrates that magic realist literature can be a powerful, non-didactic tool for fostering global consciousness.

5. University of Cambridge — MPhil Research Project
Our MPhil research project, supported by the Open Society Foundation, examines the role of magic realist fiction in representing the trauma of war and genocide, particularly in young adult literature. Through detailed analysis of works like The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, the project explores how magic realism opens new literary possibilities for depicting traumatic history. It also examines how these works engage young readers with complex historical themes through indirect, emotionally resonant narratives.

At In Learning Studio, we are committed to creating educational projects that resonate with children and young adults, encouraging them to explore the complexities of the world around them through storytelling and creative expression. Our interdisciplinary approach combines literature, art, and innovative teaching methodologies to foster a more empathetic and globally aware generation.