At the heart of Northeast Philadelphia, KleinLife has long been a haven for displaced communities. Once an exclusively Jewish community center, it now serves a diverse population, including Ukrainian refugees who have fled the ongoing war. In this short documentary, we follow three young Ukrainian students, navigating their new reality in America while a parent or sibling remains on the frontlines.  

Through the center’s summer program, the participants are led in art therapy by Masha, a PTSD specialist dedicated to helping them process trauma, and by other instructors in music and dance.In the last two weeks of camp the program pairs the children with Holocaust survivors and other displaced elders, creating an emotional bridge between generations.

Over the course of a few months, we witness their growth—how creativity fosters healing, how intergenerational storytelling reshapes their perspectives, and how the ever-changing political landscape continues to shape their lives. As they adapt to a new culture and language while holding onto memories of home, their stories serve as a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit.