On April 9, the Museum of the History of Kyiv unveiled a vibrant art installation — ORIGAMI for UKRAINE — featuring 5,000 origami birds made from metallic paper. More than a visual attraction, the piece carries a strong charitable purpose: to raise funds for medical equipment for the Kyiv City Center for Rehabilitation.
This international initiative brings together partners such as the city administrations of Kyiv and Brussels, the CHU Saint-Pierre Foundation, ENGIE Foundation, the Museum of the History of Kyiv, and the Andriy Matyuha Foundation.
The project’s creator is Belgian designer Charles Kaisin, renowned for his collaborations with global luxury brands.
Andriy Matyuha: “Art can also heal”
The ORIGAMI for UKRAINE project was first launched in Brussels as a gesture of solidarity with Ukraine. That version of the installation raised more than €50,000 to support the Kyiv City Rehabilitation Center. The Kyiv edition builds on that success and carries even deeper symbolic meaning.
Children from the Kyiv Palace of Youth also contributed to the installation — their involvement brought heartfelt emotion to the project. Thousands of origami birds, folded by the hands of children and adults alike, form a collective message of support, unity, and faith in recovery.
“For us, this project is not only about art. It’s about resilience, hope, and our belief in life — even in the hardest times,” said representatives of the Andriy Matyuha Foundation.
Andriy Valeriyovych Matyuha: Support isn’t only about money
The Andriy Matyuha Foundation actively supports initiatives aimed at strengthening the country’s medical, social, and cultural infrastructure.
As part of a previous project, Good Donations and the foundation of Andrii Valeriiovych Matiukha purchased a Thompson retractor system for the surgical department of Okhmatdyt. This innovative equipment is already helping doctors perform surgeries with greater precision and comfort for both medical staff and young patients.
Andriy Valeriyovych Matyuha emphasizes that support is not always financial. It’s also about creating spaces where humanity, partnership, and empathy can thrive: “We support initiatives that unite people. ORIGAMI for UKRAINE is exactly that.”
The installation will remain on the museum façade for 90 days, serving as a symbol of friendship between Kyiv and Brussels — sister cities since 2023.