LIBERI LUDI
Latin for "children's games"

An international non-profit supporting children through play, storytelling, and animation.
The name Liberi Ludi comes from Latin and means “children’s games”.

Identity through culture

From philosophy
to practice

Every child carries an artist within.
Art is a language every child already speaks.
We help children make this language shared.

OUR WORK

WHO WE ARE

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OUR MISSION

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STATEMENTS

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our mission

Liberi Ludi aims to support the natural integration of children in situations of migration into the European cultural and civic environment through art and creativity, while preserving their personal identity.

Maria Povorozniuk

President

Eric Shur

Vice-President

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    Children undergoing migration and cultural transition often face a disruption of identity.

    On one side, there is a risk of isolation within their original cultural “bubble.” On the other, the danger of dissolving into a new environment without forming a stable personal foundation.

    Even overcoming language barriers does not solve the deeper challenges of social and cultural integration.

    Institutional support typically provides only a minimum educational framework, which, given the heightened need for social inclusion, often borders on neglect.

    Among peers, children may encounter exclusion or even aggression.

    As a result, they are often forced to abandon previously achieved levels of personal development in order to “fit in,” leading to decreased self-esteem and, in some cases, behavioral issues.

    A particularly vulnerable group is middle grade children (ages 10–12) — at the threshold of adolescence, when adaptation challenges intensify.

    This age group is the primary focus of Liberi Ludi.

    Identity through culture. Socialization through collaborative creativity.

    One of the most effective ways to overcome social alienation is through collaborative creative activity in a playful format with a guaranteed artistic result. In such activities, relocated children are able to express themselves on equal footing with their peers.

    In particular, Liberi Ludi offers a solution through the creation of original animated films using stop-motion cutout animation techniques based on classical works of world and European culture.

    By creating audiovisual works, relocated children immerse themselves in a new cultural environment through play and become more familiar with the values underlying European democratic society.

    HOW IT WORKS

    Social integration through art works in two directions at once. By reading stories and creating their own, children develop perception, analytical thinking and imagination. By creating together, they build new social connections and anchor their cultural experience in shared practice.

    Until recently, making an animated film was the domain of professionals. It required specialised equipment, technical knowledge, and weeks or months of production. Today, analogue frame-by-frame animation has become far more accessible. With a clearly structured sequence and the right materials, children can complete a finished short film in a matter of hours.

    The Read, Cut & Film method brings five stages into a single creative cycle:

    Read and discuss the story together.
    Imagine and sketch the storyboard, the child’s own plan for the film.
    Cut and create characters and backgrounds (paper cut-out).
    Film and edit a short stop-motion animation.
    Show and share the finished work with peers.

    Liberi Ludi offers two ways for educators and cultural workers to use the method: ready-made animation kits, with stories, character templates and step-by-step guides; and methodological support for teachers, tutors and workshop leaders who wish to use the practice in their work with children, including in projects focused on the integration of newly arrived children.

    WHAT MAKE
    US


    DIFFERENT

    WHAT MAKE US DIFFERENT

    Liberi Ludi works at the intersection of publishing, extracurricular arts education, and contemporary creative development practices. This allows us to approach the social integration of migrant children as a whole, rather than as a single educational task.

    We do not simply distribute educational content. We create tools that allow children to become authors themselves, producing their own works based on classical literature, myths, fairy tales, and archetypal stories.

    We believe that storytelling through creative practice helps children adapt to a new cultural environment in a more natural, engaging, and less traumatic way, especially in the period before they have fully acquired the language of the host country.

    Liberi Ludi is built for migrants, largely by people with lived migration experience. The organisation brings together artists, animators, child psychologists, and leaders of extracurricular creative programmes from different countries. Many of them have themselves experienced migration in recent years and know first-hand the challenges of adaptation, identity, and social inclusion.

    Rather than treating children as recipients of support, we aim to create conditions in which they can participate, express themselves, and build new social connections through shared creative work.

    Liberi Ludi
    Creative Space

    Liberi Ludi is open to collaboration with:

    Artists


    Tutors


    Teachers


    Liberi Ludi operates
    at the
    inter
    section
    of:

    LIBERI LUDI PROGRAMS

    CONTENT

    EDUCATION

    INTERACTION

    WHAT CAN BE SUPPORTED

    The project includes three key:

    • creation of animation kits (magazines),

    • localization of kits into major European languages,

    • development of a safe, professionally moderated platform on ani-babiling.com where relocated children from different countries can share their animated films,

    • translation and publication of specialized authors focusing on child adaptation issues,

    • development of www.liberiludi.com as a platform for professionals working with migrant children adapting to a new cultural environment.

    • further development of the Read, Cut & Film methodology through the creation and publication of animation kits focused on adaptation through creative development and strengthening European identity,

    • support for artists, animators, and digital content creators in relocation who are willing to contribute to educational products for the socialization of migrant children,

    • collaboration with educators and parents to promote creative approaches to the adaptation of migrant children through culture and creativity (distribution of specialized literature, workshops on using animation kits, creation of animation clubs in schools and children’s camps, etc.).

    • Direct work with migrant children through the Read, Cut & Film methodology:

    • in extracurricular clubs,

    • creative workshops,

    • online courses on www.liberiludi.com and through the project’s social media channels.

    Support the Project

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    Terms

    Donation Total: $100

    • creation of animation kits (magazines),

    • localization of kits into major European languages,

    • development of a safe, professionally moderated platform on ani-babiling.com where relocated children from different countries can share their animated films,

    • translation and publication of specialized authors focusing on child adaptation issues,

    • development of www.liberiludi.com as a platform for professionals working with migrant children adapting to a new cultural environment.

    • further development of the Read, Cut & Film methodology through the creation and publication of animation kits focused on adaptation through creative development and strengthening European identity,

    • support for artists, animators, and digital content creators in relocation who are willing to contribute to educational products for the socialization of migrant children,

    • collaboration with educators and parents to promote creative approaches to the adaptation of migrant children through culture and creativity (distribution of specialized literature, workshops on using animation kits, creation of animation clubs in schools and children’s camps, etc.).

    • Direct work with migrant children through the Read, Cut & Film methodology:

    • in extracurricular clubs,

    • creative workshops,

    • online courses on www.liberiludi.com and through the project’s social media channels.

    Support the Project

    Notice: Test mode is enabled. While in test mode no live donations are processed.

    $
    Select Payment Method
    Personal Info

    Terms

    Donation Total: $100

    contact us

      PROOF
      OF
      CONCEPT

      The Read, Cut & Film methodology has been implemented in the form of the Babiling Animation Kit — a practical tool for creating animated stories. The pilot issue has already been published.

      • a narrative,
      • characters adapted for paper cut-out animation,
      • professionally designed storyboards,
      • backgrounds (locations),
      • filming instructions.

      • creating one story takes approximately 2 hours,
      • children actively interact with each other,
      • gadgets are used only as filming tools.

      Even when using free applications, results are immediately visible without additional editing.

      • children with signs of gadget dependency fully shift their attention to the filming process,
      • high levels of concentration are observed (a feature of stop-motion animation), • social barriers between children decrease,
      • children rebuild communication patterns.

      The Read, Cut & Film methodology is implemented in the form of the children’s magazine Babiling Animation Kit, a practical tool enabling children to create their own animated stories. The pilot issue was published this year.

      our PARTNERSHIP

      our PARTNER
      SHIP

      Liberi Ludi is open to collaboration with:

      educational institutions


      cultural organizations


      donors and partners


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      +7 999 999 99 99

      2972 Westheimer Rd. Santa Ana, Illinois 85486