When war reaches your homeland, empathy stops being an idea and becomes a heartbeat. Journalist and humanitarian Olesya Shyvikova shares her powerful journey from Crimea to Nova Scotia, and back to the frontlines of Ukraine.Through her story of loss, resilience, and the kindness of strangers, she explores how trauma fragments the soul—and how collective compassion can bring those pieces home. A moving reflection on the invisible bridges between people, places, and pain, this talk reminds us that kindness is not weakness—it’s the architecture of peace. Olesya Shyvikova is a Ukrainian-Canadian journalist, filmmaker and social entrepreneur. A former war reporter turned humanitarian, she has directed award- winning documentaries and launched initiatives supporting veterans, children and elderly in conflict zones.Olesya is the CEO of a tech startup developing life-saving AI solutions, and the founder of Chiron, a trauma recovery center for Ukrainian veterans in Nova Scotia. Her work brings together storytelling, innovation, and compassion to create impact where it's needed most. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx