Last week, together with members of the Resettlement and Migration teams, Tower Hamlets Council hosted the Courage Across Cultures event as part of the worldwide Refugee Week celebration. The annual week-long celebration of cultural diversity takes place around World Refugee Day on June 20.

This year's theme was "Courage". Through their work, the artists sought to showcase human resilience, extraordinary journeys, and the quiet battles many have faced along the way. Those seeking a better life in a foreign land often question their sense of belonging, their changing identities, and how to make an impact in a new reality.

"Historically, Tower Hamlets has always attracted migrants," says council worker Victoria Chepurna. "We have seen many communities settle here: Jews, French people and Bangladeshis. The first Chinatown was located in our borough."

Ukraine was represented through three art spaces for visitors to explore: the Motanka doll-making masterclass, where people could hear about Ukrainian rituals and beliefs; Neurography, a creative and reflective drawing practice that helps people work with stress and the subconscious; and the thought-provoking Confiscated Memories photo and art installation.

Victoria Isai discovered the art of doll-making 20 years ago. Having been forcibly displaced, she is now committed to sharing Ukrainian heritage in the UK. "The Motanka doll was a magical and sacred symbol for our ancestors. They believed it could protect you from evil spirits or guard against the 'evil eye'," the artist said. Ukraine's heritage attracted many guests to the creative corner. For many, the concept of making a doll without sewing was new, but the opportunity to create something with their own hands sparked curiosity and drew attention to Ukrainian history from a new perspective.

"My doll is very bright," smiled Nasrat, a 46-year-old woman from Bangladesh. Her Motanka was full of orange and yellow colours.

Ben, a 42-year-old British man, when asked why he joined the Ukrainian table, said he wanted to experience and learn about another culture through the making.

The organisers of the event wanted to keep visitors' attention focused on the emotional experiences of migrants and asylum seekers.

Ukrainian writer-director Lada Kopytova moved to London at the age of 13, not by her own choice but following her father's vision of a better future for his family. The first years of her life here could be described as "living in limbo". She recalls periods when it was hard to understand why she was here and where she belonged. "Am I Ukrainian or British?" After graduating from school and university, Lada gradually built a life for herself and now actively engages with the Ukrainian community in Britain. "The idea for the 'Confiscated Memories' installation originated from my documentary film Dirt (Zemlya), which I shot last year. The story follows a woman who, in the wake of the Russian invasion, tries to bring a jar of Ukrainian soil into the UK. Can you fit your homeland into a suitcase? What gives you a sense of home?"

The festival brought its guests closer together through such provocative and profound questions. Pondering what home means to them, many felt the pain of Ukrainians who had been forced to say goodbye to their previous lives.

Courage is not just a word. For those who once dared to change, it means resilience, the bravery to believe in your own capacity and the courage to strive for something better. Whether driven by war or by choice, these emotions were celebrated in Tower Hamlets and around the world. The courage to keep living. To find inner strength and start over, no matter how daunting it may sometimes seem.