Installation ‘One Desk. Two Marks’ has opened at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

The installation ‘One Desk. Two Marks’ is part of the campaign ‘Every Generation Leaves Its Mark. Education Shapes Its Legacy’, launched at the Fifth Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen, and continues its journey around the world, now on display at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

A desk and blackboard, split in half, with one part scarred by shell marks and fire, and the other remaining untouched, symbolise the destructive power of war, its impact on Ukrainian schoolchildren, and the enduring pull of education that flourishes even in turbulent times. The installation also serves as a call to world leaders to recognise education not only as an inalienable human right, but also as a vital factor in building a secure future.

“The dual desk and blackboard offer a clear visual representation: war destroys – and education creates. Education is the foundation of our hopes, development, and resilience. Millions of Ukrainian children, who continue to learn even under today’s harsh conditions – without heating at home – are a vivid demonstration of human resilience,” said Ukraine’s First Lady and founder of the Summit Global Platform, Olena Zelenska, during the opening.

The opening of the exhibition was attended by representatives of European institutions. In attendance were Petra Bayr, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), Mykola Tochytskyi, Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the Council of Europe, Mariia Mezentseva-Fedorenko, Head of the Ukrainian Delegation to PACE, as well as Permanent Representatives of member states and heads of national delegations to PACE.

President Bayr, addressing the parliamentarians present, described the contrast between a normal childhood and the reality in Ukraine:

“On the first day of school, a child usually climbs the stairs to a classroom. But in Kharkiv, children descend underground. Their school desks are in shelters. But this is how destruction is transformed into resistance. This is how learning becomes an act of courage.”

The campaign’s message is relevant beyond Ukraine. According to a report by the International Committee of the Red Cross, there were over 130 armed conflicts worldwide as of the end of 2025.

The exhibition at PACE runs from 26 to 30 January. Read more about the communication campaign here and help spread the word.