Yaroslava considers how architecture is about more than redevelopment, it is also a tool for resilience and identity. Yaroslava enjoys discussing diverse ideas and perspectives, leading her school’s debating club to further develop her skills in articulating and defending complex topics effectively. Originally from Ukraine, she moved to Edinburgh just before the war, an experience that reshaped her understanding of resilience and change. Witnessing the destruction in her home country deepened her interest in how architecture can restore communities, identity, and hope. Her talk will examine how cities can emerge from devastation stronger than before, using innovation and design to foster healing and inspiration. She hopes the audience will leave with a new perspective on rebuilding—not just as a means of recovery, but as an opportunity to create a more connected and resilient future. 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