In 2022 Elena Vedovello (Italy, UWCD’18) published a novel “Yellow Flowers”. The book is dedicated to her UWCD co-year from Georgia Anano Mgebrishvili. (In the picture L-R: Elena and Anano.) The life of Anano’s family was suddenly changed by the war in Georgia in 2008. It depicts revealing episodes of their lives through the years between the start of war when Anano was eight and her university years. The novel is a story of roots, identity, and belonging. As with plants, after roots form, leaves grow. Thus, “Yellow Flowers” is also a story of leaves: small leaves, big leaves, third person of the verb "to leave." A story of forced displacement, a home stolen. But “Yellow Flowers” is also a story about petals. Yellow petals, pretty petals, about the sweetness of growing up surrounded by love, friendships, and kind hearts.

The dedication page says: “To Anana, and to all of those whose homes have been stolen, in Georgia and elsewhere. Whatever your home is, wherever it is or whenever it was, I hope this book will lead you back to it, or lead it back to you. Until everybody can get home safely.”