“I hope they end this war, that there will be a truce” – ten-year-old Solomon from Ukraine

As the war in Ukraine turns one year, Solomon from the war-ravaged city of Odessa shared his greatest yearning. “I hope they simply end this war and there will be a truce. Mr. Putin will come to his mind, that such thing cannot be done.”

The war has caused grave suffering to Solomon and the 7.5 million children. The education of more than six million children have been severely impacted. As families flee from their homes, children’s education has been disrupted.

With the honesty and innocence of a child, ten-year-old Solomon vividly remembers the day when his country’s suffering started.

“I felt like, it was good that I didn't attend school at that time.  My friend Nikita and my brothers went to school and for some reason, I didn't. The teacher cancelled class, who knows why. Maybe the bad weather, I had no idea.”

“Suddenly, after a while, Nikita and his dad visited us. They said, we are now in war time; this is what the hour of war is called. There was almost no one in the streets. All went home. At first, we didn't believe that it was true, well, no one believed that Russia could attack us. Well, how could it be? We've been friends for so long. And now, eight years later, this is happening.”

Solomon and his family escaped the horrors of war and found safety in Romania.

Based on the latest Romanian government report, there are 107,241 refugees in the country and almost half of them 47,851 are children.

But less than 4,000 of these children are registered as listeners or enrolled to study in Romanian schools. These children face immense difficulty in adopting to the new environment and not understanding the medium of instruction in their new schools.

Finding refuge and getting back to school

Through the support of Australian Government and NGOs through the Australian Humanitarian Partnership (AHP) and the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), Solomon, along with 99 Ukrainian children continue their studies in the Romanian-Finish School.

“The Romanians are a great help to us. Thanks to them, we live here in Bucharest.  I really like this school. This is a very good school,” Solomon proudly shared.

His father Mazur is one of the Ukrainian teachers helping the children adopt to a different education system.  

“It feels good because if there's any problem or like I get sick, Dad being a teacher in this school, I can turn to him. If I'm by myself and there weren't even Ukrainian teachers, for example, I just won't go to school, I will just study online. There are other Ukrainian teachers here and it feels very nice.”

To help children adopt easily, they are learning Romanian and English. “At first, I did not understand anything except 'salut’ (hello),” Solomon shared with a smile on his face.

“Here I am learning both English and Romanian. In Ukraine, I didn't know English. What's that for? Well, just why? Everyone speaks Ukrainian, Russian. Of course, you don't need English, just a simple hello or bye-bye. But here we are, and it turns out that English is needed everywhere, even with Russian speakers in the world, English is needed everywhere,” Solomon thoughtfully expressed his realization.

War can’t stop children from having dreams

The massive destruction of homes, schools and critical infrastructure has put immense challenge to the Ukrainian education system and hindered children’s access to quality education they were enjoying before the war.

Yet children like Solomon still have big dreams. “I want to become a real soccer player and earn a decent living.”

Asked about what he can share to other refugee children like him, “I will advise children like me to learn English very well. It will always come in handy. And that they take care of themselves and others.”

Friendship is the universal language of children

Solomon shared he was nervous about being in a new school. “At first, I didn't know what kind of kids they were. Well, they're just kids walking around, walking around. I was just not familiar with anyone.”

“Now I know them; they know my name, too. Yes, and I like it a lot. Well, we live to make friends with someone. Everyone in my class is my friend since day one. They all came up to me and we started playing. Yes, they were interested to know me. There is nothing so complicated here. It's just in Ukraine.”

Solomon has found new friends, but he still longs to go home. “I miss my friends from my hometown. We also have relatives who stayed.”

Working hand in hand for the children

World Vision partnership with Asociatia Centrul Crestin and the Romanian-Finish School

starting in summer has helped Ukrainian children to transition to Romanian education, particularly teaching them Romanian language and having activities with Romanian children.

World Vision’s Project Manager Cristina Panov explained the project has different components - Education, Child Protection, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support to help Ukrainian children integrate into Romanian society and benefit from its quality education.

“Thank you for coming along with us to help us in this project. Our prayers are that the funds be well spent for the benefit of the people who really need these funds,” Dr. Emilia Ceuță of the Romanian-Finish school expressed.  

Apart from the studying languages, children have different activities to help them improve their soft skills and life skills. Tablets and books were also provided to them.

“I know World Vision, it's a huge organization and has a great reputation around the world. I really appreciate the effort and impact World Vision has in the places where there are many needs. I would describe them as equal partners. They just came like to help us to fulfill our vision of helping others,” Dr. Cueta said.

The war has deeply disrupted the lives of students and teachers and negatively affected their learning outcomes.

World Vision Ukraine Crisis Response has supported 251,507 children through various learning opportunities and continuity of their education, protection, mental health and psychosocial support programming activities as well as cash assistance for education, health, winterization, protection and education kits.

“My biggest hope is that we will manage to help them as they need it, because we can try different things. But at the end of the day, it is their well-being that we most care about. My hope is that we will succeed in creating an environment that will help them do better and be better, both for Ukrainians and Romanians,” Panov said.

Dr Cueta shared her deepest hope, “I would hope for them to go home and to be in their own country.”

Overall, World Vision has reached 656,320 internally displaced, refugees and host communities in Romania, Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine through the support of its donors and 29 partner organizations.
 

Story by Leoniza Morales, Communications Specialist I Photos by Eugene Combo and Chris Lete