World Courant
Two years in the past, Ukrainian youngsters have been making buddies, falling in love and making an attempt new issues, similar to their friends in different international locations.
However plans and goals have been shortly shattered by the Russian invasion that started on February 24, 2022, forcing many younger folks to flee their properties, buddies and colleges and construct a brand new life abroad.
Tens of hundreds of Ukrainian youngsters ended up in neighboring Poland, some with their households and others with out, among the many tens of millions of refugees who fled to different European international locations. Practically six million Ukrainians stay displaced exterior the nation, the World Financial institution mentioned examine exhibits.
Two years later, lots of them have settled into a brand new life. However some wrestle with worry, anger and despair, and a way of uncertainty as they take into account the potential of returning to Ukraine sooner or later if the battle ends.
The transition to maturity is usually a tough journey, and the hazard and disruption brought on by battle has made it much more tough.
Marharyta Chykalova, who turns 17 in March, left her hometown of Kherson in southern Ukraine together with her mom in April 2022 after sleeping in a basement for weeks – and fearing for her life – whereas Russian troops occupied town.
They fled to Moldova after which to Romania earlier than settling within the Polish metropolis of Gdynia. Marharyta began studying Polish and did her greatest to adapt to her new Polish college, however the first six months have been powerful.
She says she stored in contact with a few of her closest buddies again residence, however nonetheless felt lonely.
To assist her address melancholy, the soft-spoken scholar took theater lessons that allowed her to specific her feelings on stage and make new buddies.
“Some folks say that residence just isn’t the place the place you reside, however that house is a spot the place you are feeling good,” she mentioned. “I really feel good on stage, with folks near me. That is my home.”
About 165,000 Ukrainian youngsters between the ages of 13 and 18 are registered as refugees in Poland, in keeping with January information from the Workplace for Foreigners.
Some collect at Blue Trainers, a neighborhood corridor in a shopping mall in Gdansk, the place they play board video games, billiards and desk tennis. Above all, they join with their Ukrainian and Polish friends.
Sports activities have been a very well-liked approach for younger folks to deal with the shock of the battle.
Andrii Nonka, 15, from Kharkov, arrived in Poland along with his mom on his birthday, March 6, 2022. His father remained in Ukraine. Every so often he feels a powerful need to return residence to see his buddies and father.
By becoming a member of a boxing membership he discovered new buddies and now he more and more sees Poland as a possibility to discover a good job, presumably in IT.
“I believe the battle made me develop up sooner,” Andrii mentioned. “For now it’s tough to say the place my home is. For now, my house is in Ukraine.”
Dariia Vynohradova, 17, additionally from Kharkiv, left her dad and mom behind and says she doesn’t need to return.
“I do not need to return as a result of Kharkov is so destroyed that there’s nothing to return to,” she mentioned. “I’ll return typically to go to my dad and mom, however I need to keep right here.”
As lives destroyed by battle, Ukrainian teenagers construct new goals | Warfare between Russia and Ukraine
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