Ukraine: Sasha’s school doesn’t exist anymore

Children & Youth

Mar 14

Who: SOS Children’s Villages Ukraine

What: Three million Ukrainian children are being deprived education, due to the war.

Three million Ukrainian children are being deprived education, due to the war. Not only are they denied a fundamental right, but a whole generation is at risk of losing their culture and identity.

Sasha misses running to get lunch with his friends. And the beautiful windows in the dining hall. The school building was demolished by Russians bombs. And everyday life as Sasha knew it, got shattered with it.

– I miss running to the school dining hall with my friends. And I used to have a lot more classes, at least five a day. Now I only have two, or three at the maximum.

Less interaction with other kids

Like many Ukrainian children, Sasha doesn’t know when he eventually will enter a classroom again. The war has left three million children without access to proper education. Sasha is in fourth grade, and all his schooling is now internet-based. This means a heavy responsebility for his own learning and progress, for the nine-year old.

His mother, Tetina, is concerned. It is challenging for a kid in fourth grade to learn English without the tutoring and explanations from a teacher. She is also worried about the lost social interaction, when all the kids are schooling from home. The war begun not long after the pandemic, which means years without classroom education for a large number of Ukrainian children.

– Before the pandemic, Sasha was such an active boy. He needs to spend time with his school mates, not only his family and relatives as the case is now. Our greatest wish is for the school to be rebuild, so he can have a more normal life again.

Sheltered classrooms

Getting children back to school is a priority for SOS Children’s Villages. Without proper schooling, a whole generation risks losing not only education, but also their culture and identity. Building bombproofed classroom is crucial to ensure children a safe and protected learning environment with physically interaction with teachers and other children. As a minimum we want to ensure more children are being supplied with laptops, books, and pens, so they can keep up with their education through distance learning.

Sasha gets a few hours internet-based education per week, but he would much rather prefer being at school. He loves to read, especially books on Ukrainian history.

– We read lots about Ukraine, both foreign and Ukrainian books, Sasha explains. Then adds: – I miss my teachers.

More social and confident

War affects people, especially children. In Sasha’s case it was a turning point when SOS Children’s Villages opened a social center in his hometown. Like many other children, Sasha needed psychosocial support. And a safe place to play and hang out with other kids.

For children who have experience the terrors of war, psychological support is vital, Tania, psychologist with SOS Children’s Villages, explains.

– No two children are alike, and the level of need differs among them. But securing them the necessary help and support, is the only way to prevent the traumas of war leading to long-term or even permanent emotional damage.

Tania has witnessed how Sasha gradually has regained his confidence. Slowly but steadily, he has become more social and open. His mother Tetiana confirms this observation.

– Sasha loves coming to the social centre. He especially enjoys the ball pool and being able to play with so many other kids. The people who work here, really see him, and shows interest in him. He’s much better at communication with other children. This centre means so much for our whole family.

Future hopes

Even Saha himself lights up when he talks about his visits to the centre. The centre also offers homework tutoring, and Sashas uses this service when there are no digital classes online. He knows the importance of education.

– I want to design clothes when I grow up. And create my own program so sell it. It’s important to go to school and learn. That’s how you get to be smart.