Two years in the past, Ukrainian youngsters had been busy with friendships, falling in love and making an attempt out new issues, similar to their friends in different international locations.
However plans and goals had been shortly shattered by the Russian invasion that started on February 24, 2022, forcing many younger individuals to flee their properties, buddies and colleges and construct a brand new existence in an odd nation.
Tens of hundreds of Ukrainian teenagers ended up in neighbouring Poland, some with their households and a few 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, a World Financial institution study reveals.
Two years on, a lot of them have settled into new lives. However some wrestle with anxiousness, anger and despair, in addition to a way of limbo as they ponder the potential for returning to Ukraine in the future if the battle ends.
Transitioning to maturity generally is a robust trip, and the hazard and disruption brought on by the warfare have made it tougher.
Marharyta Chykalova, who turns 17 in March, left her hometown of Kherson in southern Ukraine along with her mom in April 2022 after sleeping in a basement for weeks – and fearing for her life – as Russian troops occupied town.
They fled to Moldova, then to Romania earlier than settling within the Polish metropolis of Gdynia. Marharyta began studying Polish, making an attempt arduous to slot in at her new Polish faculty, however the first six months had been robust.
She says she stored in touch with a few of her closest buddies at residence, however felt lonely however.
To assist address melancholy, the soft-spoken pupil joined theatre lessons that allowed her to precise her feelings on stage and helped her make new buddies.
“Some individuals say that residence will not be a spot the place you reside, however house is a spot the place you are feeling good,” she mentioned. “I really feel good on the stage, with individuals near me. That is my residence.”
Round 165,000 Ukrainian youngsters between 13 and 18 years of age are registered as refugees in Poland, in keeping with January knowledge from the Workplace for Foreigners.
Some collect at Blue Trainers, a group house in a shopping center in Gdansk the place they play board video games, billiards and desk tennis. Most of all, they join with their Ukrainian and Polish friends.
Signing up for sports activities was a very common approach of dealing with the shock of the warfare amongst kids.
Andrii Nonka, 15, from Kharkiv, arrived in Poland on his birthday, March 6, 2022, along with his mom. His father stayed in Ukraine. Often, he feels a powerful want to return residence to see his buddies and father.
Becoming a member of a boxing membership helped him discover new buddies and now he appears to be like at Poland more and more as a chance to discover a good job, presumably in IT.
“I feel due to the warfare, I’ve matured faster,” Andrii mentioned. “For now, it’s arduous to inform the place my house is. For now, my house is in Ukraine.”
Dariia Vynohradova, 17, additionally from Kharkiv, left her dad and mom behind and says she not desires to return.
“I don’t wish to return as a result of Kharkiv is destroyed a lot, there’s nothing to return to,” she mentioned. “I’ll return to go to my dad and mom generally, however I wish to keep right here.”
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