Two years in the past, Ukrainian youngsters had been busy with friendships, falling in love and attempting out new issues, identical to their friends in different international locations.
However plans and desires had been rapidly shattered by the Russian invasion that started on February 24, 2022, forcing many younger folks to flee their houses, associates and colleges and construct a brand new existence in a wierd nation.
Tens of 1000’s 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. Almost six million Ukrainians stay displaced outdoors the nation, a World Financial institution study exhibits.
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 opportunity of returning to Ukraine someday if the battle ends.
Transitioning to maturity could be a powerful journey, and the hazard and disruption attributable to the struggle have made it more durable.
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 the town.
They fled to Moldova, then to Romania earlier than settling within the Polish metropolis of Gdynia. Marharyta began studying Polish, attempting laborious to slot in at her new Polish faculty, however the first six months had been powerful.
She says she stored in touch with a few of her closest associates at dwelling, however felt lonely however.
To assist deal with despair, the soft-spoken pupil joined theatre courses that allowed her to precise her feelings on stage and helped her make new associates.
“Some folks say that dwelling will not be a spot the place you reside, however house is a spot the place you’re feeling good,” she mentioned. “I really feel good on the stage, with folks near me. That is my dwelling.”
Round 165,000 Ukrainian youngsters between 13 and 18 years of age are registered as refugees in Poland, based on January knowledge from the Workplace for Foreigners.
Some collect at Blue Trainers, a neighborhood 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 fashionable method of dealing with the shock of the struggle amongst children.
Andrii Nonka, 15, from Kharkiv, arrived in Poland on his birthday, March 6, 2022, together with his mom. His father stayed in Ukraine. Sometimes, he feels a powerful want to return dwelling to see his associates and father.
Becoming a member of a boxing membership helped him discover new associates and now he seems at Poland more and more as a possibility to discover a good job, probably in IT.
“I feel due to the struggle, I’ve matured faster,” Andrii mentioned. “For now, it’s laborious to inform the place my house is. For now, my house is in Ukraine.”
Dariia Vynohradova, 17, additionally from Kharkiv, left her mother and father behind and says she not desires to return.
“I don’t need to return as a result of Kharkiv is destroyed a lot, there may be nothing to return to,” she mentioned. “I’ll return to go to my mother and father typically, however I need to keep right here.”