Refugee children can learn Ukrainian in six months

In Uzhgorod Press Club a meeting on "How to adapt a child in the environment of another state: promoting by social services, volunteers, non-governmental organizations" took place. 

The journalists met with Ivan Pirov, music teacher in refugee center in Mukachevo, Anatoliy Bilychko, social worker of International Fund for Health and the Environment NEEKA and girls – residents of the refugee center in Mukachevo. 

Ivan Pirov said that the training program, which is implemented in the center, helps children to adapt more quickly in the Ukrainian society.   "If these children live in our environment, it is my job to make them learn our songs, conversations, European mentality – says Ivan Pirov. – These kids go to Ukrainian school. Of course, it is difficult to overcome the language barrier, but children with the right approach can learn the Ukrainian language at a conversational level within six months."   

Anatoly Bilychko, social worker of the International Fund for Health and the Environment NEEKA was more focused on special programs that exist through community organizations in Transcarpathia. "There are programs that help children and families to adapt in Ukrainian society, become full members.  NGOs help with the purchase of textbooks, school uniforms, everything you need, from pencil and to uniforms, shoes."      

This summer, NGO NEEKA arranged a summer English speaking camp for Mukachevo children together with refugee children. According to Anatoly Bilychko for some refugee children Ukraine is indeed a motherland, because they were born here. And the first words they heard were Ukrainian. Residents of the refugee center demonstrated their knowledge of Ukrainian in Uzhhorod Press Club, by singing in Ukrainian and talking to reporters.   

Uzhhorod Press Club realizes the project "Ukraine is my second home!" supported by Danish Council for Refugees. The project aims to promote social adaptation and integration of refugee children in Ukrainian society, to encourage them to understand the life of Ukrainian society. And also to draw attention to the problems they face in everyday life.