Distracting Ukrainian Children from War during Holidays
2022-12-23
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1Ukrainians have experienced nearly 10 months of war.
2This holiday season, people are trying to bring some peace and happiness to the country's children.
3In what used to be a nice hotel near Kyiv, Ukrainian children shouted with happiness as they watched a special performance.
4They also were excited to open gifts.
5The hotel outside Kyiv is now a rehabilitation center.
6It houses children who have experienced the terror of the Russian invasion.
7"When it's a holiday, it's easier," said Ksenia, a 12-year-old girl from Bakhmut.
8The center's officials asked not to use any child's last name for security reasons.
9Bakhmut, a city in eastern Ukraine, has been the center of a battle between the Russian and Ukrainian armies.
10"We forget about the war. It's easier to distract," Ksenia added after the performance.
11Ksenia was among the 62 children celebrating Saint Nicholas' Day on Monday.
12It is a traditional day when Ukrainian kids get presents.
13It also marks the beginning of the winter holiday season.
14Artem Tatarinov is the director of the rehabilitation center.
15"Why do our soldiers fight?" he said.
16"For the sake of the future because without it, there will be nothing. And children are our future."
17At the center, he said, there are children who have had to hide in shelters to escape bombs.
18Some have discovered their dead family members.
19UNICEF estimates that at least 1.2 million out of Ukraine's 7 million children are currently displaced within the country.
20The rehabilitation center houses children for two weeks.
21During that period, they get therapeutic lessons and spend time with mental health experts to try to process the war.
22"It is like a temporary rehabilitation from the war," said Alevtyna, a mentor at the center.
23For children, Alevtyna said, the center can be like an island of happiness.
24But it is not easy for them.
25"They often talk about the war, cry," she said.
26"Children are afraid to fall asleep, are afraid to turn off the light."
27Over the past six months, the center has received more than 1,300 children from across the country.
28"It is difficult to work like this when you see children who do not smile, when their childhood was taken away," said Tatarinov, the center's director.
29He said that he once met a 12-year-old boy who discovered the headless body of his brother after a strike.
30He was 10 meters away from their house.
31"This is impossible to forget, but we do everything we can," added Tatarinov.
32That is why this week, he and the mentors tried to celebrate the holidays.
33On Monday, the performance brought joy to the children for a short time.
34"At least for an hour, but they can believe in miracles again, believe in goodness again, where fairy-tale heroes come," said Tetiana Hraban.
35She is head of the Golda Meir Institute of Civil Society. The group helped to organize the performance.
36The actors on stage asked the children what they want for the holiday.
37The answers were shouted over each other: "A generator." "A power bank." "A house."
38"Victory!" said one child, and all the others repeated it.
39I'm Dan Novak.
1Ukrainians have experienced nearly 10 months of war. This holiday season, people are trying to bring some peace and happiness to the country's children. 2In what used to be a nice hotel near Kyiv, Ukrainian children shouted with happiness as they watched a special performance. They also were excited to open gifts. 3The hotel outside Kyiv is now a rehabilitation center. It houses children who have experienced the terror of the Russian invasion. 4"When it's a holiday, it's easier," said Ksenia, a 12-year-old girl from Bakhmut. The center's officials asked not to use any child's last name for security reasons. Bakhmut, a city in eastern Ukraine, has been the center of a battle between the Russian and Ukrainian armies. 5"We forget about the war. It's easier to distract," Ksenia added after the performance. 6Ksenia was among the 62 children celebrating Saint Nicholas' Day on Monday. It is a traditional day when Ukrainian kids get presents. It also marks the beginning of the winter holiday season. 7Artem Tatarinov is the director of the rehabilitation center. "Why do our soldiers fight?" he said. "For the sake of the future because without it, there will be nothing. And children are our future." 8At the center, he said, there are children who have had to hide in shelters to escape bombs. Some have discovered their dead family members. 9UNICEF estimates that at least 1.2 million out of Ukraine's 7 million children are currently displaced within the country. 10The rehabilitation center houses children for two weeks. During that period, they get therapeutic lessons and spend time with mental health experts to try to process the war. 11"It is like a temporary rehabilitation from the war," said Alevtyna, a mentor at the center. 12For children, Alevtyna said, the center can be like an island of happiness. But it is not easy for them. 13"They often talk about the war, cry," she said. "Children are afraid to fall asleep, are afraid to turn off the light." 14Over the past six months, the center has received more than 1,300 children from across the country. 15"It is difficult to work like this when you see children who do not smile, when their childhood was taken away," said Tatarinov, the center's director. He said that he once met a 12-year-old boy who discovered the headless body of his brother after a strike. He was 10 meters away from their house. 16"This is impossible to forget, but we do everything we can," added Tatarinov. 17That is why this week, he and the mentors tried to celebrate the holidays. On Monday, the performance brought joy to the children for a short time. 18"At least for an hour, but they can believe in miracles again, believe in goodness again, where fairy-tale heroes come," said Tetiana Hraban. She is head of the Golda Meir Institute of Civil Society. The group helped to organize the performance. 19The actors on stage asked the children what they want for the holiday. The answers were shouted over each other: "A generator." "A power bank." "A house." 20"Victory!" said one child, and all the others repeated it. 21I'm Dan Novak. 22Dan Novak adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reporting by The Associated Press. 23____________________________________________________________ 24Words in This Story 25rehabilitation - n. bringing someone back to normal, healthy condition 26distract - v. take attention away from something 27therapeutic - adj. relating to treatment of illness 28mentor - n. someone who teaches and gives advice 29miracle - n. unusual event or achievement 30stage - n. area in theater where performers stand 31generator -n. a machine that produces electricity