Russian boy translates for Ukrainian refugee in first grade

Marta’s dad stayed in Kiev, where the family lived. According to her classmates, she misses her daddy during classes.

“Kids are working on that”

The whole situation in Ukraine also receives the necessary attention in the classroom. “We use a special book to explain it to the children. It explains why people have to flee their country. Children are really working on that. As a teacher you try not to make it too scary, because that is a heavy subject. But you do want to explain it, of course,” says Marie Laperre, teacher in the first year.

Marta is now fully learning Dutch, just like other foreign-language newcomers at school. Until now, it is classmate Amin who sometimes plays the interpreter. “Miss says something in Dutch and I say it in Russian. And then Marta understands,” says Russian Amin proudly.