Since yesterday, a flag with a golden trident has been adorned on an inner wall of the former Griffioen cultural center on the Uilenstede student campus. It is the national symbol of Ukraine, the homeland of dozens of refugee children who have been taking lessons in the building since last month. “If we can put a smile on their faces, that’s great.”
About eighty children are among the approximately four hundred Ukrainian refugees who now live in hotels in Amstelveen, says alderman Frank Berkhout prior to a tour of the building. “They receive lessons here and a full-day program.”
Flow through
Amstelveen host families who take in Ukrainian refugees (children) are also welcome, he emphasizes. To determine what education is needed, they are offered a so-called landing program. “Because going back to school every day is a big step,” emphasizes Elena Nabatova of welfare organization Participe, which is in control.
The children will later move on to regular education, is the intention. “Because it seems that we have to keep this up for a while,” concludes the alderman with a view to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Dozens of children now make from the shelter hotels – as the crow flies a few hundred meters from the campus – use of the curriculum and after-school care. Based on their age, they are divided into groups, each of which has its own room at their disposal.
“I teach my class in Ukraine via Zoom”
Education is provided by Ukrainian or Ukrainian-speaking volunteers, two of whom have fled the violence in their homeland. One of them is Viktoria from the city of Chernihiv.
“I’m an English teacher,” says Viktoria, who normally teaches in Ukraine. “Because it has been quiet again in Chernihiv for a few days, the schools there are open again, so I now also teach my class there, via Zoom.”
sidewalk chalk drawings
“This is the classroom for 7- and 8-year-olds”, says policy advisor Education Yamilé Bueters of the municipality. The tables are arranged in a U-shape, on the chairs behind them are school bags that the children have received from the municipality.
Above the teacher’s table hangs a large map of Ukraine on which the oblasts (provinces, ed.) are indicated in different colors. A few meters away hangs a map of Europe. In between is a flipchart that serves as a blackboard.
“Here they can be a child”
In addition to flipcharts, tables, chairs and cupboards, the Griffioen cultural center has also left easels and a piano in the building after the move. The children are grateful for this, says Yamilé. Just like the improvised and fenced schoolyard, where countless sidewalk chalk drawings have been made. “Here they can be children.”
One of the largest and most colorful classrooms is that of Olga, who, together with Natalia and Nadezda, takes care of the youngest children (2-6 years). “We celebrate parties here, we share joys and sorrows here,” says Olga, who is originally from Belarus, but has lived most of her life in the Netherlands. There is no language barrier, ‘because Belarusian is very similar to Ukrainian’.
A large part of the toys in the room has been donated by Amstelveen nurseries. “And we searched Marktplaats, and asked people if they wanted to donate it instead of selling it.”
Activities are also organized for the parents of the toddlers and preschoolers. In practice, they are mothers, because most Ukrainian men are not allowed to leave their country because they have to be available to serve in the army. “We combine it, for example, with Dutch lessons or flower arranging.”
Sunday School
Even before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, there was a Ukrainian school in Amstelveen: Dhzerelo. At the time, there were still a few dozen children from a large part of the Randstad and beyond, but now there are hundreds. In order to serve all those children, the school recently opened a second location.
NH Nieuws visited Dhzerelo shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, where many attendees followed the news from Ukraine closely and tensely.
Ukrainians find support at Sunday school – NH Nieuws