After-School Support for Ukrainian Refugee Kids

Afterschool Program for Ukrainian Refugee Children Background and Initial Approach

Since the beginning of our afterschool program, our primary goal has been to create a safe and welcoming space for Ukrainian refugee children, offering them support and opportunities for socialization. Initially, the program was open to all interested children, regardless of their educational background or enrollment status in Romanian schools. The focus was primarily on helping them adapt to their new environment, interact with peers, and engage in recreational activities that provided emotional relief and a sense of community.

However, starting in September, with the beginning of the new school year in Romania, we recognized an urgent need to shift our focus. While socialization remained important, we saw that children enrolled in Romanian schools faced significant academic and linguistic barriers that required targeted intervention.

Challenges Faced by Ukrainian Children in the Romanian School System

The transition to a new educational system has been incredibly difficult for Ukrainian refugee children. They are required to study in Romanian—a language that is entirely different from their native tongue, both in terms of structure and script. Unlike some other European countries that have specialized programs for integrating non-native speakers into their education systems, Romanian schools are not adequately equipped to support students from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds.

As a result, many Ukrainian children experience severe academic and social struggles:

• Language Barrier: Without prior exposure to Romanian, children find it extremely challenging to follow lessons, understand assignments, and communicate with teachers and classmates.
• Lack of Specialized Support: Schools lack the necessary resources, such as bilingual educators, adapted curricula, and additional language support classes, to help these students integrate effectively.
• Marginalization and Exclusion: Many Ukrainian children are placed at the back of classrooms with little attention from teachers. They often feel isolated and disconnected from their peers.
• Bullying and Discrimination: Unfortunately, some children have already encountered bullying from classmates and even, in some cases, from teachers. This not only affects their academic progress but also their emotional well-being and self-confidence.
• Delayed Academic Development: Without proper linguistic support, these students struggle to acquire age-appropriate knowledge in subjects such as mathematics, science, and history, putting them at risk of falling behind their peers.

How Our Afterschool Program Helps

To address these challenges, our afterschool program has been restructured to provide targeted educational support for Ukrainian children enrolled in Romanian schools. Over the past few months, we have worked with 21 children—9 from Galati and 12 from Braila—offering them a structured and supportive learning environment.

Key Components of the Program

• Intensive Romanian Language Lessons:

We provide daily language lessons focusing on essential communication skills, reading, writing, and vocabulary building.
Lessons are designed to be interactive, incorporating storytelling, songs, games, and practical exercises to make learning more engaging.

• Homework Assistance and Academic Support:

We help children understand and complete their school assignments, ensuring they grasp key concepts and develop confidence in their studies.
Our educators provide one-on-one support where needed, particularly in subjects that pose greater difficulties due to language barriers.

• Socialization and Emotional Support:

Beyond academics, we create opportunities for children to interact, make friends, and build relationships in a supportive environment.
We organize group activities, creative workshops, and play-based learning to enhance their social skills and emotional resilience.

• Nutritious Lunch for All Participants:

Every child attending our afterschool program receives a delicious and nutritious lunch to ensure they have the energy to focus and engage in learning. Meals are carefully planned to include essential nutrients, supporting both their physical health and cognitive development.

• School Supplies and Learning Materials:

We provide each child with school supplies, including notebooks, pens, pencils, textbooks, and other essential materials needed for their studies. This helps reduce the financial burden on refugee families and ensures that every child has the tools necessary to succeed in school.

• Parental Involvement and Community Engagement:

We maintain close communication with parents to update them on their children’s progress and challenges.
We collaborate with local schools and educators to advocate for better support systems for refugee children.

Impact and Future Goals

So far, our program has made a meaningful difference in the lives of the participating children. Many of them have shown noticeable improvement in their Romanian language skills, gained more confidence in their academic abilities, and developed friendships with peers. Parents have expressed gratitude for the program, highlighting the positive changes they see in their children’s motivation and emotional well-being.

Additionally, the children themselves have shared their thoughts and experiences about the afterschool program:

Karolina, 11 years old:
"I am very happy to attend the After School program. Here, I always receive help with my lessons, they explain difficult subjects to me, they help me learn the Romanian language, and they support me during difficult moments. I am grateful to the entire staff of ‘Inima de Copil’—the instructors and those who run this wonderful organization. I like that here I can not only improve my knowledge but also make new friends with whom I enjoy spending time. ‘After School’ is a place where I feel comfortable and confident, and where I am always welcome!"

Artem, 13 years old:
"I really enjoy going to the Afterschool program. Here, I receive help not only with Romanian school lessons but also with learning in Ukrainian. We study the Romanian language, and the lessons are very interesting. I can come both in the morning and in the afternoon. Many of my friends also attend Afterschool and love it."

These testimonials reflect the deep impact the program has had on the children’s academic progress, emotional well-being, and overall integration into their new environment.

However, the need for such support remains high. Moving forward, we aim to:

• Expand our program to accommodate more children in need.
• Strengthen partnerships with schools and local authorities to advocate for improved integration policies for refugee students.

By continuing to support these children, we hope to empower them with the skills, knowledge, and confidence they need to build a brighter future despite the challenges they face.

Summer Vacation Program
Until September 9th, children in Romania were on summer vacation. During this period, our after-school program operated under a special vacation schedule. Each month, 30-35 children participated in creative activities, including games, crafts, and outdoor activities. These activities were designed to keep the children engaged, promote creativity, and provide a fun, safe environment for them during the summer months. The focus was on nurturing their social skills, creativity, and overall well-being while giving them the opportunity to enjoy a carefree summer, despite the challenges many of them face as refugees.

Support for School Enrollment
Throughout the summer, our staff worked tirelessly to support Ukrainian refugee families in enrolling their children in local schools and kindergartens. We successfully helped over 30 children navigate the often complex process of registration, ensuring that they had the necessary documentation and that they were prepared to start the new school year alongside their peers. This involved close coordination with educational institutions and providing translation assistance when needed. Our goal was to make sure that these children, many of whom were experiencing formal education in Romania for the first time, were set up for success from day one.

In addition to school enrollment support, through another project run by our foundation, we were able to distribute 150 fully equipped backpacks to Ukrainian refugee children at the start of the school year. These backpacks, filled with essential school supplies such as notebooks, pens, pencils, and other learning materials, were a vital resource for children and their families. For many of these refugee families, financial hardship is a daily reality, and this generous contribution from our sponsors and partners alleviated some of the stress that comes with preparing for a new school year. These supplies not only supported the children’s education but also provided them with a sense of belonging as they began their studies alongside their Romanian classmates.

After-School Program
Since the official start of the school year on September 9th, our after-school program has resumed its full schedule, with a particular focus on supporting Ukrainian refugee children enrolled in Romanian schools. The program is designed to provide homework assistance, Romanian language lessons, and leisure activities that foster both academic and social integration. The aim is to help these children navigate their new school environment more confidently, enabling them to keep up with the curriculum, despite language barriers, and to feel more included in their host community.

The Romanian language lessons have been especially crucial, as many of these children arrived in Romania with little to no knowledge of the language. By offering tailored language support, we help them overcome one of the biggest obstacles they face in their education. Alongside academic support, we organize leisure activities such as art projects, team games, and group discussions that encourage them to bond with their peers and develop friendships with local children. This holistic approach ensures that these children are not only learning but also finding joy and stability in their new lives.

Our after-school program acts as a bridge between the children and the local community, promoting cross-cultural understanding and creating a nurturing environment where these young refugees can grow, learn, and adapt.

The Need for Continued Support
Despite the progress made, Ukrainian children still face significant challenges in their integration process, and they continue to need substantial support. Romania, especially in the eastern regions, lacks extensive experience in integrating children who do not speak the local language and come from different cultural backgrounds. This presents unique challenges, both for the children and for the Romanian educational system.

Efforts to integrate refugee children into Romanian schools have been made in recent years, but the success rate has been limited. In fact, fewer than 10% of refugee children have been successfully integrated into state schools in the past. Many face overwhelming difficulties, including language barriers, cultural differences, and the psychological impact of displacement, which can impede their ability to focus on learning and socialization.

The current school system does not always have the resources or trained personnel needed to address these specific needs. Teachers are often unequipped to handle the unique challenges of refugee children, such as providing extra language support or addressing the trauma many of these children have endured. This makes it even more important for programs like ours to exist, where specialized assistance is provided to ease the transition.

Our after-school center plays a critical role in filling this gap by providing targeted support that these children would otherwise not receive. By offering focused Romanian language classes and individualized attention, we help bridge the language and cultural divide, ensuring that refugee children are not left behind. The program also fosters a welcoming and inclusive environment where children can feel safe, supported, and motivated to learn.

Through our continued efforts, we aim to help more refugee children succeed academically, grow emotionally, and integrate more fully into Romanian society. The road to full integration is long and challenging, but with the right resources and consistent support, these children can thrive in their new environment. Our hope is that, with further involvement from the community, sponsors, and local authorities, we will be able to extend this vital assistance to even more children in the months to come.

Links:

• Facebook post school supplies distribution