After-School Support for Ukrainian Refugee Kids

Every Certificate Tells a Story

When the final school bell rang in June, another school year came to an end. For many children, it simply marked the beginning of summer vacation. For the Ukrainian refugee children attending our Day Centres in Galati and Braila, however, it marked something much more meaningful: another year of resilience, learning, and belonging.

Many of our children completed the school year with good grades, while others proudly received awards and certificates. But beyond every report card lies a story of courage and determination—a story made possible by your support.

Many of these children joined our Day Centres one or two years ago. Some had already been living in Romania since the beginning of the war, while others had arrived more recently. For many, our centres became the place where they first began learning Romanian, received help with homework, and slowly gained the confidence to adapt to a new school system and a new life.

Today, their progress speaks for itself.

At our Braila Day Centre, every refugee child successfully completed the school year with final grades ranging from 7.00 to 9.60 out of 10. Irina, whose mother is raising three daughters alone after fleeing the war, earned First Prize in her class. Other children received awards in art competitions and chess tournaments, while one student qualified for a national academic Olympiad.

At our Galati Day Centre, Karolina completed sixth grade with an impressive average of 9.79 out of 10, while Polina finished seventh grade with 9.74 out of 10. Their classmates also achieved excellent academic results.

Behind every certificate are months of determination, homework, Romanian language lessons, tutoring, encouragement, and caring adults who chose to stand beside these children every single day.

As one of our educators, Nina, shared:

"I am incredibly proud of the children I invest in every day."

These achievements remind us that education is about much more than academic performance. It is about rebuilding confidence, creating stability, and helping children believe in themselves again after experiencing the uncertainty of war.

A Summer Filled with Joy and Belonging

With the arrival of summer vacation, learning did not stop—it simply took a different form.

Throughout June and the summer months, the children joined a rich programme of games, creative workshops, outdoor activities, educational trips, and summer camps organised by Heart of a Child Foundation. Many of these activities brought together Ukrainian and Romanian children, giving them countless opportunities to practise Romanian naturally, build friendships, and feel part of their new community.

Thanks to the generosity of local sponsors and institutional partners, the children celebrated International Children's Day, visited the local zoo and an amusement park, and enjoyed special days filled with laughter, discovery, and new experiences.

Once again, our summer camp in the mountains became the highlight of the season. Surrounded by forests and fresh mountain air, the children enjoyed hiking, horseback riding, outdoor games, sports competitions, campfires, and evenings spent making new friends. For many, it was their first experience of a summer camp—an opportunity to simply be children again, free from the worries that had shaped their lives since the war began.

These joyful experiences are much more than holidays. They help children recover from the emotional impact of displacement, strengthen their confidence, improve their Romanian language skills, and create happy memories that replace fear with hope.

Thank You for Believing in Their Future

Every certificate, every new friendship, every word spoken confidently in Romanian, and every smile at summer camp tells the same story: when children receive consistent support, they can overcome extraordinary challenges.

Your generosity is helping refugee children do more than adapt to a new country. It is helping them succeed in school, build meaningful relationships, regain their confidence, and dream about the future again.

Thank you for making these stories possible. Together, we are giving refugee children not only an education, but also the opportunity to belong, thrive, and build a brighter future.

Links:

• Reel excursion
• Children's Day Event
• Summer Camp 2026