Guglielmo Gallone, Piotr Kowalczuk
The Salesian Sisters’ school in Kyiv opened half a year before the Russian aggression against Ukraine. As Sister Anna recounts, at that time, only 6 students attended it. The situation changed after the outbreak of the war, mainly because the school managed to create a shelter, providing a sense of security for children and their parents. Ukrainian schools were not as well prepared for shelling and bombings. Currently, 40 students attend the school, including those who left state schools.
Children’s Trauma
Sister Anna Zajączkowska pointed out that the teaching process is disrupted by a lack of energy and heating. This winter in Kyiv, electricity was often supplied for only 2-3 hours a day. Online learning became impossible. And when there was electricity, the heating didn’t work. However, as Sister Anna says, a much greater obstacle is the constantly growing war trauma in children: “One in five Ukrainian children has lost a relative or friend due to the war, over half have witnessed fighting, and one in three has seen dead and wounded people with their own eyes. This has inevitably increased the level of aggression in children. We have a special support program for children who have experienced trauma as a result of the war. We also organize prayer groups and community meetings that allow people to maintain peace of mind and a sense of community.” The school tries to maintain a rhythm of activities because it gives children a sense of stability, but among teenagers, one-third suffer from depression and anxiety.
Social Consequences of the War
As Sister Anna reports, studies show that 80 percent of Ukrainian families have become significantly impoverished due to the war and see no hope for improvement. Especially since it is unknown if, and if so, when, the war will end. An uncertain future does not encourage marriage or the formation of stable relationships. Fewer and fewer children are being born. What’s worse, due to separation caused by husbands serving in the military, more and more families are breaking up.
