Eight-year-old Alisa and her older brother were forced to learn poems for a russian military holiday and were convinced that Ukrainian soldiers were killing civilians. After a year in russia, the children are still afraid to be in Ukraine. And 14-year-old Taras was once hit by russian teenagers with a bicycle in the street because they knew he was from Ukraine. And Olesia recalls how all Ukrainian children were forced to sing the song “Wagner is a cool regiment” at a holiday party. At school their peers called them Banderites and said that Ukrainians were to blame for the war. And 16-year-old Mykola, who three years ago was left a round orphan due to the health of both parents, was very worried that he was forced to take a russian passport. They said that if he did not take one, they would take him to the basement.

These are the memories of children we recently returned to Ukraine as part of the 10th mission. Instead of a happy, carefree childhood with their families, they have already experienced pain, humiliation and abuse just because they are Ukrainians. After that, there is no point in talking about the mental health of children. That is why our primary task is to help children recover as soon as possible, to close the gaps in their education and start living a new, happy life.

Because every child is important to Save Ukraine.