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Transcript/Script((PLAYBOOK SLUG: TV Zaporizhzhia Kindergarten IDPs – Markova
HEADLINE: Zaporizhzhia Kindergarten Turned Into Refugee Center
TEASER:
PUBLISHED AT: 6/29/2022 at 9:30am
BYLINE:Kateryna Markova
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine
VIDEOGRAPHER: Victor Petrovych
VIDEO EDITOR: Victor Petrovych arev
SCRIPT EDITORS: KE;
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB TV X only RADIO __
TRT: 2:40
VID APPROVED BY: KE
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES:))
((INTRO))
[[In Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region, many kindergarten buildings have been turned into refugee centers welcoming Ukrainians from less safe areas of the country. Kateryna Markova has the story.]]
((NARRATION))
((NATS)) ((Woman speaking Russian))
“Thank you so much! I didn’t expect this! I’ve heard volunteers are amazing, I just can’t, it’s giving me shivers…”
((NARRATION))
Many residents of occupied cities in southern Ukraine, like Mariupol, Kherson and Berdyansk arrive in Zaporizhzhia and spend their first night in this kindergarten center.
It’s called Kindergarten “Veselka” in Ukrainian, which translates to Rainbow Kindergarten.
They arrive in buses, about 100 people at a time, from filtration centers. Here they are given food, a place to shower and a comfortable place to sleep.
Kindergarten director Natalia Kuzmenko is often there to greet them.
((Natalia Kuzmenko, Rainbow Kindergarten Director)) ((IN UKRAINAN))
“There is so much adrenaline. We feel that there’s so much we need to do for these people to make them feel welcome. We make sure everyone has food or a coffee and they are off to Lviv, and from there to Poland, or wherever they are going.
((NARRATOR))
Natalia is staying here and told of her ordeal.
((Natalia, Internally Displaced)) ((No last name)) ((In Ukrainian))
“It is very difficult: two months in hell; there was no electricity or gas, there was little water, and last week it was all gone.”
((NARRATION))
Other refugees said Russian troops moved into their town and made it impossible to stay.
((Nina Mykolaivna, Internally Displaced)) ((In Ukrainian))
“They got drunk and started fighting, shooting at each other! I have three children, but I have never seen anything like it! And he says, ‘We came to protect you’. And I said, ‘From whom? From whom did you come to protect me?’
((NARRATION))
Displaced persons stay just one night before moving further, but they find great relief during their brief stay.
((NATS)) ((Female Refugee in a car)) ((in Ukrainian))
“We did not expect such a warm welcome from people, neither did we expect aid.”
((NARRATOR))
For staff and helpers, it can be overwhelming.
((Natalia Kuzmenko, Rainbow Kindergarten Director)) ((IN UKRAINAN))
“This is how we cope: we just cry… At home you start telling your loved ones about it. It’s just horrendous. No one here knows even half of what is going on there! This is just complete torture of people! Here, at least for a bit, they feel warmth and care…”
((NARRATION))
So far, this center has helped more than 2,000 people searching for safety and stability as Russia continues its war on Ukraine.
((Kateryna Markova, for VOA News, Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine
BylineKateryna Markova
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
