We use cookies on this website. By continuing to use this site without changing your cookie settings, you agree that you are happy to accept our privacy policy and for us to access our cookies on your device.
Transcript/Script((PLAYBOOK SLUG: CHILDREN AMID WAR
HEADLINE: Childhood Amid Russian War on Ukraine
TEASER: Two years on, teachers help students learn of dangers they face in daily life
PUBLISHED: 02/21/2023 at 1:45pm
BYLINE: Lesia Bakalets
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Kyiv
VIDEOGRAPHER: Evgenii Shynkar
ASSIGNING EDITOR: LR
SCRIPT EDITORS: MAS
PRODUCER:
VIDEO SOURCES: VOA ORIGINAL, REUTERS
PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV X_ RADIO_X
TRT: 2:38
VID APPROVED BY: MAS
TYPE: TV/R
UPDATE: This is part of VOA’s coverage marking the 2nd anniversary of Russia’s war on Ukraine.]]
((INTRO))
[[The war introduced new elements into Ukrainian children's lives, such as bomb shelters in kindergartens and schools, mine safety lessons, and first aid training. From Kyiv, Lesia Bakalets looks at how the war is affecting the country's youngest citizens.]]
((NARRATOR))
New life lessons for some of Ukraine’s youngest students...
((NAT SOUND, kindergarten teacher shows a picture to pre-schoolers.))
(FEMALE, UKR)
“Look, here is an abandoned house. And it can be dangerous. Why? – Because there may be a grenade!”
((NARRATION))
These students in the city of Irpin are just 3 and 4 years old. And every week they have special safety classes.
((Svitlana Kravets, Preschool Teacher (FEMALE, UKR)))
“I explain to the children that if they see any object lying on the ground, it cannot be picked up under any circumstances, even if it is a toy or candy, because it could be mined.”
[[RADIO: Svitlana Kravets, their preschool teacher, says that she tells the children that if they see any object lying on the ground, they should not pick it up under any circumstances, even if it is a toy or candy, because it could be mined.]]
((NARRATION))
The Russian army occupied Irpin in early March 2022, shortly after it launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine the month before. When troops left the city, they planted mines.
Now, Ukrainian students of all ages get lessons in the wartime dangers they face every day.
((Svitlana Kravets, Preschool Teacher (FEMALE, UKR)))
“Honestly, it's so difficult to tell kids about this stuff, but I know I must. We have different games, books, riddles about mines, grenades, explosions.”
[[RADIO: Kravets says it's very difficult to tell kids about this stuff, but she knows she must. The school has different games, books and riddles about mines, grenades and explosions.]]
((NARRATION))
UNICEF provides safety education materials for preschool and kindergarten children across the country.
[[radio: Damian Rance is the chief of communications and advocacy for UNICEF Ukraine.]]
((Damian Rance, UNICEF Ukraine (MALE, ENG))
“They use Ukrainian environments to show the children where such objects may be and what they need to do and the phone numbers they need to call should they come across some of these explosive objects as well. Some 30% of this country currently is contaminated by mines”.
((NARRATION))
Students at this school in Kyiv are taught first aid and the number to call if they see a suspicious object. 12-year-old student Andriy Kanavov, who had fled his home in Melitopol, explains how he understands war.
((Andriy Kanavov, Student (male, UKR)))
“War is when one country wants to take the territory of another country. They bomb and drive there on artillery vehicles of all kinds”.
[[RADIO: He says it’s when one country wants to take the territory of another country. They bomb and drive there on artillery vehicles of all kinds.]]
((NARRATION))
Teacher Lyudmila Gavrilyuk says the children are growing up prematurely and need more attention and care.
((Lyudmila Gavrilyuk, Teacher – FEMALE, UKR))
“Sometimes, I see when children are silent or sad. And our role is to be nearby. But also, we need to adapt our educational program constantly to the current war circumstances”.
[[RADIO: She says she sees when children are silent or sad. And the staff's role is to be nearby. But they also need to adapt the educational program constantly to the current war circumstances.]]
((NARRATION))
Damian Rance of UNICEF says that of the 7 million children in Ukraine, about 40% still do not have direct access education to in-person learning, and that about 1.5 million have mental health issues that require professional intervention.
((Lesia Bakalets, VOA News, Kyiv))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
