in Marseille, Ukrainian students prepare to go back to school

Just before the start of the school year, there are certain things that do not change for schoolchildren, whether in France or in Ukraine. Like the list of school supplies to put in the school bag that Bogdan, 9, draws up: “Pens, notebooks, a large binder, colored pencils”everything is ready.

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This young Ukrainian boy, who fled the war, is supported by the “Marseille – Odessa” association, and he does not really want to go back to school. “I would prefer go to my Ukrainian school, because my friends are in Ukraine“, he lets go.

“During recess I’ll be sad, but during class I’ll be fine. I like class.”

Bogdan, 9 years old

at franceinfo

This apprehension is also shared by 8-year-old Liégo. “I want to, but I’m also a little scared, because all the other children speak French“, he says. He remembers his arrival “very difficult” in France in the spring.

Liego is from Mykolaiv, south of Ukraine. He arrived in Marseille with his mother in March. The first few months were complicated to live, “because the adaptation was too difficult for him, he does not speak French“, says his mother.

“Communication with children is very important to him. He couldn’t do it, he was the only Ukrainian child.”

Liego’s mother

at franceinfo

So for this new school year, she decided to change her son’s establishment, with the hope that there will be “more Ukrainian children in this new school“.”I hope it will be better, that he will have friends that he can play with“, she adds.

This apprehension of the start of the school year is accentuated by the lack of the father, who remained in Ukraine to fight. They telephone regularly and Liégo’s mother has planned to do it quickly “to communicate to him what is happening during the first days of school“.”I don’t know where he is, how he is, it’s difficult for my son because he misses his father a lot”, she says. A father impatiently awaiting his son’s back-to-school photo, satchel on his back.