despite the conflict, students return to school

In Irpin (Ukraine), near kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky came to greet some children on the occasion of the start of the school year. At class photo time, back to school looks like any other. The Ukrainian authorities want to show that the children are doing well, despite the war. In another school, a few kilometers away, the atmosphere seems light in class.

But because of the conflict, the back-to-school program has changed. The children are trained to know how to evacuate and to remain disciplined in the event of an attack. “It is obvious that this year is different from the others. We are at war. Of course, we are worried about the children and their safety, but we have brand new facilities and a shelter in case of bombardment.“, confides Olga Malyovana, teacher. Destroyed at the beginning of the war, the school was rebuilt in a few months with the support of Unicef. Everything is done to give the children a sense of normality and preserve their mental health.