Welcoming Ukrainian Refugees to Queen's

Welcoming Ukrainian Refugees to Queen’s

Nastiia is a refugee from Ukraine, who joined Form VI at QCPS during the Summer term 2022 on a full bursary. Her mother, Yuliia, kindly agreed to tell us more about their situation and how Nastiia is settling in at Queen’s.

Where in Ukraine are you and Nastiia from?

We are from a small village in the Cherkassy region.

How did the outbreak of the war affect Nastiia and the rest of your family?

We heard about Russia’s invasion from the news and we couldn’t believe it! All school pupils were immediately moved to distance learning, just as happened during the Covid-19 pandemic. I worked as a teacher in Ukraine, so I was conducting classes through Zoom when it was possible. The worst thing for us was that, amidst all the horror that was happening in Ukraine, Nastiia’s father was conscripted to fight for the Ukrainian Army. This was the greatest sorrow for my daughter and me. We had to spend much of our time hiding in our (very cold) cellar at home, so frightened during every air alert. My daughter’s heart condition got significantly worse.

Why did you decide to move to London?

We were lucky that my niece, who lives in London, kindly offered to sponsor me and my daughter so we could find safety from the war. She went to great lengths to provide us with everything we needed, which we are extremely grateful for. It was a difficult decision to leave our country – and of course my husband is still there fighting for the Army – so I was hesitant at first to leave. My husband, however, wanted us to go as he could see how Nastiia’s health was suffering and how we were living in fear.

Did you apply to the local authority for a state school place?

Yes, we applied through Westminster Council. As it was the middle of the year we were told that all the state schools we applied for were full. My daughter was still having remote classes from her school in Ukraine, but her classes were constantly interrupted due to the sirens going for hours throughout the day.

How did you hear about Queen’s?

My niece introduced us to Mrs Rolls, a former teacher at QCPS, who kindly reached out to Mr Tillett to see if he might be able to offer Nastiia a place. We feel very honoured to be offered a bursary place and will forever be grateful to Mrs Hall and everyone in the Queen’s community for welcoming us to QCPS.

How is Nastiia settling down at QCPS?

Thanks to the kindness and support of all the teachers at QCPS it didn’t take much time for her to settle and adapt. The girls from Form VI welcomed her with open arms! Nastiia started school on her actual birthday, which already felt like a big gift to us both, since she struggled not having that normality in the last couple of months. The girls greeted her with presents and, together with the teachers, welcomed her in the most heart-warming way. When I collected her after that first day, I finally saw some happiness in my daughter’s eyes for the first time in a long time.

What has Nastiia found most different/ surprising about the school experience in London, compared to her old school?

Studying in a London school is extremely different from her previous experience – everything from the school commute to the various subjects taught are all so different. Nastiia was surprised how warm and thoughtful everyone was towards us. Despite the language barrier, she feels very welcome and is enjoying being part of QCPS.

“Thanks to the kindness and support of all the teachers at QCPS it didn’t take much time for her to settle and adapt.”

What are your hopes for the future?

We hope to see the end of this cruel and inhumane war in Ukraine soon and to be able to reunite our family.

If you would like to contribute to the 175th Anniversary Appeal to support our full bursary students, including those we have welcomed from Ukraine this year, please contact Alex Horner on development@qcl.org.uk.