They come to Portugal hoping to have a few days of tranquility. A group of Ukrainians, between 2 and 16 years old, accompanied by mothers arrived in Lisbon last Monday. This is a project that aims to help Ukrainian families and “show that the world is not that bad”
Mykhailo was a year old when the Russian troops invaded the Ukrainian territory. He knows that his father died to defend the country. It also knows that the country is at war. But you don’t realize what really happens. You are not afraid of shots, sirens or explosions that have plagued the country for over three years. He thinks they are firefighting or thunder on rainy days.
It comes from a country at war, where chaos, disorder and danger became the new normal for the. It was there (here) that Mykhailo came with his mother, he would give. On the same plane came more Ukrainian families, or rather more Ukrainian children and young people with their mothers. The parents, war soldiers, lost their lives.
It was between branches of flowers, Ukrainian flags and posters to say “ласкаiffs” (“Welcome”, which were received at Lisbon airport. As soon as they were seen, he automatically echoed repeatedly the word “ukrayina” in a choir that intended to welcome them and show that they were safe there. Tired and poorly expressive faces, even though some women have shown themselves thrilled with the moment.
Nadia has two children – Andriy 13 and 10 -year -old Bohdan – and it’s the first time she leaves Ukraine. Andriy says she can sometimes be calm; Other times, because of bombing, no. They live in a village near Sumy and, in a conversation with the translation of the president of the Ukrainian Association in Portugal, Pavlo Sadokha, Nadia tells CNN Portugal that the war has changed his life. He lost her husband and now tries to reorganize and rebuild everything.
These mothers and 16 young people and children come from Sumy, a city in northern Ukraine bordering the Russian city Kursk, and has been strongly affected by the attacks, namely after the offensive started by Kiev in that region of Russia. They arrived in Lisbon on Monday, on a trip that started two days earlier, on Saturday night. It was in Poland that they caught the plane that brought them to Portugal. It was a few minutes from 4:00 pm when they landed at Humberto Delgado airport.
They didn’t walk around the disoriented one – they even got well organized – but it’s the first time they are there. By the way, this is the first time they visit Portugal and for many this is the first time they travel outside the country.
“Rest a little of sirens, bombing, war,” says Nadia, who expresses her desire for these days. During the 10 days that will be in Portugal, they hope to rest. Here, the younger ones can fully enjoy the life of a child who is not allowed there.
An idea that at the beginning was “not big”, but later, and with the support of other entities, grew and became possible in other molds. “There are six friends who thought they were going to invite some families to their homes,” says CNN Portugal Natalia Varha, president of the Ukrainian Women’s Association in Portugal.
It was at a meeting of this same association, “created to help Ukrainian women and children and also to help Ukraine beat this war with Russia,” which came about to welcome Ukrainian families whose parents died, “families who pay a very high price” with this war, says Natás Varha.
With the help of women who are part of this association and other institutions and organizations, the idea became possible. “We can do more,” that’s what they thought.
It would have already traveled several cities since the beginning of the conflict. From Mariupol went to LVIV, from LVIV to Sumy and about six months ago in Kiev. “I really want my son to be alive. I look for a city that is not dangerous.” He was widowed a month after the Russian invasion began and since then, despite his fear, he wants to save his son’s life and seeks the safest place, even if it implies changing town.
“I think I’m already used to what is happening. I hear explosions and react very much not to scare my son.”
This project, “Children of heroes heated by the sun and love”, promises to offer unforgettable days to these mothers and children. “The biggest goal is to help these children to show them that the world is not that bad, that there are countries where there is no war, and help forget these tragic moments living in Ukraine, and lived, losing their closest families. Helping these children have a youth,” says Pavlo Sadokha.
“Hopefully we can rest and forget a little war for war. With this action we want to give an example for others to do so, so that the children of Ukraine do not suffer so much from this war, which seems to have no end yet,” he adds.
“On the one hand, you can feel sadly because it is a war that has no end. On the other, it is a great emotion because we will receive children and mothers of deceased soldiers and try to provide for two weeks peace, love and affection,” says Maria João Ramos, who is part of the Benfica Parish Board of Social Action section, in the area of refugees and housing.
Always with the objective of “doing more for these families”, as Natáliia Varha says, this is a project that has the support of the Ukrainian Association in Portugal, the Ukraine Embassy in Portugal, the Benfica Parish Council and some companies, such as Archiconsult.
Beach and pool days, visit the Lisbon Oceanarium, Badoca Safari Park, the Fatima Sanctuary, as well as a tour of the Historic Village of Óbidos, are some of the activities scheduled for the days in Portugal.
Daria would feel deeply grateful for this opportunity. Nadia wants them to rest. Olena and her children have had to spend more than 14 hours hidden because of the sirens and these days says she wants tranquility, rest and smile. On the 21st of this month they return to Ukraine. Until then, they have a few days to enjoy away from bombing, sirens and chaos.
