Four young students living together in a school playground is banal, but the conversation that Cecilia, Ekaterina, Liubov and Daria are having shows an image of unity rarely seen in these times of war. All are students of the Albufeira Poente School Group: two were born in Ukraine, the other two in Russia. Above all, they want to show that this conflict “does not make sense” because Ukraine and Russia are “brother peoples”.
On the playground of Escola Básica da Guia, there is a lot of hustle and bustle in the early morning of this Thursday, March 10th.
Hundreds of students are preparing a symbolic action “For Peace”, with the launch of white doves, music and poems alluding to Ukraine.
There are 1st cycle children, but also older students. Friends Cecilia, Ekaterina, Liubov and Daria, holding hands, are filming and following everything.
On the arm of one of them, next to the wrist, you can see a “U” and an “R”, written with a pen, accompanied by a heart.
The U is from Ukraine and the R is from Russia, two countries that are at war and that tell them so much.
Cecilia was born in Ukraine, in a city near Kiev, but has been in Portugal since she was 6 years old. Thousands of miles away, she has been following the conflict with concern.
«My grandfather is a troop captain», he says. After difficult days, the reports she has heard are that «things are a little calmer».
“My family is now taking refuge on a farm. I just hope everything goes well », she shoots.
At his side is Ekaterina, a 13-year-old girl who was born in Russia. There is an evident complicity between them all, so well expressed in the words of this Russian student.
“This war is meaningless. We are here to give an example of union, of how the two peoples are united”, she says.
So far, Ekaterina guarantees that she has not felt any type of discrimination for being born in Russia, the country that started the conflict.
«I know of some families in which this has happened, but it is not my case», he says.
Cecilia soon adds: «I don't blame my Russian friends because I have nothing against them. We are brothers. The problem is Putin», she says.
Ekaterina has spoken with both families, on both sides of the conflict, and everyone has heard the same: “they want peace”.
Like this colleague, Lyubov was born in Russia.
She is 14 years old and has also not heard any negative comments about being Russian. “I have Ukrainian friends and they don't point the finger at me,” she says.
With his father in Russia and his mother in Portugal, Liubov says the war “has to stop”.
"I'm happy not to argue with my Ukrainian friends and we have to be anyway," he adds.
Next to these four friends, there is a large poster with two flags – one from Russia, one from Ukraine. In both languages, we read: “we must always be united”.
Daria, a native of Ukraine, has set an example and, in her home, has already received four refugees. “We are trying to help. It hasn't been complicated at all and I always have company to talk to”, she says.
Moreover, the Albufeira Poente School Group itself is preparing the arrival of several Ukrainian students. Two – a young person and a child – are already integrated into two classes.
«In the classes, there will be a reinforcement of Portuguese so that they learn our language quickly. On a psychological level, we will also provide support and we have the provider for the migrant student, the social worker and the support of the Albufeira Chamber and the Health Center», explains director Sérgia Medeiros.
In total, there are, in this Grouping of Schools, «children of 38 nationalities».
“We have 56 Ukrainian students and 14 Russian students. There is healthy coexistence here, a great deal of mutual help and, since the conflict began, the initiatives that we are carrying out have been very salutary”, he considers.
Regarding the two students who have already arrived, the feedback has been "very good".
“There is a great welcome. In this first impact, we are also very concerned about the issue of mental health”, he explains.
For Sérgia Medeiros, the school “has to be open” to everyone.
This is also the example given by these four friends – Cecilia, Ekaterina, Liubov and Daria -, while John Lennon can be heard in the columns set up in the playground at Escola Básica da Guia.
«Imagine all the people / living life in peace».
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