5.2 Hope story: Dnipro Kids
The charity Dnipro Kids was founded in 2005, when Hibernian FC played a UEFA Cup match in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro. They started by collecting donations to help local orphans, before war was on anyone’s mind. After the Russian invasion, the charity brought more than 50 children and their orphanage mums to Scotland, where they are now living in Edinburgh.
‘It is a beautiful city and very nice people,’ said one of the older children. ‘But I miss my home very much. I worry a lot because war takes a lot of innocent lives and I hope that all the people I love and care about will be safe. I miss Dnipro and I hope to go back soon.’
Scotland offers sanctuary, until it is safe to return. The children are learning English, but their connection to Ukraine is kept alive, among other things through online lessons provided to displaced children by the Ukrainian authorities.
