Education, apples and a hug

This morning we visited the Lviv Linguistic Gymnasium school and talked to the head of foreign languages about linking with Colne Park High School. Not in our wildest imagination would we have thought that we would find ourselves in a high school in Ukraine.

The teacher was passionate about languages and connections with other countries, and also horrified at the barbarism that one nation can inflict on another. She became very emotional about what is happening to her country and the impact on the children. She told us that every time an air raid siren sounds, all 484 students have to stop their lessons and shelter in the basement. 

We agreed that the first step will be for the schools to each record an introductory video. This evening I spoke to a teacher in Park High about what that message might be, and stressed how important it is to Ukrainian people, young and old, not to feel forgotten. This was illustrated again when we bought fruit from some of the street vendors outside the main market. The market itself was closed because of an air raid siren. When the women found out that we were from England, trying to help, one pressed a free bag of apples on me and another came running after us and gave us a hug!

We also hope to be able to support the teachers in the linguistic school with their English lessons. And we are working towards connecting Leeds University with Lviv Polytechnic National University, which happens to be across the street from our apartment. Work in progress, along with books in Ukrainian for children who do not have easy access to them, including the refugee population in Poland.