Milaniia Volodchenko 14, female from Donetsk

In this essay, I would like to tell you about myself. My name is Milaniia. I am 14 years old and I am from Bahmut, Donetsk region.

My hobby is beadwork: I create bracelets, rings, earrings, and other jewellery. I’ve been doing this for four years. I also adore pets. Before the war, I had a cat, and I really loved it. I enjoy having fun and visiting amusement parks, but at the same time, I like just walking around the city or in parks.

Unfortunately, my hometown was completely destroyed by bombing. It was very hard to leave it forever. During the first week of the invasion, we stayed in a bomb shelter, and then my family had to flee. In March 2022, my family and I escaped the war and came to Belgium. My dad became a soldier and has been protecting Ukraine since the first days of the war. We see each other only once a year. My mom teaches Ukrainian and English, and my younger brother, who is six years old, is in the first grade.

During our first week in Belgium, I started attending a local school. At first, it was a big challenge for me because I had to study at two schools at the same time — the Belgian one and my Ukrainian school — and also learn French from scratch. However, I made friends at the new school very soon, and within four months, I was able to speak French fluently. As for my school results, they are excellent. I get good marks at my Ukrainian school, and my performance at the Belgian school is at the same level as the local students.

When I saw information about your project, I thought my experience could be useful. I would be very happy to take part in it, because it’s an exciting opportunity that will be important for my future. This project will help me improve my English skills. It’s also a great chance to learn more about American culture and people. Additionally, it’s a valuable experience in communicating with new people.