Oleksandra Kuzin 16, female from Kharkiv

Hi! My name is Oleksandra Kuzin. I was born on December 27, 2008, and I am currently 16 years old. I have lived my entire life in the city of Kharkiv. Now, I’d like to tell you a little about myself and my family.

As a child, I was very quiet and shy, so I loved learning poems and exploring the magical world of fairy tales. In kindergarten, I often hosted celebrations.

I really enjoy studying at school, especially learning foreign languages such as German and English. In ninth grade, I earned the DSD1 language diploma in German. I also like mathematics and economics. Currently, I’m studying English and math additionally to improve my skills in these subjects.

I remember the morning of February 24, 2022, very clearly—my family woke up to the sound of explosions. My parents hid me and my younger brother in the basement, and three days later, my school was completely destroyed. It was the first school in Ukraine to be demolished. It’s incredibly difficult to describe the feeling when the place where you studied, had your favorite friends, teachers, and so many memories—just disappears.

Now, I study remotely and miss my friends a lot because we’ve been scattered all over the world.

My parents and I now help our soldiers and families who have lost their homes. We collect humanitarian aid, and sometimes I help weave camouflage nets. Through a school project, we also gather treats and warm clothes for the soldiers of our country.

But life doesn’t stop. Last summer, I went with my school family to a museum dedicated to the tragedy of the Second World War—Auschwitz. It made me realize how destructive war is.

It also helped me realize that life is a moment, and it should be lived here and now. I really want to travel, meet new people, make friends, explore new cultures, get a good education so I can be useful to this world, and enjoy life without fear or sorrow.