“I Felt Like I Was in a Maze”: The Real Story of 7-Year-Old Sashko from Mykolaiv
When the Russian army launched a large-scale invasion and blew up the water supply, Sashko and his family left their native Mykolaiv for Germany. But adapting to a new life abroad proved difficult for the 7-year-old. In Germany, a change came over him. He started getting into fights with his peers, despite previously being quiet and calm. He also fell ill frequently.
I felt like I did not belong there. Like I was lost in a maze,
Conflicts arose not only with peers, but also with adults. He started the first grade at a local school, but sadly, could not understand their local language. Drawing in class became his escape, but the teacher did not like it.
Sashko’s return to Ukraine with his family was not a cure-all. The boy still got into fights and did not want to be friends with anyone.
Then, his acquaintances suggested the local “Voices of Children” Center, and that is where things turned around.