When battle broke out in 2022, Sasha and his mom, Lyudmila, fled their house in Kharkiv, Ukraine, with out taking any of their belongings.
“I spotted that if we didn’t flee, we might both be killed by the bombs or starve to loss of life there,” mentioned Lyudmila.
After a dangerous seven-day journey, they arrived in Slovakia and, quickly after, started a brand new life within the capital metropolis of Bratislava.
Adjusting to their new life in a special nation was not straightforward, however they discovered renewed hope after they acquired a cellphone name from Particular Olympics inviting them to hitch the ‘Unified with Refugees’ sport actions.
Lyudmila defined that his eight-year-old son “struggles with communication as a result of variations in his growth because of autism.
“It was because of Particular Olympics that we began in some way to go someplace, see one thing and meet new folks, together with Ukrainians. We met and have become so united.”
In Slovakia, Sascha started collaborating in bodily actions on the Dream Day Exercise Heart alongside kids with and with out disabilities. In the meantime, Lyudmila was employed as a instructor on the identical heart.
“Bodily exercise impacts Sasha’s growth. And the truth that I can work not less than a bit makes me really feel like a human being, not only a refugee.”
Since its inception in 2016, with the assist of the UN Refugee Company (UNHCR) and the Lions Golf equipment Worldwide Basis (LCIF), Particular Olympics ‘Unified with Refugees’ has been instrumental in offering essential social integration alternatives by means of sports activities to 2 of the world’s most marginalized populations—refugees and folks with mental disabilities worldwide.
Up to now, over 10,000 refugee youths with and with out ID from reception facilities, refugee camps and group facilities internationally have been positively impacted. It at the moment has lively programming throughout Belgium, Cyprus, Italy, Kenya, Malta, Moldova, Netherlands, Pakistan, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Tanzania, Thailand and Uganda.
Lyudmila acknowledges the essential position sports activities play in main a greater and more healthy life. She mentioned, “Many problems within the head are attributable to problems within the physique. That’s how sports activities heal—you need to transfer.”
Sasha particularly enjoys swimming, and diving into the water is one in every of his favourite actions. “He is sort of a stunning fish! Because of sports activities, my son has develop into extra disciplined. He listens to me extra attentively and understands what teamwork and following orders imply.”
Lyudmila added, “We hope to return house to Ukraine, however nobody is aware of the way it will end up. For now, Particular Olympics is our solely hope that retains us going and pushing ahead.”
