Amid Europe's largest refugee crisis since World War II, thousands of Ukrainian mothers and their children escaped the war by coming to Italy.
In response, the non-profit professional formation center, ELIS, located in Rome launched ELIS for Ukraine, a summer program to help Ukrainian families integrate into Italian society and build a life in their new home.
PIETRO CUM
CEO, ELIS
One part is welcoming the youngest children, letting them play and integrate with other children. At the same time, their mothers are learning Italian, and we are opening a listening service to learn in individual meetings the skills and capabilities of these people so we can find them jobs right away.
62 women and 95 children are taking part in ELIS for Ukraine. Some of them have traveled alone, without their parents, to escape conflict zones.
KATERYNA HORBATYKN
Ukrainian refugee
Now, I can hear from my parents, but the situation is always changing. In March, there were one or two weeks in which I could not call them, and for me that was one of the most nervous periods of the war.
Many of these migrants don't know when they will return to their Ukraine, and so ELIS makes language-learning a priority to help them integrate into their temporary homes.
IRINA SLIPUKHINA
Ukrainian refugee
For us it is very important, we are taking big steps forward in learning the language. I've noticed that I can speak and communicate with people even outside of the school, I can go to a store and speak with Italians.
Fleeing war, these children as young as three years old aren't able to have their normal summer vacation, but in Rome they can still attend summer camp.
JM
