Children Without a Childhood: French Newspaper Le Monde Publishes Article About Participants of the “Blogger Camp” by the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation
Ukrainian children who were affected by the war and underwent rehabilitation at the “Blogger Camp” of the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation have become the protagonists of an article in the French newspaper Le Monde. In the piece titled “Occupied Ukraine: The First Thing russians Do Is Attack Children,” journalists describe the difficulties children face after occupation or unlawful deportation to russia.
At the center of the story is the family of Nataliia from illegally annexed Crimea. Only in 2024 did the woman dare to bring six of her eight children to territory controlled by Ukraine. She recalls how one day her 12-year-old daughter Olha asked: “What country do we live in?” At that time, Nataliia replied: “In Crimea.” The woman admits that she could not say that they lived in russia, because that would have been untrue. That is why it was a matter of principle for her to save her children from life under occupation.
French journalists emphasize that in the occupied territories, Ukrainian schoolchildren are forced to submit to the russian system of ideological and military indoctrination, which deeply affects their identity.
“I love Ukraine more than anything, because it is my homeland,” 5-year-old Tetiana tells the journalists.
Her mother Nataliia says that Tania — her youngest daughter — adapted to the move faster than the others, while the older children required psychological support. They received it at the “Blogger Camp” organized by the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation.
At the camp, psychologists who had undergone special training under the “War Trauma” program worked with the children on an ongoing basis. The program was created to help children overcome stress, restore a sense of safety, regain self-confidence, and unlock their creative potential. During the session, the children also attended workshops, learned blogging skills, communicated with their peers, and discovered new opportunities for self-expression.
Today, Nataliia’s children speak only Ukrainian, although in Crimea they did not study it at all. And none of them wants to return to life under occupation.
“If you stay there, you will only sink lower and lower,” 14-year-old Martin admits.
The Rinat Akhmetov Foundation systematically supports Ukrainian children who have suffered because of the war. The sessions of the “Blogger Camp” are attended by children from the most vulnerable categories: orphans and half-orphans, children under guardianship; children who were unlawfully deported to russia and were able to return to Ukraine; children who lost their parents during the war.
Nearly 5,000 children affected by the war have received recreation, health improvement, and psychological assistance within the framework of the project “Rinat Akhmetov — To Children. Peaceful Rest for the Children of Ukraine.”
Under the program “Rinat Akhmetov — To Children,” more than 6 million children across Ukraine have received support.
