The Russian invasion of Ukraine and its consequences have burst into the classrooms of Catalan schools. It is not part of the agenda, but it is, unfortunately, part of reality. So the teachers they have introduced it. In some cases, forced by their student body, of Ukrainian origin. They have tried to explain what is going on and also emotionally support those students who have family in Ukraine and who are living these days with much anguish.
One of these schools is The palm from the neighborhood of La Verneda in Barcelona. Here they have 9 children of Ukrainian origin, including 2 refugees. Since the war broke out, these children have internalized the concern that permeates their homes. At school, they have tried to support them emotionally. The most intense work has been in the levels between 3rd and 6th grade. “Many started to cry. This situation causes them a lot of anguish,” says the director, Conchi Calvo. One of the hardest cases has been that of a child who did not stop cry. “I was going through a lot stress. He has relatives trying to leave Ukraine. At first, his companions did not understand what was happening to him. We approached the subject so that they understood the emotional situation and that they had to support their partner,” explains Calvo.
In Guissona, the ‘little Ukraine of Catalonia, the Fedac school hosts 17 children of Ukrainian origin. When the war broke out, some students stopped coming. “They didn’t have their heads in class. They were very nervous,” says the school director, Daniel Strong. In ESO, they have been very aware of a student who arrived two years ago with his father. His mother stayed in the Ukraine. “This child was still in the process of adaptation. He has been very worried, distressed. He barely spoke. His mother was trying to get here. She got it this past Monday. Her son’s face is now different,” explains Fuertes, who reflects that everyone “The anguish of not knowing what will happen leaves us out of place.”
Can not sleep
“Sad, I couldn’t sleep”, “very worried, I couldn’t sleep thinking about my grandparents”, “I couldn’t sleep”; These are the sentiments expressed to EL PERIÓDICO by some of Fedac’s students of Ukrainian origin. He comforts them knowing they have the support of friends and teachers. “Now I am less worried because I see that everyone wants to help Ukraine,” said one of them.
Schools try to deal with the conflict as much as possible. I respect and neutrality because they also have russian pupils. At Institute of Guissona, in the joint act that the whole center did to condemn the war, a Russian student of 4th year of ESO wanted to intervene. “She asked us not to fall into prejudice. She said that no one should be ashamed of their origins. Many Russians are hurt by the situation,” he says. Martha Semper, teacher of Social and Culture and Values. This student, originally from St. Petersburg, sends her family and friends in Russia videos of what happens in Ukraine. “They tell him that these images do not reach them there,” adds Semper, confirming the informative lock imposed on Russia by the Kremlin.
In the institute, as soon as you enter, the dozens of ties with the Ukrainian flag that decorate doors and walls. “It was an initiative of the students, which came automatically, absolutely everyone got involved, from 1st ESO to Baccalaureate”, he explains. Jordi TicoHistory teacher.
emotion and empathy
These days the most nervous are the youngest students, 1st and 2nd ESO, who asked their tutors to talk about it from the beginning. The older ones, says the director, Maria PampalonaThey are more reserved. “They look sad, but they don’t show it.” Ticó points out that the Ukrainian students of 4th ESO already sensed, before the war broke out, that something was going to happen. “When the conflict was confined to Donbas they were calm because they had no family there, but as the conflict has spread, they have become concerned,” he says. “Because it’s their turn. A student told us that they have recruited his 20-year-old cousin, others have relatives who have gone to Ukraine to fight,” adds the head of the institute’s Social Department, Edward Mayorawhich underlines the fighting spirit of the Ukrainian community.
The classrooms have been spaces where emotion can be vented and where classmates have been able to show empathy and support. “A Ukrainian student who is very fond of History gave a presentation on the origin of the conflict and from there they explained personal experiences.” One of them moved me when he said that Catalonia welcomed him and now, as a Catalan, he wants to welcome the refugees. It is exciting to see the integration and cultural inclusion that there is,” Semper points out. Now, after the first days of the invasion, the students’ question is “why?” “They don’t explain why what is happening” Mayora points out.
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Pampalona emphasizes that the institute wants accompany but not exceed to these students. “We will not insist on the subject unless they ask to speak, because the institute must also be a space where they can disconnect, breathe and feel safe,” she stresses. Along the same lines, Fuertes points out that “perhaps it is not necessary to talk about it continuously”. “We don’t want students to feel overwhelmed. We want them to feel that the school is a safe space. Now they are calmer than the first days.”