WORLD Magazine: PSI & AISB, Summer Edition 2022 by Pechersk School International

A M E R I C A N

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

S C H O O L

O F

B U C H A R E S T

SUMMER EDITION 2022

Special Edition Co-edited by the American International School of Bucharest and Pechersk School International, Kyiv

spotlight on #ArtForPeaceInUkraine Art is an ultimate force that shapes our thinking, and often serves as a shield that protects individuals and unites millions of people. Thinking about that, we [Pechersk School International] launched the campaign ‘Art for Peace in Ukraine’, which has become a platform for students to raise their voices. “With ongoing hope for a better and more peaceful world.” Rachel Caldwell, PSI Kyiv Director

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Nikita Vasyliev / Co-Editor

On 24 February 2022, I woke up around 5:00 in the morning, worried and with the distinct feeling that something was wrong. I thought, ‘oh, this is just me being anxious’. I picked up my phone to check what was happening in the digital world, hoping to fall asleep again… and I did not. The President of the Russian Federation had authorized, ‘a special military operation’ against Ukraine. The internet had been filled up with videos, pictures and news about a series of explosions all over Ukraine. At that moment in my life, I realized that nothing would be ever the same again. It was Thursday on the school’s February break. The life of all Ukrainians had been turned upside down. Now, after so many days of pure horror, I still cannot find proper words to describe our current reality. What I can do is stay focused on work, and do my best to support people affected by the war in any possible

way that I can. I know that this is true for many of you. This edition of the WORLD magazine is something truly special. Not only was it made in collaboration with various CEESA schools, but it is through this edition that we are explicitly discovering what ‘community’ truly means. Through this collaboration, we are acknowledging the importance of ‘solidarity’ and reflecting on the true meaning of ‘peace’. Now, more than ever, I am extremely proud to be Ukrainian. And I hope for nothing but for justice and peace. I invite you to read this magazine and get to know more about the

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extraordinary work that has been done by so many people in our international school communities: American School of Warsaw, AngloAmerican School of Sofia, American International School of Budapest, American International School of Bucharest and our very own school from Ukraine - Pechersk School International. Слава Україні! [Glory to Ukraine] Nikita Vasyliev Co-Editor PSI Kyiv

Ana Costiniu / Editor

THE SPIRIT OF A TRUE COMMUNITY

When we started laying the ground for the Summer issue of WORLD magazine, it was for an entirely different publication. We were going to contact our Alumni and follow up on their wellbeing coming out of the pandemic. We were going to go about our business of telling stories about the AISB community.

became partners through cooperation, job-alikes, trainings, and competitions. But forming a true community through our partnership surely means much more than this.

Having war break out in our neighboring country of Ukraine flipped our perspective entirely. Suddenly, it felt like too small a feat to tell the story of one school, or one community, at a time when we are reminded beyond words that togetherness is what we should be seeking out.

True community means compassion and showing commitment and openness to support one another. It means extending ourselves to meet our colleagues partway and truly explore what brings us together by finding each other out.

What brought the CEESA schools together initially was common ground - quite literally. Sharing a geographical region with its particular assets and quirks of cultural and regional significance was an initial foothold for our schools' collaboration. Further along the road, CEESA schools

This is why, for the first time in the decade-long tradition of WORLD magazine, we have decided to invite our partner CEESA school, PSI Kyiv, to co-edit this issue, and to publish stories from our partner schools AISB Budapest and AAS Sofia. We all offer what we can to support each other, and part of what we do is storytelling.

Our aim is to form a true partnership in giving a voice to our students, teachers, alumni, and communities and sharing the story of coming together and supporting each other in the face of true adversity. Flip through the pages of this special edition of the WORLD magazine to read stirring accounts of solidarity, support, and community-building.

Ana Costiniu Editor AISB Bucharest

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VOLUME 10 / ISSUE 1 SUMMER 2022

The WORLD Magazine is published biannually for alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of AISB, the largest private international school in Romania. TM

EDITORIAL TEAM LEAD EDITOR: Ana Costiniu CO-EDITOR: Nikita Vasyliev EDITORIAL TEAM: Fabiana Papastefani, Alex Cristescu CONTRIBUTORS Nikita Vasyliev, Ana Costiniu, Peter Welch, Rachel Caldwell, Fabiana Papastefani, Alexandru Cristescu, Dariya Simonova, Mariya Shevetovska, Sasha Zhygalkina, Maya Kobyletska, Dr. David Freeman, Karina Gladka, Isabelle Seigneur, Molly Jobin, Dorothea Achim, Victor Pascu, Razvan Idu, Luca Mavrodin, Pilar Guisado, Taisia Turcan, Marta Radian, Adnan Fathy, Svetla Stoyanova PHOTOGRAPHY AISB Archives, Contributors' personal archives, Bogdan Greavu Photography, The Bite, #ArtForPeaceInUkraine project collection, Paul Corfield - AISB Budapest Elementary School Learning Innovator. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS Blvd. Pipera Tunari 196 Voluntari Jud. Ilfov Romania 077190 alumni@goaisb.ro / www.aisb.ro

PSI Kyiv 7A Victora Zabily, Kyiv, Ukraine, 03039 nikitav@psi.kiev.ua

LEARN ABOUT UPCOMING EVENTS Visit: https://alumni.aisb.ro/events Follow us on: www.facebook.com/AisbAlumniAssociation Published by Aliant Brands Ltd. Print Circulation: 2000 copies / Electronic: 10,000 views Cover Design: Mario Zamfir ISSN 2537-3978 / ISSN 2537-3986 / ISSN-L 2537-3978

About AISB

AISB was founded in 1962 and is currently Bucharest's largest international school. The language of instruction is English and teaching is based upon an American style curriculum. The school offers the prestigious International Baccalaureate Program from Early Childhood through 12th grade. AISB is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, the Council of International Schools, and the International Baccalaureate Organization and is recognized by the Ministry of Education in Romania.

The American International School of Bucharest supports a more sustainable environmnent. Please recyle this magazine when finished reading or using. Copyright © 2022 AISB ALUMNI. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Trademarks: WORLDTM Alumni Magazine, AISB Alumni Association and their associated logos are trademarks of the American International School of Bucharest. All other names, logos, and trademarks of other companies shown in this publication are the property of their respective owners.

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INSIDE 06

Director's Message [AISB]

Director's Message [PSI]

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We need to take our agenda out of our intention to help and meet people on their own terms, giving them control over what can happen next.

Rachel Caldwell shares how PSI continues to respond with concrete solutions to help the crisis in Ukraine.

Supporting Each Other

The crisis in Ukraine through the lens of our very own AISB Alumni Coordinator, Fabiana Papastefani.

Association President

In this edition of the WORLD Magazine we aimed to bring at the forefront the AISB community response for Ukrainian families.

Voices of PSI

Featuring a collection of stories from 6 PSI students.

Words to Actions

Photo Gallery

AISB Teachers and Alumi spring into action over the crisis in Ukraine.

Thank you for sharing your stories of hope and solidarity!

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The Spirit of True Community

#ArtForPeaceInUkraine

A School Within A School

COVER

True community means compassion and showing commitment and openness to support one another.

Through this project, we aimed at raising the attention of the global community to the war in Ukraine - a country of beautiful, heroic and joyous people.

The ‘School within a School’ model aims to support children through their healing and mitigate long-term effects which can be caused by the prolonged trauma of displacement.

Original artwork for #ArtForPeaceInUkraine

AAS Sofia: “Supporting Ukraine”

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Director's Message

Peter Welch / AISB Director

We are witnessing the worst refugee crisis in Europe since the Second World War. At the time of writing, over 4 million people have been displaced by the war in Ukraine. 6

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In these dark times, the positive and welcoming response of European countries generally and Romania, in particular, has been heartening. I could not be more proud of the CEESA network of schools and how they have proactively supported our partner schools in Kyiv and Moscow at this time. AISB has taken a number of students for these other schools for the remainder of this year. So many in our community - students, parents, faculty, and staff - have given so generously of their time and resources and opened up their homes to support Ukrainian refugees. The instinct to help has been so apparent, which is wonderful. In March, our school hosted a student-led CEESA conference, showcasing student voices, actions, and priorities from across our region. In the opening session, we had two different speakers from Syria and Afghanistan talk about their experiences as a refugee. They have lived through terrifying times and much hardship. They shared that as refugees they first needed a sense of safety and friendship, and they also needed a sense of agency and to be empowered. The people who have flooded out of Ukraine left behind independent lives, so while receiving charity may be necessary for the shortterm, refugees need help to get on their feet and get on with their lives independently

and sustainably as much as possible. As we offer help to people in desperate need, we need to think through this lens of empowering others. I have a background in development work in Africa, a continent littered with aid projects that have ultimately been self-serving, based on creating dependency rather than empowering people. While I have no intention of criticizing anyone who is fundamentally working for good, when we see a social media post of someone with their arm around a refugee, this can read, look at me saving this other person. As much as possible, we need to take our agenda out of our intention to help and meet people on their own terms, giving them control over what can happen next. Refugees want to retain their dignity and their sense of self as they face the loss of everything else they hold dear.

Peter Welch Director American International School of Bucharest

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Director's Message

Rachel Caldwell / PSI Director

After a wonderfully positive start to our school year in August 2021, our world was rocked to the core by the inhumane and devastating attack on Ukraine.

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Although we were as well-prepared as we could be, logistically speaking, for this assault, it is impossible to be ready for the emotional impact. Our staff, students, and parents all remain in shock and are dealing with many layers of anxiety and grief. Whilst everyone simply wants the assault to end so that we can go home, the community response is significant and, in fact, it is invaluable. In the midst of the horror that Ukraine continues to be subjected to, Pechersk School International (PSI) shares its sincerest gratitude with the community of international schools, which has responded with an outpouring of supportive messages and concrete offers of help. PSI continues to offer a robust remote learning program in all grade levels and will do so until June, without a doubt. Colleagues from around the world have stepped in to help teach some of these classes and to offer additional extracurricular and specially designed activities. Close to fifty schools, to date, have granted scholarships to PSI students, allowing them to complete the school year in face-to-face learning in the locations they have relocated to. One school has offered 18-month scholarships for all the school-age children in our PSI community, whether enrolled in PSI or not. In addition, this same school has offered free accommodation to the families of those students.

courage and strength. I am endlessly proud to serve this community and to be connected to the people of PSI: our wonderful students, our dear families, our resilient teachers, our dedicated staff members and our extraordinarily committed Board members, led with determination by Peter Erben. We look optimistically to the future. We are doing all that we can to help PSI emerge from this crisis stronger than ever. We are inspired by the many beautiful stories and joyous events that took place throughout this school year before, during, in spite of and as a result of the horrible war waged against PSI’s homeland. Whilst the main enduring message is a call for peace, the other is a celebration of kindness, empathy, and generosity. I would like to share our sincerest gratitude with our CEESA school friends who have stood up for PSI and our community… and, indeed, for the brave, inspiring and extraordinary nation of Ukraine. We hope that you will enjoy this special edition of AISB’s World Magazine which reminds us all about the importance of unity, collaboration, inclusion and kindness. With ongoing hope for a better and more peaceful world. Rachel Caldwell Director Pechersk School International, Kyiv

Throughout this extreme situation, our PSI community has continued to demonstrate

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Fabiana Papastefani / AISB Alumni Coordinator

I have never read so many stories and articles as in the past weeks and months, from the start of the war in Ukraine. We all wanted to understand, to know the why’s, the reasons, the hopes for a quick end of this crazy terrible dream we were all having. I started to hear names of places so familiar to me, border crossing points, left behind by hundreds of feeling families. Places I had visited so many times with my husband, who was leading the EU project for the construction of the border crossing facilities for the Ukrainian customs authorities – the very same places that were seeing so many people pass through with very few personal belongings packed, parents holding kids, grandparents or pets close. Ukraine was home for our family for five years; it was there that we made many friends, there that our kids went to school. Watching TV and seeing the same places we had been daily, with hundreds of Ukrainian mothers and children crossing through, holding with them just a few belongings but so much anxiety, uncertainty, pain with them. The community response, on the other hand, that started out strong from the first hours of this conflict, was not just any kind of response we usually expect to see and witness in times of crises.

SUPPORTING EACH OTHER

Many have written describing the mobilization, the collecting of supplies, trips to the borders, creation of refugee centers from scratch in the most improbable places, making them function for these families with all the necessary materials and services. The stories inside this Magazine will shine light on so many personal tales of humanity, compassion, brotherhood, love beyond any borders or barriers. I will make an attempt to describe what I have learned as I was living through so many segments of stories and realities in Romania and other countries: I learned that a community of humans does not need any prior guidance or organization to just go to the border crossings and train stations and offer a smile, a hug, a blanket, some food or some necessities. Us humans do not necessarily need a crisis memory, prior know-how or strategy, nor do we need our leaders to tell us what to do in order to offer support of our fellow humans. Of course, having all the necessary know-how and resources to offer first-response support and then a more structured plan for moving and serving the people coming to our countries from the war zone would be ideal. However, I learned that warm hearts, open minds, fast thinking work way better than any policy or strategy. The hundreds of spontaneous refugee welcoming centers all over Romania and

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Poland showed just how powerful human compassion and willingness to support is. The lessons I personally learned, as I am sure did the hundreds of thousands of volunteers and respondents of this crisis, is that no help is too small, no act of support and compassion goes unrecognized, and no kindness is in vain. And finally, in a war or a conflict, I learned yet again that there are no winners and losers. Though we often hear of “them” and “us”, I learned yet again that unfortunately we all lose in such circumstances: we lose lives of innocent people, we lose resources, land, food, water, but also laughs, smiles, moments of joy, and much more. I am very sure you will be inspired through the stories that you will read inside this Magazine. I always repeat that I am privileged and fortunate to be part of such a community, but this time it is one of those extra special ones. Enjoy these stories!

Fabiana Papastefani AISB Alumni Coordinator

Alexandru Cristescu / Association President

Being part of an international community teaches you to understand different perspectives, you are educated in a spirit of community response and support, and adapting to new places, customs and mentalities becomes second nature. Back when I was a student at AISB Community Service was the pillar in our upbringing that better rounded our view of the society we lived in. It was complementary to the interaction between myself and the other 57 nationalities that were at that moment my peers. The past few years have been eventful on an international scale, our world is different due to the COVID-19 pandemic and now also to our neighbors from Ukraine in need of humanitarian aid.

COMMUNITY ACTION

In this edition of the WORLD Magazine we aimed to bring at the forefront the AISB community response for Ukrainian families, the compassion and solidarity with which humans should be treated individually. These actions are only possible when coming together and designing various forms of support. There were many challenges encountered in this process, and we invite you to read more about these in the following pages. At the AISB Alumni Association we are seeing a good amount of activity, mostly with the WORLD Magazine publication and our in-school events for current students and parents. As an organization, we have become part of the AISB fabric and will be aligned with our school and community. A big “Thank You” goes to our amazing team and especially to Catalina Gardescu, Fabiana Pezzoni and Dorothea Achim. Their involvement, dedication, hard work

and grace is the beating heart of the AISB Alumni Association. We are extending an invitation to all alumni who would like to get involved with running the AISB Alumni Association and steering it to the future. Fresh ideas and involvement has always served us well and the team has always gained experience, respect and a feeling of achievement when serving the community. So please contact us on alumni@goaisb.ro or on social media, together we can put your ideas in practice and add value. Thank you for being part of the community and making a difference.

Alexandru Cristescu Association President

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OF PECHERSK SCHOOL INTERNATIONAL COLLECTION OF STORIES In this spread, we would like to share with you a collection of stories from 6 PSI students. It just so happens, that all of them are from Secondary school and, unsurprisingly, all of them represent what we see in Ukraine - a rebellion of strong young women who stood up for their homeland. Each of these students believes that our strength is in belonging. We are stronger when we stand united. Get inspired by these stories from Dariya, Mariya, Sasha Z, Maya, Sasha B and Karina. Stand up for Ukraine and its heroic people!

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UKRAINIAN CULTURE CLUB I got the idea of this club by wanting to take action in a hands-on way. I always wanted to pass on my knowledge to other people, and that is when I began creating the club. We have scheduled meetings about once a week, which last thirty minutes. I organize games, activities, and presentations for the people that come, in order for them to be able to learn more about my beautiful country's culture. The announcement about my club is on our bulletin board weekly, where people can fill out a survey to register their interest. A lot of students and teachers have signed up just after the first few days of planning. This club emphasizes the beauty of Ukraine, and while these terrible events are going on around us, I try to bring joy to people who are part of the club, and that is something I really enjoy about the Ukrainian club. I love seeing smiles on people's faces throughout the whole session, and the way we explore new things together. My audience comes from many different countries, and not just European. There are people in Asia who are provided with a recording of our sessions so that they can learn with us even if they are in a different time zone. I learned that even if I may not be an adult, I still have the power to take action and represent my country the way I want. I plan on continuing this club in the future, even when there is peace and I am back in Ukraine.

FROM SANDWICH MAKING TO AWARENESS RAISING The first days upon arriving in Warsaw were somehow both stressful and relieving at the same time. The survivors' guilt was intense, alongside the constant media coverage that would overwhelm me from performing any sort of task. I knew that one way I could get my mind off of things is to volunteer. Our family friend that already lived in Warsaw showed us a place where volunteers would make sandwiches for the people crossing the border. It was a museum that temporarily turned into a volunteering ground, which was convenient because the train station was 5 minutes away, so the sandwiches would get directly sent to the border. Although we did not know anybody there, it took one conversation to fully immerse ourselves into the environment, put latex gloves on, and get to work on the ‘sandwich making conveyor belt’. Everyone was very friendly, language did not feel like a barrier at all. If we ever ran out of an ingredient, there would always be someone stocking up in the nearest

grocery store, to buy things from their own pocket. I truly felt like I was part of a community there. Speaking of community, I also volunteered to co-create a presentation with my classmate, Sasha, for the whole community of PSI, to talk about what they can do to help Ukraine. The information ranged from reading reliable sources, to all kinds of Ukrainian artists for every genre. As an international school, I feel like we have a lot more opportunities than many Ukrainians to help this war, so the purpose of the presentation was to encourage students, teachers, staff, and parents to not give up and find ways they can contribute to the cause in their own way. Mariya Shevetovska, PSI’s G12 Student

Scan the QR code to view the full presentation

I would also like to thank Mx. Mor [MYP Coordinator] and Dr. Krueger [Secondary School Principal] for helping me organize this, and being with me on this incredible journey. Dariya Simonova, PSI’s G6 Student

Photos published on the museums Instagram: @msnwarszawa

Link to full presentation https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Rz IsvE4b7AqN1Jx7vu6xJFXKCq6Y6x9U0kDYF OjGLeQ/edit#slide=id.g35ed75ccf_015

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INTERNATIONAL STUDENT COUNCIL When the war started, I was on vacation, so upon return to Dubai, the home I hoped to be temporary, I wanted to take action. As the days went on, I watched the people in my community go on protest, and call out their governments to take action, while I could not do the same, all in-person aid attempts of mine fell through. For approximately a year, I had been attending a CEESA Leader's roundtable, which focused on maximizing snacks at social events, and getting students engaged in online activities. I had got to know these people and the type of leaders and doers they were. I was also talking to my close friend in Hamburg, who had raised hundreds of euros and collected numerous boxes of humanitarian aid. After Zoom calls with friends from Hamburg, we devised a plan - we would create a centralized platform that international schools could rely on to see how they could help. If I couldn't raise humanitarian aid myself, the least I could do was provide people willing to help with ways to help, so that as much as possible could be done. While it is still in the works, I am working on creating a website, with a section for everything about the conflict: the history and cause, reliable resources, and the main ways that each country/school can help, the website is not up yet, however hopefully will be running very soon. We have also made an Instagram @ stucointernational which will focus on more quick updates. StuCo is working on a way to engage a community through a bingo, and the more engaged the community - the more money StuCo will donate to an organization of choice. Whilst feeling hopeless and like I could not contribute, I found a way to connect with people all throughout Europe to find ways to help my favorite place on Earth, and its people.

INTEGRATIONAL LESSONS FOR UKRAINIAN STUDENTS Living in Ukraine most of my life has made it feel like a second home. Despite not being a Ukrainian, losing that second home was a shocking and difficult process to go through. I moved to Poland before the attacks occurred, however, the knowledge of having people I know there during these times was terrifying. We did everything we could to help whoever needed to move to my country. My mum organized charities for collecting necessary resources and finding homes and jobs. I have gained motivation to start my own way of helping. I have created integrational lessons for Ukrainian students in Polish schools. We created a Polish-

If you are interested in helping, we are looking for people who are good at website design/ technology in general. As well, if you have moved schools, or know Student Council members, advisors, etc. from schools outside the CEESA area, I would appreciate it if you could give them my email 2023sashaz@psi. kiev.ua or vice-versa. We want to connect as many communities to this project. Sasha Zhygalkina, PSI’s G11 Student

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Ukrainian program with my CAS group and my brother’s nanny who is an assistant in the school, and who in fact lived during the bombing in Bucha. With her help, we teach kids about Poland and our culture in an entertaining manner to make them feel welcomed. My CAS group took part in creating the presentations and coming up with new lessons. For our first lesson, we focused on Polish food. We spent some time exploring the various traditional dishes in sections of Poland, and then learned some useful words. Afterwards, we shared some delicious desserts that originate from the place where we live right now. For our next idea, we will continue with Polish traditions and some holidays which are essential to our culture. It is a fascinating experience to work with these students, as they are all such wonderful people, and it brings joy to see them find happiness during this time. Maya Kobyletska, PSI’s G11 Student

SASHA’S STORY Oleksandra (Sasha) Bakal (G12 student) spoke with Dr David Freeman about her experience at the outbreak of the war. Here are some excerpts from that conversation: Oleksandra (Sasha) Bakal remained in Ukraine when nearly all of the other members of the PSI class of 2022 opted to leave. On the morning of the invasion, Sasha slept through the initial explosions. “You don’t wake up because of the explosions. You wake up because of an alarm. That represents the life of a DP (Diploma Program) student.” She says the sights and the

sounds of the war were initially unsettling. “When I heard the helicopters flying overhead, I was really scared, but you get used to it quickly.” But another sound, or lack thereof, she found more bothersome. Her normally talkative father became very quiet. As an officer in the Ukrainian military, she knew he would be leaving soon to join the fight. Her family remained in Kyiv for a week until the rocket attacks drew too close. They escaped to Uzhhorod, a western Ukrainian town on the Slovak border. They join thousands of other Ukrainians fleeing the war in the central and eastern parts of the country. She worked as a volunteer, handing out relief packages to the newly arrived refugees. “Their eyes. I didn’t see anything in their eyes: no emotions, no stress, no tears.

It was the worst thing I have ever seen, but the experience was very valuable for me.” Now she knows how to communicate with people in a crisis; how to help them without overloading them with more - making sure they have what they need in that moment. Sasha plans a career in journalism. She believes this experience with the refugees will help her conduct interviews in the future with people in crisis. With the Russian withdrawal from Kyiv, she and her family returned home in time for the Orthodox Easter. She and her family were happy to be home. No one more so her very large dog raced around the house. But the sounds of explosions soon returned either in the form of new Russian missile attacks or Ukrainian forces detonating landmines planted by the retreating Russian invaders.

“Oh, not again!” But as before, she became accustomed to the explosions and the constant air raid sirens. Like many other Ukrainians, she had her doubts about the President before the war; not anymore. She sees Zalenskyy as the man to lead Ukraine to victory. Sasha has ventured into the city center. She says it almost felt normal. Being with family is nice. Most of her friends, however, have yet to return. Some never will. But she feels her generation of Ukrainians will chart a new course, “we were enslaved for many years, but our generation is going to break the cycle.” Interviewed by Dr. David Freeman, PSI’s IB DP Coordinator

THE STORY OF KARINA AND HER FAMILY My mother and I have taken up the initiative to provide a range of distinct resources and services for Ukrainian people, both in Ukraine and those who have fled. Firstly, my family bought bloodstopping bandages for the army, as well as material out of which body armor is made. We also bought medicine for people with asthma, which is still very scarce and difficult to obtain in Ukraine, however we must also highlight the crucial contribution of the people of Kufstein who also provided medicine which my family helped organize. Finally, we bought and transported animal food from Austria to Ukraine, as well as diapers for little children.

It was also crucial for us to ensure that not only people are safe, but their corresponding animals and pets as well. Facebook was used as a resource to gain information on people’s stories and their needs, which is where we found the story of a 22-year-old man who has unfortunately left his cat behind in his apartment in my neighborhood after evacuating to Poland. Thanks to my uncle who continuously goes in and out of Kyiv, we were able to organize him coming to the man’s house, picking up his cat from his friends, and driving to Warsaw where my Uncle and the man met. As my uncle described, seeing them reunite was a very emotional experience, further showcasing the value of pets and their effects on the mental state of Ukrainian people. Finally, here in Austria, we aim to stay in contact with Ukrainian people who have also moved to our area of Tyrol, and help them through the process of applying for health insurance, employment and other resources. Karina Gladka, PSI’s G11 Student

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WORDS

TO ACTION

From our very own AISB Alumni and Teachers MOLLY JOBIN

I have been doing some 'soul-searching' recently about my core values. Helping those who are suffering is important to me,

but has taken the back seat until now as I have moved so frequently, been consumed by raising my family, and focused on my career as a teacher. This opportunity to support the refugees and student volunteers at the UTCB dorm sort of fell into my lap. I simply joined a WhatsApp group and showed up. Some friends joined me and I have made new friends along the way. I asked for 5 dollar donations on Facebook to help make the children's room at the dorms. The amount of support I received from people in so many parts of my life was truly touching.

So many good people who wanted to help and trusted me to use their contributions in meaningful ways. The people here in Bucharest who keep showing up and solving problems: the networkers, shoppers, organizers, salad makers. The refugees who come to help sort clothes, keep things tidy in the chaos of their lives, carry in supplies. The students who have worked tirelessly and selflessly when called to action. The challenges which I have faced come more from me feeling helpless to be able to do more. There is a lot of

systematic disorganization, but I think that is just how it is. How do you prepare for refugees if you've never done it before? For this particular dorm, I am sad that the city urged the university to open their doors but has not been there to support the infrastructure and financial needs in a more meaningful way. This really has highlighted for me how women can really get things done in an emergency. I see repeatedly that it is the people with the least power who are the most willing to step up, pitch in, and make things better for others.

Left to Right: - UTCB Dorm before and after - Fruit and salad donations

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ISABELLE SEIGNEUR How did you decide you wanted to reach out and offer support to the Ukrainian community? What made you choose to get involved in this particular way? My family history is all about migration: running away from Mussolini In Italy during the Second World War. As soon as the war started I wanted to be involved because it seems meaningful to me and natural to help other humans in distress no matter where they come from, their religion, their color, or who they are. If they thought they had to run away to save their lives, I deeply think our role is to help them. I decided first to go sort out donations because I just happened to hear an organization needed help.

What has remained with you—a story, a moment, a person, or volunteer you met? A memory that will remain with me forever is a lady, her two young kids and their little dog, waiting at the train station in Bucharest. They were seated, in transit, waiting to go to Spain the day after. The young son, maybe 12 years old, came to ask me if I could find a blanket and a small pillow for his mum as she was exhausted and needed to rest. I was extremely touched by the politeness, and the kindness of the young boy. But mainly it was such a touching moment to see this young boy being so responsible and caring with his mum. He was not asking anything for himself, but only for his mum. He was putting his mum's needs before his. I will not forget the resilience and courage of this loving family.

What particular challenges did you encounter as you were offering support? What suggestions would you have for community response improvements? Disorganization was the main challenge at the beginning, because everything was so sudden and so new to most of us. Many people wanted to help, but we did not know where to start, who to talk to. We tried to organize things, but I realized quickly that it was easier for many people to act in small groups of friends or individually, instead of doing things all together. I realize that technology could serve so many beautiful purposes to help out people to work together, but at the same time, it could also become extremely overwhelming and exhausting.

Left to Right: - Isabelle & Fabi baby stuff drive - Baby clothes - Baby clothes & medicines

DOROTHEA ACHIM

In the past few years, people have had to deal with so much. Coming out of a pandemic to be greeted by a war shook the entire world. Something unexpected that nobody was thinking would happen, did actually

happen. However, what I was not expecting was for Romanians to come together in such an organized manner and to lend a hand to their neighboring country. So many people helped in any way that they could: from donating money, opening their houses to welcome people who needed a place to stay, helping them visit embassies, buying items and donating them to different refugee centers, spending time at the centers with children while parents had time to think of next steps in their journeys, and much more. I will not list what my family and I have done, because I don't think that is important. What I want to share with you is one of the lessons I have learned during the past few months. LOVE surpasses the language barrier. When encountering a 4-year-old who had traveled all day that

still had energy to burn before going to bed, I decided to spend time with him, while allowing the mother time to unwind, and take care of herself after driving all day long. Even though we didn't understand each other, we had so much fun together, playing with blocks, making animal noises and eating fruit that he liked. There was no sadness on his face. His face was radiant while smiling from ear to ear. I will never forget his laughter, how he would drag my mom by the hand from the kitchen to show her the fire in the fireplace was dying down, how he taught me to count "1,2,3 GO" in Ukrainian when we were racing our paper airplanes to see which one would fly the longest. Such an innocent, sweet boy changed my life forever, and I hope one day I meet him and his complete family again.

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#ARTFORPEACEINUKRAINE

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Art is an ultimate force that shapes our thinking, and often serves as a shield that protects individuals and unites millions of people.

Thinking about that, we [Pechersk School International] launched the campaign ‘Art for Peace in Ukraine’, which has become a platform for students to raise their voices. Through this project, we aimed at raising the attention of the global community to the war in Ukraine - a country of beautiful, heroic and joyous people. Our team asked students and educators in the CEESA region and beyond to create their own art pieces depicting what ‘peace’ means to them. These were then uploaded on the special padlet that emerged in the ‘art map’ with pins, images and messages

from around the whole world. At the moment, this beautiful globe has submissions from more than 1000 places and more than 1900 entries.

When I heard about the “Art for Peace in Ukraine" act, I knew I wanted to create a piece representing love in a difficult time.

For the cover of this special edition of the WORLD Magazine we collectively chose the work of Madelyn, a Grade 11 student, that joined the project from Hong Kong, China We would like to share with you her note and ask you to reflect as you will continue to read this magazine on what ‘peace’ means to you.

Last week, when walking through my neighborhood, I saw a tiny sign that appeared to be made by a child stating, “No War Please.” The sign inspired me to use the phrase, “Spread Love Not War,” repetitively.

'I became passionate about art while living in Taiwan at a young age. Through travel, I was exposed to a variety of cultures and artworks.

While watching news coverage of the Ukraine war, I saw many pictures of loved ones embracing and saying farewell to each other, these photos inspired me to layer over a single line drawing of two people embracing.

By not being able to tell where the line begins or ends, I hoped to represent the never ending connection and love between the two people. I chose to call my piece “Never Let Go” to evoke the imagery and conversations between people torn apart by a war they never wanted.' 1

Nikita Vasyliev, Communications & Marketing Manager Pechersk School International Kyiv, Ukraine

1 The grammar and wording remained unedited, as shared by student via https://padlet.com/ PSIKyiv/ArtForPeaceInUkraine

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#ARTFORPEACEINUKRAINE

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THE PECHERSK SCHOOL INTERNATIONAL OF KYIV COMMUNITY: DISPERSED ACROSS TIME ZONES AS THE WAR RAGES ON When the American Embassy in Ukraine advised citizens to evacuate the country on January 23rd, my parents quickly packed our bags and we fled to Romania. This was two days after my school, the Pechersk School International of Kyiv (PSI) had gone online. Quickly, in one afternoon, I packed the necessities: clothes, books, and my computer. Everything else was left behind. Surrounded by the bags we packed, I sat in the back of our car, confused, nervous and hopeful that this conflict would soon end—as I prepared to return to a country I hadn’t called home since I was seven. Returning to Romania after six years (I’m originally from here, although I never attended AISB) is something I’ve had to adjust to, which at first was difficult. Being within the first wave of people who left, I wasn’t given the opportunity to say goodbye to my friends in person. After the invasion started on February 24th, those who chose to (or had to) stay, scurried to find plane and bus tickets or car rides to escape the country. And now, more than three months later, most everybody is dispersed, throughout almost every continent, continuing their studies online. To understand their perspectives and experiences, I interviewed several of my old teachers and colleagues.

THE TEACHERS AFFECTED As more and more of the school’s community fled the country and faced uncertainty about the future, PSI Language & Literature Teacher Meridith Klein received an email, sent to the entire teaching staff: “At 3:10, tell your classes the school will be going into remote learning.” Even though Klein and her husband have had experiences with living in conflict-heated countries before, due to how abrupt the situation had unfolded and the safety of their children, they decided to return to the United States—following the advice of the embassy. “I felt so frustrated I wasn’t able to physically say goodbye to people, and tell them I’d support them in any way I could,” says Klein. The airport was packed with citizens, children, parents and faculty from PSI. Klein explains how those moments before leaving for Dallas, Texas would probably be the last face-to-face interactions she’d have with students and colleagues. Strong emotions of fear, anger and frustration hovered above them, as people said their brief, final goodbyes. By Victor Pascu

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TO CONTINUE READING: https://thebite.aisb.ro/the-pechersk-school-internationalof-kyiv-community-displaced-across-time-zones-as-thewar-rages-on/

FLEEING HOME AND TRANSFERRING SCHOOLS DURING A WAR 11TH GRADER VIKTORIYA R. TELLS HER STORY The war between Russia and Ukraine has been one of the most broadcasted topics for the past three months. From unjustified bombings and killings to a growing refugee crisis, there has been a horrible amount of suffering for the people living in Ukraine. One of the many Ukrainians who fled their homes is current AISB student Viktoriya R: A 17-year-old originally from Kyiv. She had been studying at the Kyiv International School (KIS), a CEESA school following the IB Program, but transferred to AISB at the beginning of March. She says that after the first bombs were dropped on February 24th, Viktoriya and her family, along with classmates, frantically began looking for safety—and for many, new homes. She said that none of them really

expected this to happen. “No one took the situation seriously until the [U.S.] Embassy announced what could happen,” says Viktoriya. Everything escalated quickly, and pretty soon after the invasion started, students were spread across most of the world, learning online and in-person, at nearby CEESA schools. Since Viktoriya attended AISB two years ago as a freshman, she reenrolled, and moved back to Bucharest with her family. Some of her peers, however, were not as lucky. While

her school moved to online learning in late February, many of her Ukrainian peers simply could not study. “Teenagers from Ukraine were constantly thinking about their safety and whether or not the situation would come to an end sooner,” says Viktoriya. Besides being caught up in the middle of a war, DP students were still expected to prepare for the IB exams. As one of Viktoriya’s friends told her, feeling that pressure after missing an entire month of school after the invasion was too much. “Russians were bombing military bases

right next to our houses,” they explained. “School was similar to the distance learning situation due to Covid-19 Pandemic, Viktoriya says, “only that the stress levels were radically increased as people could only think about the war.” By Razvan Idu

TO CONTINUE READING: https://thebite.aisb.ro/fleeinghome-and-transferring-schoolsduring-a-war-11th-graderviktoriya-r-tells-her-story/

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BUCHAREST’S MAIN

TRAIN STATION

WELCOMES REFUGEES FROM UKRAINE As the war intensifies and people from Ukraine continue to flee their homes, feelings of chaos and uncertainty escalate in neighboring countries. Given Romania’s border with Ukraine, it was anticipated that many refugees would enter the country seeking asylum and support. With unanswered questions circling people’s minds, a group of us went to Gara de Nord, Bucharest’s main train station—the primary destination for refugees fleeing from Ukraine to Romania. It was early in the morning on March 3rd, and Gara de Nord

received its travelers with finger-numbing cold weather. People walked the platforms, caved into themselves, eyes cast down, as the wind blew against their hooded coats. Hanging from the station’s ceiling, a sign with the Ukrainian flag welcomed refugees, and announced: “For Otopeni Airport, train on lines 8 and 9.”

and transportation. Yet, many people walked past the tent, to a waiting room serviced by volunteers from ADRA. The first responder tent was organized and well attended, yet it seemed that people were more comforted by the NGOs’ services and volunteers. As one of the refugees told us, “There were more volunteers at the border than police officers.”

Just inside the station stood a bright red tent, where police officers and first responders awaited the trains from Suceava (the nearest city to the Siret border crossing). Authorities were there to register the refugees and offer government housing

In front of the waiting room, we met one of the ADRA volunteers, Cristina, who gave us some insight and offered us vests to go inside and talk to some of the refugees. She had already been there for hours and said most of the people inside were in transit,

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trying to figure out where to go. “Most of these people don’t want government accommodation,” she told us. “They are worried about overcrowded schools.” After the trauma of leaving their homes, many refugees are hoping for some place quiet and private. By Luca Mavrodin and Pilar Guisado

TO CONTINUE READING: https://thebite.aisb.ro/bucharestsmain-train-station-welcomesrefugees-from-ukraine/

ISACCEA BORDER CROSSING: WITHOUT ORGANIZED TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS, AISB TEACHERS FOUND THEMSELVES STEPPING UP TO THE DRIVER’S SEAT On March 5th, at 6:30am, a group of six teachers (Rita McDermott, Byron Farrow, Peter Stanley, Hanan Abdou, Gustavo Echeverry, and David Starzynski) rented a bus, before even knowing if they were allowed to use it, and drove to the Isaccea border to transport refugees into Bucharest. Since Russia invaded Ukraine, more than 3 million people have been displaced. And as of March 14th, 412,000 Ukrainian citizens had crossed into Romania to seek refuge.

With this invasion escalating into war, an increasing number of people are fleeing the country, and the local government and NGOs (Non-Government Organizations) are struggling to keep up—especially when it comes to transportation. Because of this, ordinary citizens have been driving their cars to the borders to return refugees to government housing centers, train stations, and even their own homes. McDermott, who saw a Facebook post putting out an “urgent call” for drivers, decided to help how she could, and gathered the team of volunteers. “Most of my life I haven’t had a car,” she says, “I wanted to do nothing but drive and follow.” But when she got the call at 8pm to leave at 6am, she became the point person for the 50-seater bus. ARRIVING TO THE BORDER WITH ‘A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY’ At 11am, the teachers arrived at Isaccea, the small town in Tulcea County, separated from Ukraine by the Danube River. They had 45 minutes to prepare

themselves before a ferry was due to arrive on Romanian shores. The teachers quickly registered their license plates, make and model of cars, and phone numbers with the police, then moved on to logistics: how to document everything, how to find out whether or not the refugees had housing options, if they needed flights, etc. “We didn’t know what to expect,” says McDermott, and there weren’t any NGOs around to ask for help—only police, firefighters, and ordinary people like themselves. But they figured out what they needed to and joined the other volunteers in bright yellow vests. “There’s no way I should be in this vest right now,” McDermott remembers thinking. By Taisia Turcan

TO CONTINUE READING: https://thebite.aisb.ro/isaccea-border-crossingwithout-organized-transportation-options-aisbteachers-found-themselves-stepping-up-to-thedrivers-seat/

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EGYPTIAN STUDENTS

ESCAPE UKRAINE THROUGH ROMANIA, NOW WONDER WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS

Soon after Russia invaded Ukraine, Ahmed Abosnan and 60 other Egyptian medical students heard the first bombs fall in their city of Vinnytsia. They took shelter underground for two days, until they decided to head for the Ukraine-Romania border. The group split into two buses and arrived at the crossing point six hours later. Ahmed describes the scene as “chaotic,” with long, unorganized queues, people cramming in between cars, desperate to be allowed to the other side. Crossing the border as a foreigner quickly proved to be a very long process. Ahmed recalls guards letting in roughly 40 Ukrainians, then two foreigners. Tensions were high, with scared students, families, and elderly people jostled together in a sea of

chaos. One guard shot his gun in the air for order. “We knew this would happen,” says Ahmed’s colleague, Muhammad. “Ukrainians first, then everyone else.” Ahmed adds that it’s normal for Ukrainians to want to help Ukrainians first, but says “how they did it is not good.” The students recall their friends being pushed out of the way by guards, allowing for Ukrainians to pass. Ahmed explains that the guards told him something that translates to “This is what was meant to happen.” It took six hours for all of the students to cross, but they made it. And once in Romania, they were welcomed by large groups of volunteers, offering food and shelter.

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“It was minutes between being in Ukraine and Romania, but it was a [completely] different place,” says Ahmed.

“We were wondering, why are the Romanians so nice? It was like a competition to help us,” Ahmed jokes. “It’s the first time to see such a thing.”

From there, they were escorted to the Suceava train station, where they traveled to Bucharest. Upon arrival in Gara de Nord, a group of local volunteers greeted them— among them, a man named Sergiu Condac, who Ahmed refers to as “Mr. Sergiu.” Ahmed and his colleagues were “overwhelmed” with the kindness of Mr. Sergiu and his friends, who were so eager to help them find transportation and accomodation.

By Marta Radian

It was jarring for Ahmed to see the juxtaposition of what was happening in Ukraine to the “heart-touching” ways Romanians were stepping up to help.

TO CONTINUE READING: https://thebite.aisb.ro/egyptianstudents-escape-ukraine-throughromania-now-wonder-what-thefuture-holds/

UNIVERSITY’S REFUGEE CENTER

UTCB STUDENTS TAKE ON THE ‘FULL-TIME JOB’ OF RUNNING THE

In what appears to be a normal dorm room located in the corner of one of Universitatea Tehnică de Construcții București’s (UTCB) buildings, two college students get ready to start their day. This doesn’t consist of packing backpacks or finishing up last-minute homework; there are bigger things to worry about. Right outside their door, hundreds of refugees from wartorn Ukraine are waking up and need something to eat. The students leave the room and join a group of peers inside a narrow pantry, squeezing between shelves stacked with packets of ramen noodles, large bags of corn flakes, and stacks of canned foods. It’s their morning meeting: a quick

overview of what needs to be done that day and who has time to do it. They quickly disperse, and for the next six to eight hours, most of these students will spend their days endlessly sprinting around the building, cleaning, sorting, and bringing in goods— almost as if this was their job. Only, it’s not. They’re 18 to 22-year-olds who are doing all they can to keep this temporary refugee shelter open and functioning. But pipes are breaking, doors are missing locks. Laundry needs to be changed, and clothes and food donations need to be sorted. These student volunteers are experiencing unimaginable pressure, forced to find solutions to take care of roughly 180 to 240 refugees daily.

What is now a functioning refugee center began with a single call from Sector 2’s city hall. They needed help housing incoming refugees and asked if the university had extra dorm space. They did, but in a dormitory that had been abandoned four years prior. Still, it was an option; and shortly after the call, university staff brought up the idea of opening those shuttered doors. The Student Association for Engineering Students set up an open call to gather student volunteers who were willing to clean, paint, move beds— anything that would help get the old building up and running. A group of highly motivated students rapidly mobilized and formed a group on Whatsapp to coordinate their efforts.

TO CONTINUE READING: https://thebite.aisb.ro/utcbstudents-take-on-full-time-jobrunning-university-refugee-center/

Currently, these students make up 90% of the volunteers on site, according to Anca Margineanu, UTCB’s project manager. Whether it’s painting walls, sorting through clothing donations, or attempting to fix plumbing issues, the students do it all in order to keep the 300-bed facility at Bulevardul Lacul Tei 124 running. By Luca Mavrodin and Pilar Guisado

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A SCHOOL

WITHIN

One of the incredible strengths of the AIS Budapest community is the way our families come together to reach out to those in need. Individuals within the AIS Budapest community have been quick to respond to the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, providing incredible support for those pushed into refugee status by the conflict.

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Our school has been working to coordinate its response to the crisis, in the hope that we can mobilize our community to make a difference in the lives of those impacted. We have been supporting a number of initiatives that have connections with our school community both in Ukraine and at the border, and adapting to their needs with our calls for item donations, transport logistics, and monetary donations. These are: • Hungarian Red Cross • Hungarian Older of Malta • Budapest Bike Maffia • Hungarian Medical Roving Clinic • Szent Damjan Hospital • Ukrainian Catholic • University, Volunteer • Headquarters for the Defense of Ukraine

We have also set up a Ukrainian Donation “shop” where the families, teachers, and students can collect donations from the community. Our main project as a whole school has been the establishment and facilitation of a Ukrainian 'School within a School' program on our campus, which currently hosts over 100 students, and is facilitated by the staff from Pechersk School International (PSI), Kyiv. Students start their day with lunch and some recess time outside in order to softly transition back into the daily routine. They follow this time with their daily classes, as they would have back home. In collaboration with our faculty and counseling staff, the PSI Staff have created a Junior Primary School, a Senior Primary School, a Middle School, and a High School. The current teachers are keen on providing the best level and quality of education that is possible under the circumstances, and demonstrate the utmost

devotion to their students. The ‘School within a School’ model aims to support children through their healing and mitigate long-term effects which can be caused by the prolonged trauma of displacement. By providing a school environment in their language, in a safe and loving space, we believe the world can help to build a generation of Ukrainians who can recover and thrive once more. We aim to grow this program while there is a need, and are working on ways to partner with organizations to increase the scope of this program within Hungary and the world. Our ability to grow is matched by the funds which we can secure to ensure the teachers receive a suitable stipend, and we greatly appreciate all who can give to help this worthwhile cause. Moreover, we are committed to partnering with our colleagues around the world, to help you establish similar programs in your schools. The three key ingredients are children, teachers, and

space, and combined with your resourcefulness, these will make a hugely positive impact. If you have the capacity to accommodate students into a Ukrainian face-to-face learning environment in your institution, it can serve to help in the following ways. • Keep children up to date with the Ukrainian state curriculum to avoid gaps in their learning. • Help children reintegrate into the Ukrainian educational system when they are able to return home. • Allow families to build a community while being displaced from their homes. Please reach out to sws@ aisb.hu for more information on School within a School, and how your school can adopt this model to do our part as international institutions. By Adnan Fathy

Donation Page: https://events.veracross.eu/aisb/322-AISB-School-within-a-School-Donations AISB Cares: https://www.aisb.hu/en/our-community/aisb-cares Teacher for A Year https://events.veracross.eu/aisb/333-Teacher-for-a-Year Photographer: Paul Corfield - Elementary School Learning Innovator

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ANGLO-AMERICAN SCHOOL

SUPPORTIN Like everyone around the world, the international community at the Anglo-American School of Sofia was shocked with the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. Realizing that we are in a privileged position to have resources and strong connections both locally and globally, the school team

and our families quickly joined efforts to support the displaced Ukrainian families in a variety of ways. Just a few days after the beginning of the war, the AAS board passed a resolution to admit all children fleeing from Ukraine free of charge until the end of the 20212022 school year. We have 23 displaced students to date with more arriving each day. Another immediate action we took was the creation of a space on our website, dedicated to

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helping Ukraine (https:// aas-sofia.org/ukrainiancrisis-support/). The page provides useful resources for Ukrainian citizens in Bulgaria, counseling materials and gathers all the support initiatives that are currently running in the AAS community. After some discussions on what would be the most adequate way to help the displaced Ukrainian families, it was decided to organize a school-wide Fundraising Drive for Peace where students and their families had the opportunity to donate money

in support of UNICEF's mission to provide safety, stability, and protection for children and families in Ukraine. The drive ran for several weeks, and some teachers found a creative way to motivate the community to donate by dyeing their hair in support of the fundraising. The total amount raised was BGN 16,220 (EUR 8110). At AAS, we take pride in our strong community, the driving force of which is our Parent -Teacher Organization. The PTO created a Ukrainian Crisis Initiative and all

L OF SOFIA

NG UKRAINE proceeds coming from merchandise, book sales, and fundraisers during the month of March went directly to this fund. The accumulated amount of BGN 2,000 (EUR 1,000) was equally split between UNICEF and ADRA . 1

So far the PTO initiatives include, but are not limited to: • Donation drives to displaced families in Plovdiv 1 "UNICEF." https://www.unicef.org/. Accessed 8 Apr. 2022. 2 "ADRA." https://adra.org/. Accessed 8 Apr. 2022.

• Donation drive to Ukrainians at the Romanian border, via ADRA • Donation drive to Humanitarian Convoy to Ukraine, via ADRA • Furnishing of apartments where displaced families are accommodated and purchasing of various items (clothes, toys, food, personal hygiene items), emotional and medical assistance The total contribution estimate to date is BGN 60,000 (EUR 30,000) (clothes, toys, food, hygiene and cleaning products,

medication, furniture and appliances). Currently, there are several ongoing initiatives: • “Cook a Meal for a Displaced Family” • Donation drive to ADRA Spring clothes • Donation drive to Boyana Day Care Last but not the least, our students are also making efforts to help. High school students organized a drive for warm blankets, which they donated to the Bulgarian Red Cross. They are planning bake sales to fundraise money for the displaced families.

We are humbled by the generosity and kindness of the members of our community. As the refugee crisis deepens and more displaced people come to Bulgaria, we hope we will find more sustainable ways to help them - not only by meeting their immediate needs of shelter and nutrition, but also helping them find jobs and integrate in the local community. Svetla Stoyanova AAS Sofia Marketing and Communications Specialist

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USING HER GLOBAL NETWORK OF FRIENDS TO HELP UKRAINE

The Story Of AAS Parent Andrea Hak-Kovacs, Who Has Been Tirelessly Helping Displaced Families. One of our community members, who is most active in helping displaced families is Andrea Hak-Kovacs, a mother of 3, whose family moved to Sofia 1.5 years ago, after having lived in Ukraine.

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“We lived in Kyiv for 8 years, so Ukraine to me is a lot more than just a horrible piece of news from the papers. The streets I walked on, the businesses and restaurants I frequented, the homes and lives of my best friends are being destroyed and when I close my eyes, I see it all.” Andrea shares and adds, “My soul hurts for Ukrainians. Within days of the war breaking out, friends started posting photos of sleeping in the shelters with their children.” This is how it all started for her and her family in Hungary - ”From the first days we were trying to get people across the border, find accommodation in Hungary. All my friends and family sprang into action,” Andrea remembers. Her first involvement was to help a refugee shelter at the Hungarian border. Within days, Andrea realized that she could use her large global network (she had lived in 8 countries) to help. She started a personal fundraiser via social media. “I knew people would support the cause, as they trust me and also understand that I am able to reach out in ways that not many can (I’m using at least half the donations to help individuals, small businesses, communities and animal rescue centers within Ukraine, while the other half goes to refugees in Bulgaria) but I didn't expect the amount of help that was received.” Andrea says and adds that people are willing to go to a great length to help as long as they know where their money is going, how it’s making a difference. She documents every single step in her Facebook group, no matter how small or large. Now, after her initial fundraising efforts, Andrea has

decided to join a larger, more established foundation, so she can help on a larger scale. Besides her personal efforts to support displaced families from Ukraine, Andrea is an active member of the Parent Teacher Organization at the AngloAmerican School of Sofia and has been one of the main driving forces in organizing the school community to help. “The AAS community, parents, teachers and kids have been fantastic, giving tirelessly. We have had at least half a dozen donation drives so far, all far beyond our expectations,” Andrea shares and adds that having a list of specific needs and giving constant feedback to the community has made these drives successful. She hopes that the AAS Community will continue to give and support in the weeks and months to come. The PTO has been working with ADRA (the Adventist Development and Relief Agency) - an organization that Andrea knew well from her college days and suggested due to their trustworthiness and good visibility. Unfortunately, with no clarity when the war will be over and more people fleeing Ukraine, the refugee crisis is deepening. Andrea says that, according to one of her relief agency contacts, every day now 15-20 buses with Ukrainians arrive at the Bulgarian border. “The biggest challenge now is that every day people are giving less. In the first month everyone was eager to help, but with time people are getting desensitized to the situation. In the first days everything was shocking, now it is just in the news - you go through the headlines, everyone is upset but not so eager to help anymore” she

worries and adds: “Another challenge here in the refugee communities is how to help long-term. Now that shelter, safety and food have been provided, Ukrainians need work, the children need schools.” Although she doesn’t know how to overcome these challenges, Andrea is determined to keep trying. She strongly believes in the power of social media to connect and mobilize people to help “The past six weeks have taught me, the more visible and descriptive I am with my posts, the more donations I receive, the more I can help.” As the whole world is focused on collecting donations and volunteering, there is one important aspect we sometimes overlook - just 6 weeks ago Ukrainian families used to live like any of us - they used to have homes, cars, school, pets. “My youngest daughter’s friend’s family - their house was bombed last week, and now they have nothing. Ukrainians hadn’t expected this - we now understand, I think, that this could happen to anyone. I always try and encourage people to help with sensitivity, with preserving the dignity of the families in need, “ Andrea sums up. With so many people displaced, it can be quite overwhelming for someone who wants to help. Whereas donating to big relief funds is beneficial, Andrea strongly believes that acting locally is the best approach. “If each one helps one family - everything will be better taken care of,” she concludes. Svetla Stoyanova AAS Sofia Marketing and Communications Specialist

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"On behalf of AISB Bucharest and Pechersk School International Kyiv, we would like to thank all of our contributors for the time and care they dedicated to making this special edition of WORLD magazine happen. Thank you for sharing your stories of hope and solidarity!"

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196 Pipera Blvd. Voluntari, Ilfov County, 077190 Romania Tel: (40 21) 204-4300 www.aisb.ro