Today, millions of children across Europe have been forced to leave their homes due to wars, armed conflicts, or humanitarian crises. According to international organizations, more than one million Ukrainian children alone are currently under temporary protection in the EU. For many of them, adapting to a new life is a daily challenge – one that goes far beyond school or language.
That is precisely why seemingly ordinary children’s celebrations can carry much deeper meaning.
On March 22, a children’s event took place at one of the Ukrainian Voices RC shelters, organized in partnership with the Belgian Red Cross. Around fifty boys and girls under the age of 12, representing diverse cultural backgrounds, took part.
While the event featured plenty of games, laughter, and sweets, it was about far more than entertainment. For children whose families have experienced forced displacement, gatherings like these help reduce anxiety, restore a sense of stability, and foster new social connections.
“We organize many different events for people from various groups and nationalities. It’s a great opportunity for our children to integrate, because they already communicate in French – they study in it. Or in Dutch. And they can already understand each other. We’re very happy to see them making friends and smiling,” says Ivanna, a Ukrainian Voices RC volunteer who has been involved in the organization’s initiatives for two years.
It is this kind of informal interaction that often proves more effective than formal integration programs – children tend to find common ground much faster.
Shai, 18, attended the event with her two younger brothers. Her family moved to Belgium from Syria, a country where war has long been part of everyday reality.
“Today is actually Sunday, a day off. I heard they were organizing a small celebration that would be good for my younger brothers. We decided to come so they could change their surroundings a bit, breathe different air. I think that’s very important. We discover other cultures and meet new people.”
For children, this kind of interaction is quite literally an investment in their future.
“It will make life much easier for my brothers when they grow up, because they’ll already have this experience of integration and won’t feel difficulties communicating with others,” Shai adds.
The children themselves are also eager to share their impressions. Eleven-year-old Uliana from Ukraine, who has been living in Belgium for several years, says: “I really liked it. It was a truly fun event!” Jayden, born in Belgium to a family of migrants from
Congo, adds: “It’s great that things like this are organized, because we don’t have them very often. I like it.”
For Ukrainian Voices RC, this is not just a one-off event, but part of a broader system of support for people on their path to integration into Belgium’s multicultural society. In a world where forced displacement is becoming the new normal, it is precisely these kinds of initiatives that help create a sense of home where it must be rebuilt from scratch – sometimes through play, connection, and children’s laughter.
