Since Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine on February 24th, millions of people have been forced to flee the country. The United Nations has declared this mass exodus the largest refugee crisis in Europe since the end of World War II. According to UNICEF, at least half of these refugees are children, among them youths who are old enough to understand the vast implications of this crisis, yet too young to defend their country in battle. While some leave as orphans and others flee with their families, they all leave with uncertain futures, having lost their homes, access to food, capital, the ability to attend school, be with friends, or practice a sport. They arrive in refugee camps with no certain future or sense of what's next. As teens and athletes of Ukrainian heritage, this realization struck us and galvanized us into starting this organization.
Adolescence is a vital period in life where we complete the foundations for our adult futures. For Ukrainian adolescent athletes, this important life phase has been abruptly disrupted. Beyond their homes and financial support, they've lost the ability to pursue their athletic passions, as they are separated from family, teachers, coaches, teammates, their native language, and access to sports training facilities.
As adolescent athletes ourselves, we empathize. We saw how the Coronavirus pandemic prevented hardcore athletes with professional potential from training for entire seasons, with long-lasting ramifications. They will never get the lost practice time back. These impoverished Ukrainian athletes are now in a similar situation - again, but worse. They have lost everything and are frozen in time. They are impacted psychologically and physically, as their athletic skills will only deteriorate if they cannot practice.
Moreover, the international sports world will also suffer because now, there are fewer competitors to compete against and learn from. By pairing displaced competitive Ukrainian youth athletes with clubs in other countries where they can obtain shelter and food while continuing to practice their sport, we help them as well as the international sports community. Experiences are shared, and skills are improved all around.
"It will be our faces you see, not our backs."