Ukrainian school providing 'community and friends'

Ukrainian refugee children are being taught about their homeland's heritage at a school in Devon.

Berehynia has been set up by the Devon Ukrainian Association to give children aged between six and 12 who have fled the war in their country against Russia the chance to learn about their native culture and language.

The association said the sessions, held on Saturdays, also helped pupils work towards their Ukrainian school leavers' exams and integrate into the UK education system.

Head teacher Oksana Kryviak said said the school was set up because parents wanted their children to maintain links to their home country's identity.

Ms Kryviak said children who had come to the UK from Ukraine were starting to speak a lot more English than their mother tongue.

She added the school also allowed the children to come together regularly.

"Of course they have a lot of English friends, but it's important to have Ukrainian friends too," Ms Kryviak said.

Anastasiia Kuznetsova, whose seven-year-old daughter attends the school, said it was providing a great service.

"My daughter loves it because she has here not only study - she has community and friends," she said.

"It's important for me also because we are Ukrainians, but our children now speak more English than our native language.

"But we always will be Ukrainians because we can't become somebody else."

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