They look like ordinary excited schoolchildren visiting London. But these are war-weary Ukrainian teenagers on a break from the horrors of their homeland – ten days which could scarcely be more precious.
They are the ‘children of heroes’, many of whom have lost a parent fighting Putin’s invasion. And they have spent the past week in the UK recovering from this ongoing hell – a life-changing trip made possible only thanks to the kindness of Daily Mail readers who donated to our Mail Force Ukraine Appeal.
These 24 teenagers, aged 13 to 17, have swapped their bomb-shelter classrooms in the eastern frontline city of Kharkiv for a few days in the tranquil English countryside, in Kent, where they have forged lifelong friendships and attended trauma workshops. And on Tuesday they rounded off their trip with a sightseeing tour of London – including a visit to Downing Street where they met the Prime Minister.
None of the youngsters knew each other before this special ‘Rehabilitation Trip’ run by the London-based St Mary’s Trust and funded by Mail Force.
But 14-year-old Dasha Kuzhietsova spoke for them all when she said: ‘Here on this trip we have all made friends. One night we all just sat together and cried.’
