"Loyola" in Prizren opens its doors to students who fled the war in Ukraine

The two daughters of the Kosovar-Ukrainian couple have never visited Kosovo before, due to the lack of travel documents. But after the start of the war in Ukraine, they were forced to leave their homeland, finding refuge in Kosovo. Since Monday, they have started continuing their education in Prizren. Their hope is that peace will be established in Ukraine so that they can return to their friends and comrades.

On Monday, Albina and Anita attended the first day of classes at the "Loyola" gymnasium, respectively at the "Loyola" elementary school in Prizren. Last month they were forced to leave their home and school in Sumi, Ukraine as a result of the war. The children of the Kosovar-Ukrainian couple have been settled in their father's birthplace in Greikoc of Suhareka for several weeks, after the almost week-long journey to escape the horrors of war. Both expressed satisfaction with the hospitality they found in the respective schools. However, they hope to one day return to their friends at their schools in Ukraine.

"It was very difficult to turn your back on home, school, society, and I have hopes that there will be peace and I will return to my friends," said Albina Qelaj, 14 years old.

Her sister, two years younger, Anita Qelaj added that in the new school environment she was well received by everyone and that she noticed the closeness that the teachers have with the students.

"The difference I have noticed is that the teachers here communicate more with the students, because there are more students there, but of course I feel good," she declared.

Their parent, Xhavit Qelaj, who has been working with construction material between Ukraine and Switzerland since 2005, states that his daughters were born in 2008 and 2010, respectively, in Sumy, Ukraine, located 40 kilometers from the border with Russia, and that they have never been to Kosovo before, the reason for not recognizing the travel documents.

"The war caught them there, they spent two weeks in the war and after two weeks the corridor was opened and they came out, they came to the border with Romania and from there we brought them here", he said.

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Qelaj affirms that his daughters, despite the difficulties in communication, since they do not speak Albanian, are nevertheless welcome wherever they go, while the other students also try to facilitate their adaptation to the new school premises.

The executive director of the "Loyola" high school, Elias Koller, has affirmed that the doors of this educational institution are open to children from Ukraine in order to offer them a place where they can learn safely. "Children have nothing to do with the war, they are innocent and should be given space where they can grow, learn and be educated. Therefore, the message is clear, that our school is open to children who are looking for safe spaces for learning", said Koller.

"Loyola" high school weeks ago started an action, which will be concluded at the end of this week, to collect financial means for the young Ukrainians who have abandoned their homes due to the horrors of the war.