Roma, 11 years old. A boy whose childhood has been shaped by war and constant change. What once felt safe and familiar was taken away, forcing Roma to grow up faster and adapt to a new reality. Despite the challenges he has faced, he continues to be curious, to dream, and to believe in a peaceful future. His story is a sincere testimony to the impact of war on children and a powerful reminder of their resilience and right to a safe and happy childhood.
🎥 Video Story
🟦 1. WHO IS ROMA
Roma is an 11-year-old boy from Mariupol who spent a month in a bunker with his family during the heavy shelling of the city.
His story is about a child who had to grow up overnight — his father joined the army, his younger brother is on the autism spectrum, and the family had to start life from scratch in a new city.
💬 “My mom woke me up in shock. I thought we just wouldn’t go to school… but then we heard explosions.” — Roma
🟩 2. BEFORE THE WAR
Before the full-scale invasion, Roma lived an ordinary childhood:
- riding his bike,
- playing with friends,
- enjoying the warmth of his family home.
💬 “I have my mom, dad, little brother, grandpa, and great-grandma.”
🟥 3. THE DAY EVERYTHING CHANGED
💬 “My mom woke me up in shock. We sat in the hallway… Three days later we moved into a bunker.”
The family spent almost a month underground, hearing every explosion, before beginning their long journey to safety.
🟧 4. THE EVACUATION ROUTE
Route: Mariupol → Berdiansk → Zaporizhzhia → Dnipro → Vinnytsia
💬 “We left together. We didn’t leave anyone behind.”
The only thing Roma took from home was his cat.
💬 “I had a cat. I took her with me.”
🟦 5. A NEW LIFE IN VINNYTSIA
📘 School and Learning
Roma adapted quickly to his new school.
💬 “The teacher was kind and explained a lot.”
He now takes part in math competitions and olympiads, proving to himself that he can achieve great things.
👦 Friends
💬 “They accepted me calmly. I have many friends.”
His new classmates support him — especially Masha, Sviatoslav, Nikita, and Oleh. They help him cope with missing home.
❤️ Family
Roma’s father is a soldier — his hero.
💬 “My dad is a hero because he protects our country.”
His younger brother, who is on the autism spectrum, finds adaptation harder.
💬 “Roma tries very hard, studies well, and helps other kids in his class.” — mother Yulia
🟪 6. RESPONSIBILITY BEYOND HIS AGE
Roma helps his mother with household chores and schoolwork.
💬 “I help my mom — I can clean, deliver orders, do my homework quickly.”
In his free time, he plays basketball.
💬 “I used to do karate, but now I prefer basketball — it’s closer to me.”
🟨 7. DREAMS AND THE FUTURE
💬 “I want the war to end so that everyone can live in peace.”
Roma dreams of learning German, moving to Germany to study and work — but one day, returning to rebuild his hometown.
💬 “I’ll go back to rebuild Mariupol.”
He already knows what he’ll do when he grows up:
💬 “When I finish my studies, I want to earn a lot of money and give half of it to my mom, dad, and brother.”
🟦 8. ROMA’S MESSAGE TO THE WORLD
🕊️ “Let the war end. Let us all be together again.”
🟧 9. MOTHER’S VOICE
💬 “It’s harder for my younger son — he’s on the spectrum. But we’re adapting: reading and watching movies in Ukrainian. Roma is very responsible — he’s a class monitor and helps other children.”
🟦 10. PHOTO GALLERY
The survey was conducted by the NGO “Network of Civil Society Organizations Supporting Internally Displaced Persons in Ukraine” with the support of the Askold and Dir Foundation, administered by ISAR Ednannia, within the project “Strong Civil Society of Ukraine as a Driver of Reforms and Democracy,” funded by Norway and Sweden. The content of this publication is the sole responsibility of the NGO “Network of Civil Society Organizations Supporting Internally Displaced Persons in Ukraine” and does not necessarily reflect the views of the governments of Norway or Sweden, or of ISAR Ednannia.
