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They brought the Ukrainian songs with them, but they had to learn how to dance happily again.
Because all the children in Berlin's
"
Nano's Kids Club
"
fled Ukraine; the Russian attack tore them away from their everyday lives, and many of them were separated from their fathers.
Maria Köster, founder of “Nano’s Kidsclub”:
“They were so traumatized that they could neither play nor communicate.
Sometimes we couldn't even open and close the lid on the pot in the kitchen because it just kept twitching the whole time.
They were really scared.
And now after a year there are children who are completely open, who have warmed up.
They learn German, they play with each other, they are cheeky, they rage, they do nonsense.«
Today the kids club celebrates its one-year anniversary, many children wear national costumes to the party.
The facility is not an official daycare center, but rather a meeting place for Ukrainian children and their parents.
The founders wanted to do something for the arriving Ukrainians quickly and as unbureaucratically as possible - they managed to raise money for their kids club from a foundation.
They are also setting an example with their initiative because they themselves have a Ukrainian and Russian background.
Alexandra Mendelez, founder of “Nano's Kidsclub”:
“That was totally irrelevant before the war started and now it's like: Wow, you can work together?
Yes, I’m from Ukraine, yes, she’s from Russia, but that was never an issue before.”
Lunch is provided by a nearby Russian restaurant.
There has been criticism of this on social media, but the founders are sticking to their Ukrainian-Russian collaborations, even if their own families sometimes don't understand it.
What counts for them is quick help for the refugees.
While the children are being looked after, parents can get advice from the kids' club if they have any questions about German bureaucracy, take a German course or discuss their situation.
Vlad, son:
"One, two three..."
Anna, refugee from Chernowitz:
»We were looking for people with children so that our little one would be okay.
And our life here began to take shape a little bit.
At first it was very difficult, but then as we had more friends around us, it got better and better."
"We love this place because for us it is Ukrainian."
»My name is Milana… We are waiting for the war to end. Everything is waiting.”
Irina Minakova is one of four permanent teachers, all of whom are also refugees.
She was a Russian teacher in the Kharkiv region and now lives in Berlin with her two sons.
Temporarily, she hopes.
Irina Minakova, “Nano’s Kidsclub”:
“I want to go home.
My heart is in Kharkiv.«
But the news they receive from there does not suggest they will return soon.
Irina Minakova, “Nano’s Kidsclub”:
“That was my parents’ house.
My father was a carpenter in Ukraine and he built the house himself.
Everything broken.
Everything burned.”
German lessons for children and adults also play an important role in the kids club.
Like all offers here, it is free.
Elyana Mikailov, German teacher:
»The children have developed incredibly.
If at the beginning they sat quietly, didn't want to do anything physically, but rather listened, then now they're totally active, totally alert."
“
Nano's Kids Club
”
has been around for exactly one year
now.
The foundation money will last until the end of 2025.
What happens next is unclear.
The Russian-Ukrainian founders hope that they can continue as long as their help is needed.