Our short-term ESC volunteering teams in high-priority areas projects support Ukrainian refugees and migrants as they integrate, socialize, feel empowered, and express their talents and knowledge. We understand that adolescence is already a sensitive age, and being away from familiar environments, friends, and everything they once knew makes it even harder to adapt. That’s where we come in—smoothly helping them embrace new cultures, become more open-minded, and feel confident speaking English and connecting with others.

For the past six months, our analytical team has been a game-changer. Every month, they gather feedback from the kids and their families, creating detailed reports that highlight what’s working and what we can improve. Thanks to this constant feedback loop, we’ve seen incredible progress in our activities. We’re proud of how we listen, adapt, and grow together as a team, and we are always grateful for every challenge because it pushes us to be better.

One of the coolest things we’ve discovered is how our activities are making a real impact beyond the sessions. After chatting with parents, we found out that kids have started cooking at home, whipping up amazing dishes from French, Arabic, Italian, and Romanian cuisines. How awesome is that?

We also conducted interviews with the kids, and hearing them call FITT their “second home” was heartwarming and inspiring. It means the world to us because it shows that we’re not just running activities—we’re creating a space where they feel safe, valued, and connected.

Here are some highlights from our report from December 2024:

• Favorite Moments: Kids love activities like cooking clubs, art therapy, and the social skills club. They enjoy talking with volunteers and feel happy and engaged.

• Challenges: Some kids mentioned that the timing of activities doesn’t always fit their schedules, and language barriers can be tough. But we’re tackling these challenges head-on, finding creative ways to make activities more accessible and inclusive.

• Positive Vibes: Most kids felt part of the group, using emojis like 😊😃😍 to express their joy. They loved creative activities, asked for more hands-on experiences, and suggested fun additions like clay modeling and air-dry plasticine.

We’re incredibly proud of the journey so far. Every piece of feedback, every smile, and every new dish cooked at home tells us we’re on the right track. Together, with our amazing team and the wonderful kids we work with, we’re building something truly special.