We recently had the opportunity to catch up with Yevgenia, mum to Sasha and Artem, who were supported by L2L2R reading volunteers when they arrived in the UK from Ukraine. Four years later she reflects on their experiences.

When we arrived in the UK from Ukraine in 2022, everything was new for our family. My children, Sasha and Artem, had to start school in a completely unfamiliar language, surrounded by new people, a different culture, and all the uncertainty that comes with leaving your home behind.

One of the greatest challenges was reading. Neither of my children could read in English, and at the beginning even simple books felt overwhelming. The weekly reading sessions through Learn to Love to Read became so much more than reading practice. They gave my children a safe, encouraging space where they could build their confidence one page at a time.

I still remember how thoughtful the charity was in finding a Russian-speaking volunteer initially, which made those first weeks much less intimidating. As the children became more confident, they continued reading with English-speaking volunteers, which helped them not only improve their reading skills but also become comfortable communicating in English and forming relationships with people in their new community.

Looking back now, the difference is incredible. Today, both of my children read confidently in English, enjoy books, and are thriving at school. More importantly, they feel that they belong here. Those weekly sessions were a small act of kindness that had a much bigger impact than anyone could have imagined.

As a parent trying to rebuild life from scratch in a new country, knowing that someone was giving their time each week to support my children meant the world to me. Volunteers may see just an hour of reading, but for families like ours, they are helping children gain confidence, independence, and hope for the future.

We will always be grateful to everyone at Learn to Love to Read for giving our children such a positive start to their new life in the UK.

With endless thanks,
Yevgenia

Thank you for letting us know who Sasha and Artem are getting on Yevgenia - we will never forget them!