Families find sanctuary at child-friendly spots in Kyiv
As the war in Ukraine continues, the Spilno Child Spot at Kyiv’s main railway station is welcoming families from all over the country
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These days, Kyiv Central Railway Station is full of big crowds, long queues for metal detectors and the haunting sound of air raid sirens.
Hundreds of families arrive here every day. Some are returning home, while others are fleeing the eastern and southern parts of Ukraine for safer regions. Spilno Child Spots, established across the country with the support of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), are helping to make their journeys a little easier by offering a warm, safe space to relax, play and receive vital assistance.
At one of the two spots in Kyiv’s main railway station, eight-year-old Liza, four-year-old Illia and their grandmother Svitlana are waiting for the train for Drohobych.
“Yesterday, the air raid sirens were loud,” says Svitlana. “I'm worrying a bit. I had a feeling, you know, that I wanted to take the children away as soon as possible.’
Svitlana says the Spilno Child Spots help families feel more secure and relaxed.
“A volunteer helped us. She took the children's backpacks and brought us here. Now the children feel like they are at home, they run around and play as if they were in a kindergarten or school. A wait between transfers sometimes lasts for hours. So a space where children can warm up and relax is important, especially when it's equipped and accessible to everyone. Not all families can afford to pay for services like this.”
As well as helping families feel comfortable, staff at the Spilno Child Spot also organize children's leisure activities and advise parents on legal issues or how to find housing. In addition, a pediatrician and psychologist are on hand to help. There is a separate baby room with a changing table and a place for breastfeeding.
Three-year-old Eva and her mother Yana are waiting at the Spilno Child Spot for their connecting train. They are fleeing the shelling in Kharkiv for Zakarpattia.
“First, we went to a regular waiting room, but it was quite chilly there. Then, a nice girl came and invited us here. We like it a lot. While Eva plays, I can take a break and have a coffee.”
Nearly 60,000 people visit UNICEF's Spilno Child Spots every month. More than 150 locations around Ukraine supported by UNICEF and its partners continue to provide services for children, youth and their caregivers.
