“I would really love to join Ukraine’s national cycling team”

Zolochiv, in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region, lies just 17 kilometres from the frontline. The sounds of explosions echo through the town and drones buzz overhead frequently. Constant danger has become part of everyday life for residents, including many children who continue to live here. Among them are the young athletes of the local cycling club.

Cyclists usually train and ride outdoors. But in this town, children train underground in a child-friendly hub established by UNICEF and Peaceful Heaven of Kharkiv NGO.

For the children in this community, this space has become the only place where they can feel safe and have a semblance of a childhood. Here, they can receive mental health and psychosocial support, participate in group activities like art therapy, catch up on learning they have missed. Their parents or caregivers can also register for humanitarian cash assistance.

For 16-year-old Mykola and his fellow young cyclists, this is also a space where they can prepare for their next competitions.

Mykola first tried cycling when he was still in primary school and joined the local youth cycling club.

“That’s when I made a lot of friends. We started spending most of our time together, including during cycling practice,” he recalls.

The full-scale war disbanded their group. Mykola’s family relocated to the relatively safer town of Bohodukhiv. But as soon as he had the opportunity, he returned to Zolochiv to resume training at the cycling club, which reopened as soon as the security situation allowed.

The club initially resumed its activities at the local sports complex. However, that joy was short-lived after the facility was destroyed in an attack in 2023.

“To be honest, it broke me emotionally,” says Mykola. “Cycling had always been an inseparable part of my life. It was incredibly hard to be without it.”

Because of the constant threat of attacks, training outdoors is no longer possible for Mykola and his teammates. Vitalii Sadovyi, Deputy Head of the Zolochiv administration, who also is the cycling club’s coach, refused to let the children give up. He found a spot at the child-friendly hub and moved the club’s bicycles and special indoor bicycle trainers there, reinvigorating the club and its young athletes.

A space that nurtures hope

Mykola dreams of pursuing a professional cycling career, earning the title of Master of Sport of Ukraine and eventually competing internationally.

“I have many role models: Ukrainian cyclists who now compete in Europe and win medals. I would really love to join Ukraine’s national cycling team,” he says.

Balancing school and sport is not easy. Zolochiv’s school was destroyed by shelling early in the war, and all learning has since moved online. Yet Mykola remains motivated.

“Every day I’m inspired to get a good education, find a good job, keep doing sports and simply continue living my life,” he said.

“This space has given me the opportunity not only to continue cycling but also to meet people who have become incredibly important to me: my friends and the people close to me. Right now, it’s probably the only safe place where I can see them.”

For Vitalii, sport is much more than physical activity. It helps children in his town to remain children despite the realities of war.

“By spending time with friends and travelling to competitions, they experience joy. You can really see how, amid the constant attacks, their emotional well-being improves. Here they can relax. Here they feel safe,” he said.

Because of the cycling club, the child-friendly space is also helping nurture Ukraine’s young athletes – future role models who can inspire other children.

“Thanks to this space, we are able to continue training children and achieve strong results at national competitions,” said Vitalii.

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The child-friendly hubs operate with the support of the Governments of Denmark, Norway, Sweden and the United States.