Red Cross National Societies in Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, and Romania have launched language programmes for Ukrainians who fled the escalation on conflict in 2022.
Financial insecurity, unemployment, limited access to healthcare, and language barriers are everyday challenges for millions of people who fled Ukraine after the escalation of the conflict.
While finding safety is a critical first step, the harder journey often begins after — rebuilding a life in a new country, surrounded by an unfamiliar language and culture.
To support this journey, Red Cross National Societies in Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, and Romania have launched language programs that go far beyond grammar and vocabulary.
These classes are helping displaced people from Ukraine find their voices — giving them the tools they need to access work, education, healthcare, and, perhaps most importantly, a sense of belonging.
The project has been made possible by the Swiss Contribution to the European Union under the Rapid Response Fund. This initiative aims to reduce social and economic disparities within the European Union.
‘At 57, I’m starting over’
One of those taking part in the classes is Iryna, who never imagined she’d be learning a new language at 57 — or starting over in a new country. Now living in Latvia with her daughter-in-law and grandson, she attends Latvian courses run by the Latvian Red Cross.
“I lack speaking practice, so I eagerly signed up,” she says. “We have a great teacher.”
Iryna’s family fled Kharkiv when the conflict escalated, spending days sheltering in a village basement with other families before finally boarding crowded evacuation trains. Eventually, they made it to Latvia.
Life in a new country hasn’t been easy. Back home, Iryna worked as a chief accountant. Now, she works as a cleaner in a theater — a job she is grateful for, even if it is far from her field. “To return to my profession, I need to know the language,” she explains.
But she finds joy in small moments. “At the theater, I get to watch pre-premiere shows and chat with the actors,” she adds with a smile.
‘I never thought I’d need another language'
Vadym, 55, from Mykolaiv, fled Ukraine with his family after the conflict escalated. Their journey to Romania took three days. “It was difficult,” he recalls. “We had never been abroad before, so I never thought I’d need to learn another language.”
Before the escalation of the conflict, Vadym worked at the port — a skilled job that remains in demand. But in Romania, the language barrier stands in the way of continuing in his profession.
Now, he attends Romanian language classes organized by the Romanian Red Cross. “It is helpful. We talk about different topics in class, and now I can go to the store and explain myself at a basic level,” he says.
‘I was afraid — how would I explain if my child got sick?’
For nearly three years, Mila and her son have been living in Hungary after fleeing Ukraine. She still remembers the fear and the long queues at the border. Everything felt uncertain — and without speaking the language, even the simplest tasks felt overwhelming.
“I was afraid — what if my child got sick? How would I explain things to a doctor?” she recalls.
When Mila learned the Hungarian Red Cross offered free language classes, she joined right away.
“I came to the course and really liked it,” she says. “I met other Ukrainians, learned a lot of useful things from them, and we started talking more.”
Being able to practice Hungarian in a supportive space has made a big difference. “Now I can go to the store, the pharmacy, or any office on my own — and get things done,” she says.
Mila’s confidence is growing with every lesson. “When I reach a better language level, I plan to find a job here,” she says, full of hope for a more stable future.
‘To find a well-paid job without knowing the language is impossible’
When the conflict escalated, Yuliia left Zaporizhzhia with her two children, hoping to give them a safer life.
“I wanted my children to grow up in peace, in a country without fear,” she says.
Later, her mother joined them in Lithuania. Both women found work as cleaners — honest, important work that helped them start over. But Yuliia knows that speaking the language is key to opening more doors.
“To find a well-paid job without knowing the language is impossible,” she says.
That is why she and her mother now attend Lithuanian language classes run by the Lithuanian Red Cross.
“I can already talk to people who do not speak Russian,” Yuliia shares. “It is still hard to speak freely, but I understand.”
For Yuliia, Iryna, Vadym and Mila — and for many others taking part in these classes learning the local language is not just about communication. It is about regaining control, rebuilding dignity — and taking the first steps toward a future they can shape themselves.