AN eight-year-old schoolgirl who fled Ukraine following the Russian invasion has been warmly welcomed into a Hampshire brownie unit. 

Yaroslava Dablo arrived in Winchester in May last year with her mum Maryna and elder sister Veronika after their home city of Mariupol was largely destroyed.

Unable to speak English and missing friends and family back home, they began to start their lives from scratch thousands of miles away. 

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When one of their host family’s neighbours suggested she might like to try Brownies, Yaroslava was keen to give it a try. 

She said: "I like Brownies because I can meet my friends there and play with them. They have started to understand what I say to them, and I understand them as well. 

"I was worried the first time I went because I didn’t know anyone, but everyone was very friendly. In Ukraine I attended lots of clubs but nothing like Brownies. I like it because we do lots of fun things and everyone makes me welcome." 

Daily Echo:

Her mother Maryna, who ran her own language centre in Ukraine and is now working as a teaching assistant, added: "Yaroslava has made friends at Brownies which I am so pleased about. She is happy there and it has really helped her with her English. She looks forward to going each week and has been warmly welcomed by all the girls and leaders.

"Leaving our home has been very hard for all of us. We cannot go back because it no longer exists. When Mariupol was blocked we couldn’t leave for 50 days. We didn’t have a car and were worried about the kids but finally we got here. We are very thankful to the British people; they have encouraged and helped us a lot."

Daily Echo:

Yaroslava joined 5th Winchester City Brownies just a week after arriving in the area. The group, for girls aged seven to ten, meet once a week to enjoy fun activities, play games and earn skills builder badges.

Since joining Yaroslava has earnt both her First Aid skills builder and Mindfulness badges.   

Despite the initial language barrier, Yaroslava opted to say her Brownie Promise in English instead of Ukrainian when she officially enrolled in December.   

She attended her first pack holiday in January which was a two-night superhero-themed weekend.

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