Maksym, Valeria, and their six-year-old son, Filip, are sitting on a sofa at the Slovene Philanthropy office in Maribor, Slovenia, where they received much-needed support after fleeing the war in Ukraine. © UNHCR/Giulia Naboni
In December 2022, Maksym, Valeria, and their six-year-old son, Filip, stepped off the bus in Maribor with nothing but a suitcase and the sadness of leaving their world behind. They had escaped the relentless bombings of war-torn Ukraine, but now found themselves in a foreign land, where the language was strange, the faces unfamiliar, and the future uncertain.
When they first got to Slovenia, the family approached the local police for guidance. The officer’s response was straightforward: “If you don’t know the language, it will be very hard for you here.” For a brief moment, the family considered turning back to Ukraine or seeking refuge elsewhere.
But just as despair set in, a woman at the police station quietly offered them a lifeline: “Go to Slovene Philanthropy. Ask for Olga. She can help you.”
That single act of kindness changed everything.
As they walked towards the Slovene Philanthropy office the next morning, uncertainty still lingered, but a faint sense of hope pushed them forward. At Slovene Philanthropy, a UNHCR partner in Slovenia, they found a welcoming community ready to support them. The organization helped them secure housing, process residency documents, and apply for financial assistance, rent subsidies, and child benefits. Most importantly, they helped navigate the process of enrolling Filip in school. As a child on the autism spectrum, Filip required specialized support—something many refugee families find difficult to access in an unfamiliar system.
Slovenia’s school system, often strained with long waiting lists, made an exception for Filip. Within just a few months, he was placed in a small class of five students with two dedicated teachers, ensuring he received the attention and care he needed. Today, Filip speaks fluent Slovenian, loves his school, and thrives in an inclusive environment where he is treated with respect and kindness.
“Every day, he surprises us,” Valeria says, while her voice is trembling with gratitude. “He sings in Slovenian now. He paints. He tells us he loves school. We never thought this would be possible.” “People here see him as an equal. There is no discrimination. He is happy.”
Seeing their son flourish reaffirmed Maksym and Valeria’s decision to stay. While the family is still learning Slovenian through language courses, they are already making plans for the future. Once they achieve fluency, they intend to find jobs and contribute to the community that welcomed them so dearly.
“We were ready to leave,” Maksym admits. “We thought we had no place here. But Olga—she showed us another way. Now, we have fallen in love with Maribor.”
As we were wrapping up the interview, the six-year-old handed me a small painting—a beautiful sun shining over a rainbow. “Sunshine makes me happy,” he said, tilting his head as he studied his work. “It makes me feel warm and happy. Slovenia is quite sunny.”
Now surrounded by support, Filip flourishes in an environment that nurtures his creativity and allows him to grow with confidence and without discrimination. For a family once adrift in uncertainty, the kindness of strangers has provided not just stability, but the promise of a new chapter filled with hope and belonging.
As the war continues to displace families across Ukraine, Maksym and Valeria’s journey reflects both the pain of loss and the strength of overcoming it. In Maribor, they have found not just safety, but a new dawn—a chance to rebuild, to belong, and to let the light of hope shine once more.
Background
As of mid-2024, Slovenia hosts 11,439 Ukrainian refugees. According to the 2024 Multi-sector Needs Assessment (MSNA), 7% of refugee households report having at least one member with a disability, with conditions predominantly related to communication, cognitive challenges, vision impairments, and mobility issues. Accessing healthcare remains a significant concern—71% of refugee households report having at least one member in need of medical care, yet 15% face difficulties in obtaining the necessary health services.
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