Social Inclusion of Transnational Families in Lithuania: The Case of War Refugee Children from Ukraine

Abstract

War refugees often are form transnational families, as many of them have members residing across state borders. Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine in February 2022, approximately 86,000 Ukrainian refugees have arrived in Lithuania in search of temporary settlement. The majority of these arrivals were women with preschool and school-aged children, as well as unaccompanied minors. Lithuania swiftly mobilized its education, social, health, and other systems to receive war refugees from Ukraine. Initially, the most pressing concerns were accommodating refugees and addressing their basic needs. Currently, the focus has shifted to their social inclusion into the society. War refugee children represent a particularly vulnerable group, and their social inclusion is essential for their full development and well-being. Therefore, a qualitative study conducted in 2024, aiming to explore the social inclusion of Ukrainian war refugee children, focusing on their social inclusion into the education system. The participants were upper-grade students who arrived in Lithuania from Ukraine after the outbreak of hostilities, along with teachers who work with Ukrainian refugee children. All participants either have family members still in Ukraine, or members who have migrated to other countries. The study found that the most pressing issue of social inclusion relates to learning the Lithuanian language. Motivation to learn Lithuanian primarily depends on the family’s decision about their future. If the family decides to stay in Lithuania, parents encourage their children to learn the language. The extent of the child’s interaction with Lithuanian peers greatly influences language learning. Similarly, how much those around the child encourage them to speak Lithuanian also plays a significant role. It became evident that Ukrainian children show a strong interest in Lithuanian history, customs, and culture, eagerly participating in celebrations of commemorative days and seeking similarities with Ukrainian history and traditions.