Photo courtesy of the Pascal family Ukrainian gymnast Sasha Pascal in New York. Ukrainian gymnast Sasha Pascal in New York: children need peace Peace and Security
Sasha Pascal has been involved in rhythmic gymnastics since early childhood. In 2022, in the first months after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a girl was seriously injured as a result of an attack in the Odessa region. A collapsing slab crushed the bones of her leg. A six-year-old girl was put into a medically induced coma for 15 days, but doctors were unable to save her limb.
Despite the injury – physical and psychological – after rehabilitation, Sasha again began to train and perform dance and acrobatic elements, using a modern prosthesis. Over the past four years, she has taken part in several competitions along with her peers and even won some of them.
The 10-year-old gymnast performed her routine in Times Square in New York this week. In anticipation of the speech, Sasha and her mother Maria visited the United Nations headquarters in New York and met with the UN News Service there.
Photo courtesy of the Pascal family Sasha Pascal performing in Times Square.
According to Maria, the purpose of such performances is to remind people about the ongoing war and show the strength of spirit of Ukrainian children.
“The main message is for people not to forget that we are still at war,” she said. Most of all, according to the woman, Sasha and other Ukrainian children need peace.
The heroine of an inclusive comic book
Sasha’s story formed the basis of a children’s inclusive comic book “The heart sees more than the eyes.” Its main character, like the young athlete, continues to do gymnastics after amputation of her leg. The comic was created as part of the UPSHIFT program with the support of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
The project is designed to help children better understand people with disabilities and show that they have the same rights as others and should be able to develop their potential. In addition to publishing the comic, its creators provide interactive activities for children aged six to eleven. During the meetings, students discuss inclusion and learn to communicate and play with peers with disabilities. Sasha herself took part in one of these classes.
Children of Ukraine
This story is one of many stories of Ukrainian children whose lives were changed by the war.
According to UNICEF, more than a third of Ukrainian children – almost 2.6 million – are still forced to be away from home. About 791,000 of them are internally displaced, and 1.8 million live as refugees outside the country.
In total, more than 3,400 children have been killed or wounded in shelling and other attacks since February 2022. The actual figures are likely higher, as the UN can only confirm those cases for which it has been able to obtain and verify relevant information.
KMDA An inclusive comic based on the story of Sasha Pascal.
June recorded the highest monthly number of child casualties since 2022, with seven dead and 116 injured. The situation did not improve in July. In the past week alone, attacks across Ukraine have reportedly killed two children and injured more than 50 others.
Ongoing fighting severely limits children’s access to education. More than 1,700 schools and other educational institutions have been damaged or destroyed, and every third child is unable to attend full-time, full-time classes at all times.
The situation remains particularly difficult in front-line areas. According to UNICEF, 83 percent of young children living in these areas show signs of emotional distress or developmental delays.
The UN Children’s Fund and its partners are providing humanitarian, medical and psychological assistance to families, promoting continued learning, rebuilding schools and water systems, and supporting inclusive projects.
The role of sports
Today Sasha trains for three to four hours five times a week and continues to participate in competitions. At the same time, she receives medals in competitions in which children participate without any injuries or limitations. Recently, a young Ukrainian won a gold medal at an international tournament in Romania.
Before traveling to New York, Sasha performed in Paris, where she also met with representatives of the UNESCO Sports Committee. During the meeting, they discussed, among other things, how Sasha’s story of perseverance inspires Ukrainian children and how sports help overcome life’s challenges.
Photo courtesy of the Pascal family Sasha Pascal during a visit to the UN headquarters in New York.
According to Maria, sports played an important role not only in her daughter’s physical recovery, but also in making her feel confident again.
“I think that if it weren’t for sports, everything would have been much worse. She would have withdrawn into herself, embarrassed by her prosthesis. And when she competes, she is not shy and becomes more confident,” said Sasha’s mother. Watching her daughter perform in different countries and on large stages, Maria first of all feels proud.
Sasha herself admits that she sometimes gets nervous before competitions, but this does not stop her from going out on the mat. Addressing other children who want to play sports but doubt their abilities, she wished them “not to give up and move forward.” “And don’t be afraid of anything,” the gymnast added.
In the future, the athlete dreams of representing Ukraine in the Paralympic Games – if rhythmic gymnastics is added to the program. And she considers the main message of her story to be simple words: “It is important for people to do what they love and not give up.”