In six months, nearly 300 Ukrainians have completed free English language courses. The courses was funded by the the International Organisation for Migration Vilnius Office (IOM Lithuania).  "We provided funds to help Ukrainians improve their English language skills, and I'm glad we were able to help several hundred ukrainians. From the research we conducted, we saw that Ukrainians would like to study English, as many of them are planning to return to Ukraine and hope that this knowledge will be useful to them both in Lithuania and Ukraine," says Eitvydas Bingelis, Head of IOM Lithuania.
Oksana is currently living in Tauragė and she is one of the participants of the training.  She came to Lithuania from Nikolajevo city just after the war started. "Taking into account the circumstances, I can say that everything worked out well, we managed to avoid the horrors of war, we feel very well in Lithuania and are grateful for all the help we have received," says Oksana. She had worked in the beauty industry in Ukraine as a manicurist, unfortunately she is not able to work in Lithuania, because she needs to pay more attention to her first grade son, who is studying in a Lithuanian school. She hopes to return to her hometown, but it is not yet safe to do so, as the infrastructure has been destroyed and it would be very difficult for her and her husband to find work. "We are happy with what we have here, what we have managed to build. We have received a lot of help, met a lot of wonderful people, and of course it's great for me to be able to learn," she says. 
Alina, another participant of the training who came to Lithuania from Zaporozhye, is also happy to have had the opportunity to learn English. "I didn't know English at all, and it's very necessary. So the knowledge I have gained is invaluable. It was very interesting to learn and I am happy with the professionalism of the teacher", says Alina. She has been living in Lithuania for more than a year, since the beginning of the war, and her husband has been fighting for Ukraine's independence for as many months. "We would like to go home, but until my husband says it's safe, we won't go back. Especially since our daughter goes to a Lithuanian kindergarten and is integrating well. We like Lithuania and have met many wonderful people who have become our friends," says Alina.
Liudmila, another participant of the training, says that a year ago on 1 March, an acquaintance called her and told, that she was leaving Ukraine. So Liudmila took her son and went to the station without thinking twice. She recalls that the journey was extremely difficult, with a crowded train from her hometown to Lviv without lights to avoid being spotted by the enemy, and a lack of space, food and water. Later, she reached Warsaw, and from there she travelled to Suwalki and then to Vilnius.  "We didn't have any belongings, because I simply didn't have time to collect them, the volunteers in Warsaw warmed us up, gave us outer clothes and hot food. In Vilnius, friends helped us settle in and find a rented flat. Now I've been working here for a year in service and my son is in school," says Liudmila. She has started attending English language courses organised by IOM Lithuania to help her communicate with clients, and she would like to learn Lithuanian as well, as she says she sees it as a language she needs. "I have been asked many times if I like Lithuania, and for a long time I said it was safe. For me, it was the most important thing, because my children don't have to see the war, they don't have to hear the shooting, they don't have to sleep in the basement, and there is a terrible tragedy happening in my house right now, which shouldn't be happening. I am grateful for all the help that has been given to us, and I am happy to see the Ukrainian flags - it is very supportive. I really hope that we will be able to return home, that my home will not be destroyed, but for now we have to wait here where it is safe," says Liudmila.
The English language training courses organised by IOM Lithuania were delivered by specialists from the Baltic International School. The training was held in 24 groups of 40 hours each and participants could improve their existing knowledge or learn basic English.  
IOM Lithuania has been actively providing assistance to war refugees since the beginning of the war in Ukraine. An emotional support line for Ukrainians has been running since October. Every day from 10 am to 8 pm, professional psychologists provide counselling in Ukrainian and Russian. In September and March, training was organised for psychologists and psychiatrists from Ukraine to help Ukrainians. Cash allowances are also provided to ensure basic needs.