UNICEF UK Ambassador Tom Hiddleston has travelled to Moldova to see firsthand how UNICEF is supporting Ukrainian refugee children and families who have fled the war. In a video diary released today, Tom documents his visit to Chișinău, where he met children and their mothers who were forced to leave their homes following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
A UNICEF film from Tom Hiddleston’s trip will be shown during Soccer Aid for UNICEF, where Tom will also play, returning for his third appearance in the match. The match will be broadcast on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player at 5pm on Sunday 31 May.
During his visit, Tom spent time in UNICEF supported schools and education centres set up specifically for Ukrainian refugee children, including early years and primary age settings. He saw children dancing, studying online, learning languages and making music – everyday activities taking place in UNICEF led spaces designed to help children feel safe and supported.
At the UNICEF funded Divertis Day Centre in Chișinău, Tom met nine-year-old Milana and her mother Yulia, who fled Ukraine after the war reached their home city of Kherson. At the centre, Milana continues her Ukrainian curriculum online while taking part in music, dance and psychosocial activities, helping her feel safe and connected after months of displacement.
Reflecting on the children and families that he met Tom said:
“My overwhelming impression of the day really is the extraordinary contrast. The contrast between the light, joy, playfulness, energy and spirit of the children that I met today and the depth of the pain and the descriptions of struggle and difficulty that those children’s mothers and caregivers have told me about.”
He added:
“They’re thriving, they’re learning, they’re free, they’re imaginative and they feel safe and they seem like happy children.”
The full-scale invasion of Ukraine took place in February 2022, and it triggered one of the largest displacement crises in Europe in recent history, with around 9.7 million people currently displaced from their homes in search of safety. Neighbouring countries, including Moldova, opened their borders to families escaping the conflict.
Since then, UNICEF has been working continuously to support displaced children, providing safe spaces where they can learn, play and begin to recover, alongside education support, psychosocial care and assistance for families rebuilding their lives in displacement.
Throughout the visit, Tom also heard firsthand accounts from mothers about the danger, uncertainty and courage involved in fleeing Ukraine, often leaving with little idea of where they would find shelter or support.
Tom said:
“The mothers have recounted the immense difficulty that they have endured and the extraordinary circumstances they’ve found themselves in – the struggles they’ve overcome to protect their children and get them to safety.”
Reflecting on UNICEF’s ongoing support, Tom added:
“These children have come from an environment of extraordinary danger, at great risk to their lives, and there are structures and resources in place that UNICEF has provided to keep these children safe, so that they can be children and have a childhood.”
He continued:
“This trip to Moldova has brought home to me the realities of those costs. It’s been a privilege to meet these children, to meet these families and mothers and to hear their stories and to see what a difference this work makes.”
Philip Goodwin, UNICEF UK CEO, said:
“Tom Hiddleston’s visit to Moldova shows that for children forced to flee the war in Ukraine, the crisis is an ongoing reality. Years on, many children are still living far from home, trying to learn, grow and feel safe after everything they have experienced.
“Through UNICEF supported schools, safe spaces and protection services, we are helping children rebuild stability amid displacement, but this work depends on sustained support.
“Soccer Aid for UNICEF plays a vital role in making that possible. For two decades, it has helped turn public generosity into practical support for children affected by conflict and crisis, giving them the chance to be safe, to learn and to have the childhood they deserve.”
Tickets for the game are on sale now via socceraid.org.uk/tickets – adult tickets from £20 and juniors from £10. Tickets include access to a pre-game ‘Fan Zone’.
Donations can be made ahead of the match at socceraid.org.uk/donate
