Olena Chyzhevska

A young Ukrainian girl, who arrived in the UK with “only a few belongings and an ocean of fears,” has found a home and a passion for acting.

And now Olena Chyzhevska has been put forward for the Child of Courage award, sponsored by De Vere Wokefield Estate.

Olena was born in Ukraine in Lviv, far from the front line but which still suffered missile attacks. Her family were determined to stay until the full-scale war began in 2022. After another wave of explosions they made the difficult decision to leave.

“A wonderful family” welcomed them into their home, where they stayed for nine months. “They helped us adapt and were a source of support in that uncertain time,” said Olena. Just as things began to settle, she was diagnosed with a serious neurological condition, brought on by stress but which has thankfully responded to treatment.

Olena joined the Reading Ukrainian School Lastivka in September 2022 and won one of the lead roles in their traditional Ukrainian Christmas Nativity play, performing in front of over 100 members of the Reading Ukrainian community and their British friends – and it was a great success.

In 2024, she returned as a volunteer teaching assistant helping children improve their reading and develop strong communication and teaching skills through that work.

She now goes to King’s Academy Prospect having overcome the language barrier from scratch and proud of how far she has come in English and French.

She chose drama for her GCSEs to face her fear of performing, and it worked, this year performing with classmates at Reading Rep Theatre an experience she will never forget and which made her realise theatre was not just a hobby, but something she wants to pursue.

In her free time, she plays basketball with friends and board games with her younger brother.

And deep in her heart she says,”I carry a bright, stubborn hope for something better.”