SPOTLIGHT ON IVAN HALAICHUK - IBDP student 

Ivan Halaichuk arrived from Ukraine in May 2022. Within a short span, he found himself immersed in an entirely unfamiliar setting, needing to swiftly acclimate despite limited English proficiency and no grasp of French. We are incredibly proud of his journey at Montgomery International School. His enthusiasm, determination, and positivity are truly commendable. 

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What were the circumstances under which you arrived in Brussels?

I was sent from Ukraine after 2 weeks when the war started. A friend of my mother’s told her that she had people in Europe who could host us for a bit, my parents were extremely scared for us (my younger brother and I) because at any moment a missile could land on our house, and we would be injured or even worse. I still remember how I was sleeping, it was like 5 am, and I had to wake in a few minutes to get ready for my swimming training, instead of hearing the morning alarm, I woke up from screaming, and everybody running into my room and saying that the war started. My heart went down to my toes, and the worst happened. A moment later I went back to my bed, in panic. 30 seconds later, I flew out of bed, I was also sleeping on a bed which was close to the windows, thanks to the thick glass it didn't break that easily. The missile landed 500 meters away from my house.

Until the very last day, I had no clue I was headed to Brussels. It was all a mystery until I had to buy tickets, and then it finally dawned on me that we were going there. And what's interesting is that our initial plan was just to stay with someone for a few weeks and then return home. Yet, here I am, almost two years later, still away from home. I miss my dog, Batman, terribly. I didn't even get the chance to say a proper goodbye to my family and pets back then. However, recently, my dad and older brother were granted permission to visit me outside the country, and it was a heartwarming reunion. In December 2023, we were all able to come together again, just like back in Ukraine. Even my brother from the US and his wife managed to join us in Budapest. I didn't mention it before, but we are seven in the family.(Iryna, Bohdan, Maria, Petro, Pavlo, Ivan, Andrii), also, my girlfriend Lena joined us for this family trip. Those were truly the best holidays ever. Looking back, I wish I had appreciated certain things sooner. But as they say, "It's only when we experience loss or separation that we realize how important something was to us."

When did you start at EIM? Why did you choose EIM? 

In May 2022, I started with EIM, not just as a student, but diving into a lively learning experience. I officially joined the DP course in September 2022, showing my loyalty to both practising and serious education.

I didn't choose EIM personally, and I am very grateful to my host family who spent their time and nerves researching. The reasons why EIM was chosen are probably that it's an English school, it is small in size, and the people are in there are extremely lovely and kind. They didn't just accept me, they also helped me financially. I want to thank them for going above and beyond.

Did you know any English when you first started?

No, I didn't know English at first. I mean I could say some basic stuff like "I'm Ivan from Ukraine, and I'm something years old," but anything more than this was really hard and stressful for me. In the beginning, it was difficult to communicate with anybody in the school and within my host family. Nowadays I can speak english, and I dont really feel a discomfort, since then English has been my primary language.

How was it adapting to a new school system, a new language, a new culture? 

Adjusting to a new school system, language, and culture was a bit tough for me. Though, people's mindset here is not drastically different from what I'm used to in Ukraine, but there were some small variations. Even though these differences didn't make me uncomfortable. When it comes to language, I didn't know they spoke French, and they use like three different languages. Surprisingly, I always wanted to learn French, and EIM gave me the chance to do that, now I’m able to speak French just a little bit.

It's worth mentioning that the last time I paid attention in Ukraine was in grade 7 (we go up to grade 11), because I was completely focused on my swimming career, and I thought that education is less important than swimming. When I joined EIM, I had no knowledge of even the simplest things, like 2 times 0 is zero. I still feel the consequences of not knowing the simplest stuff, and often I can seem like a fool.

How did the teachers, staff and students of EIM help you with your integration?

The teachers, staff, and students at EIM played a pivotal role in helping me integrate, everybody in the school was extremely kind to me. The teachers at EIM are fantastic. They constantly motivated me to improve, and whenever I needed assistance, they were there for me. They made sure to involve me in class activities, and I never felt like I didn't belong. Initially, I wasn't following the DP curriculum, but they provided me with MYP 1-2 materials to work on. My classmates have been essential from the start. They helped me understand the basics, from using a laptop to navigating different platforms and uploading files. Learning from them made the process much more enjoyable. Without their support, just studying all the time would have been overwhelming for me.

How long did it take you to feel comfortable in English?

It took me about 5 or more months to start feeling more comfortable in English, mainly after I began DP1 in September 2022. The school environment, along with spending time with my host family and spending time with my girlfriend, played a huge role in rapidly improving my language skills. When I started DP2, the learning environment became so much easier, I still remember how impossible it was for me to learn biology, I could not get any sentence Mr. Oscar Waters would say. Although I still face some small challenges, especially when delving into philosophical perspectives in TOK classes, anyway I have an excellent TOK teacher who will always help me. My overall proficiency has seen a significant boost since the beginning. Now, I can achieve good results, and I'm continuously making progress in mastering the language.

I understand you participated at the Reykjavik Global Forum - could you tell us about the forum, and your experience?

The Reykjavík Global Forum – Women Leaders, launched in 2018, is an annual gathering for women leaders across various sectors. With the mission to empower women in leadership, the forum discusses ideas and solutions for advancing equality. The 2023 forum focused on the theme "Power, Together for Leadership," covering topics like digital technology, the future of cities, and the Reykjavik Index measuring gender equality. Co-hosted by the Government of Iceland and the Parliament, the event drew over 500 participants from 80 countries. It serves as a platform for leaders to share best practices and solutions for achieving gender parity.

I had the incredible opportunity to attend the Reykjavík Global Forum with my host mother, Silvana Koch Mehrin, who happens to be the President of WPL. Thanks to her, doors to extraordinary experiences swung open for me. I found myself in the company of renowned and highly respected individuals, attending private meetings where I contributed as a note-taker or simply assisted by ensuring everything was in order, from offering water to managing microphones on the scene.

The chance to make meaningful connections was great, and I even had the honor of chatting with the President of Iceland. Personally thanking him for the support extended to Ukraine was a moment of honest appreciation. This experience not only widened my network but also allowed me to play a small but vital role in the behind the-scenes workings of such a prestigious event.

You were also accepted at the 2023 Yale Young Global Scholars Programme, could you please tell us about your experience? What did you learn?

I went to Yale to attend the Yale Young Global Scholars Programme in the summer of 2023, I chose one out of four programmes, which was Solving Global Challenges (SGC). This program helps find new ways to solve big problems affecting the world. It brings together different subjects like science, social studies, and the arts to tackle issues like health, equality, poverty, and the environment. Students learn to think critically, solve problems, and be creative to make a positive impact on global challenges

During this program I have met so many friends, I still have them all on my Snapchat and Instagram. Today I actively talk to my roommates, we have a group chat where we ask questions or just share some funny posts on social media. What I liked there is the diversity of people there, everybody is so interesting and different.

It was an amazing experience living on the Yale campus, I would never thought I would be there, not even for a visit. The feeling of walking around such an iconic place, which I had only seen in movies, was truly breathtaking.

There I was able to keep doing sports, as you may know in the USA they like sports. On the Yale campus, they had a sports gym, where could I freely go and also spend some time with my fellows. I was also recommended to the national swimming coach in the USA, who provided me an opportunity to join the Yale swimming club, they kindly welcomed me in, and we had a few sessions together.

One of the biggest things I learned there was how to solve problems by looking at them differently. This was something our teachers and the IB program taught us. Even though I sometimes felt a gap among such smart students, Yale only accepts the best, the experience helped me grow.

During those two weeks, we had lots of presentations, which helped me feel more confident even when I was stressed. There was a project called the "Capstone Project," where we worked together to study topics that affect countries' economies and look at the ethical issues involved. It was a great learning experience that improved my problem-solving skills and understanding of important global issues.

Finally, as part of the GWL Voices Dialogue Programme, you qualified to be the note-taker and youth rapporteur in one of the panels of a conference. Could you please tell us more about your experience? What was the topic of the conversation? What were your impressions?

I was one of the note-takers and youth reporters during this conference hosted in Madrid, Spain. The conference itself was two days, but I was there only for one day because I had to visit the university that I may go to to study. There I got the opportunity to see in real life some very important people such as:

• Ms Sahle-Work Zewde - President of Ethiopia,
• Mr Pedro Sánchez - President of Spain,
• Ms Hillary Clinton - Former Secretary of State of the United States,
• Tarja Halonen- Former President of Finland

Tarja Halonen and I even became close friends, I liked her as a person, and I would never thought that such a person could be so open and funny. She is an extremely smart woman. I was a note-taker in a session where she participated. (I have a picture with her)

I took notes from a session “ Women in Politics: What’s Wrong?”
This discussion focuses on women's political participation, analyzing progress and ongoing challenges. Leaders, analysts, and activists will discuss barriers like violence, bias, resource access, and cultural norms. They'll explore opportunities to enhance women's roles in politics.

Participants:

• Cristina Gallach - GWL Voices
• Tarja Halonen - GWL Voices
• Silvana Koch-Mehrin - Women Political Leaders
• Sahle-Work Zewde - President of Ethiopia

The conversation highlighted how few women are in top political positions, with over 90% of presidents and prime ministers being men. It stressed that while there has been some progress, there are still big challenges to overcome. Participants talked about the need for policies that consider gender differences. They said having more women in politics could lead to better education and healthcare. But they also talked about the tough realities women face, like online and physical aggression. Overall, they agreed on the importance of supporting women leaders and tackling gender inequality in politics to make things better.I also asked them the question “Do you think that an increase in the representation of women in politics could potentially reduce the number of wars?”, Their response was satisfactory and met my expectations. When more women are involved in politics, there's a better chance of having less war. This is because women usually prefer peace. So, if there are more women making decisions, conflicts might decrease.

It seems that you actively participate in women's rights movements. What strategies do you believe can enhance the presence of women in politics or positions of power? Additionally, in your opinion, how can men play a role in advancing gender equality?

I believe that to help more women get into politics and positions of power, we can:

• We should encourage and help women who want to enter politics. It's also important for men to lend their support. In a session, a woman mentioned how her female friends' encouragement motivated her to join politics. This shows how women can empower each other, and it's a reminder that everyone, regardless of gender, can make a difference by offering support.
• Make rules that ensure there are enough women in political roles, and I would always go for equality, so 50/50.
• Fight against the unfair treatment of women in politics, bring it up, talk about it, and help the victims. ⅙ women leave politics permanently after a bad experience due to sexism, misogyny, etc.
• Make it easier for women to balance work and family life.
• Talk and show more examples of successful women leaders.

As for men, they can:

• Speak up for gender equality and challenge unfair ideas about women. If men won't talk and bring up, gender equality will never be a thing in this world, as the majority of politics is controlled by men,
• Support women leaders and make sure their voices are heard. Support not just from men, but all human beings
• Listen to women's experiences and take action to make things better.
• Create fair opportunities for everyone in workplaces and communities.
• Share responsibilities at home and treat everyone equally.

According to you, what makes EIM education special? What are the school’s strengths?

I believe that our school's size is what truly sets it apart. It strikes the perfect balance—not too small, not too big, though some may argue it's now on the smaller side. The strength of our education lies in the remarkable staff. Our teachers are not only incredibly intelligent but also remarkably compassionate. They're not just educators; they're confidants who lend a sympathetic ear and give advice. In this nurturing environment, I feel a genuine connection with them; they're like older friends whom I'm certain I'll keep in touch with long after graduation.

Moreover, our school stands out for its diverse range of activities, from educational visits to exciting trips, for example, the trips to Paris or Barcelona. These experiences allow us to explore different places and engage with different cultures and people, broadening our horizons in ways beyond the classroom. The warmth and kindness of the school staff further enhance these experiences, creating an atmosphere of positivity and inclusivity.

Additionally, our school's passion for certain rules, such as enforcing deadlines with detentions, instils valuable lessons in respect and accountability. It teaches us the importance of punctuality and reinforces the dedication of our teachers.

Ultimately, what makes our school truly exceptional is its responsiveness to student needs. Whether it's a request or a suggestion, our school ensures that student voices are heard and valued, fostering a sense of empowerment and community among all of us.

Finally, what are your plans for the future?

Huh! A new chapter in my life is unfolding, perhaps even more exciting than returning to study. I have applied to the course at KU Leuven University “European Studies”, I really like the idea of the course, and it is something that I'm looking forward to. The programme is basically about studying the fundamental aspects and values of the European Union as well as European states and societies.

I recently earned my driver's license, and now my girlfriend and I are planning a three-week road camping trip. This journey has been a dream of mine since childhood, as I've always been a huge fan of camping and hiking. While I've had a taste of camping, like my unforgettable experience on a Croatian island last summer, I've yet to fully immerse myself in these outdoor adventures.

Looking back, I wish I had explored camping and hiking more during my time in Ukraine, but swimming consumed most of my focus. Nonetheless, I'm thrilled about the upcoming road trip and the chance to finally delve into my passions. Following that, I'll likely join my host family on a month-long trip, possibly exploring the Balkan countries.

And the excitement doesn't end there! I'm hopeful that I'll have the opportunity to fly to the USA for a WPL summit and reunite with my older brother, who has been living there for the past six years. These upcoming adventures promise to be filled with exciting experiences and cherished memories, before starting studying at a university.