Solomiia Makovska: From Refugee to School Leader in Czechia
Starting in July 2024, Solomiia Makovska, a Ukrainian who fled to the Czech Republic with her one-year-old son after the full-scale invasion began, will lead a Christian school in the city of Jihlava. She is set to become the youngest school principal in the country and the first Ukrainian to hold such a position. In just four years, she has gone from being a displaced person to the head of an educational institution.
Makovska is a Ukrainian citizen. She was living in Stryi, in the Lviv region, when the full-scale war broke out. Upon arriving in Czechia, her son was only a year old. Her first job there involved assisting refugee children at a social center. Trained as an English teacher, she passed a Czech language exam at the C1 level this year—a key milestone in her career advancement.
Challenges and Achievements
The selection process for the principal position took nearly six months. After the results were announced, a wave of negative comments appeared online due to her Ukrainian background. Despite this, Makovska won the regional Teacher of Vysočina-2024 competition and received a Global Teacher Prize Czech Republic award for her international educational projects.
Solomiia Makovska: 'I see this as a professional challenge. I now carry a huge responsibility as the youngest school principal in the Czech Republic. And secondly, I am the first Ukrainian in this role.'
The school she will lead is a Christian institution serving students from first to ninth grade. It includes specialized classes for children with special educational needs. Makovska has expressed her desire to prove that Ukrainians are committed to contributing to Czech society, stating: 'I see it as my mission to show everyone that we truly want to be useful to this country.'
In Ukraine, the Cabinet of Ministers has allocated 6.6 billion hryvnias across 24 regional budgets. This news underscores the importance of supporting educational initiatives and developing schools during challenging times. Solomiia Makovska stands as a powerful example of achieving success and pursuing ambitions despite difficult circumstances.
Her journey reflects broader trends of migration and integration among Ukrainians abroad, particularly in the context of the war in Ukraine. Her success symbolizes resilience and adaptation, potentially inspiring other displaced individuals to seek new opportunities in foreign countries. The rise of such figures can enhance intercultural dialogue and foster greater understanding between Ukrainian and Czech communities.