Ukrainian Women in Denmark and Czechia Speak Out on Social System Shortcomings

The Hidden Struggles of Ukrainian Emigrants in Europe

According to Главком: Yuliia Padnevych, a Ukrainian student and mother raising her son in Denmark, has voiced frustration over flaws in the country’s social welfare system. She points out that Danish educational institutions enforce strict attendance policies, allowing very few absences. This rigid approach directly impacts academic performance and family stability. When a child falls ill, parents are permitted only two days off, often forcing them into difficult situations.

“Do children in Denmark even have the right to be sick? When I first moved here, I thought yes. Denmark talks a lot about balance, care, family, and a comfortable life. But the reality turned out to be different,” said Yuliia Padnevych.

She explained that frequent child illness quickly begins to affect education and stability. “You get the first day of your child’s sickness, maybe a second day at most, and then the system essentially hints: solve your own problem,” she added.

Padnevych also described how some parents bring sick children to daycare. “Kids are taken to kindergarten with runny noses and coughs after sleepless nights. Sometimes parents give them paracetamol in the morning just so they can get through the day. This isn’t because parents don’t care-it’s because they’re caught between work, studies, the fear of losing their reputation as reliable employees, and a complete lack of support,” she noted.

She emphasized that without her husband’s help, balancing education and childcare would be nearly impossible. “Honestly, if it weren’t for my husband, studying in Denmark would be extremely hard, because when a child is sick, it’s inconvenient for the system,” she said.

Other Ukrainians Share Their Experiences

Another Ukrainian woman, Alona, who relocated to Czechia in 2021, has also encountered challenges in her new home. Her main obstacle is the language barrier, which complicates integration into Czech society.

Both Yuliia and Alona highlight the difficulties Ukrainians face when emigrating to European countries, particularly regarding social systems and language hurdles. Their stories illustrate the real-world challenges for migrants, especially around parenting and settling into a new environment. Support systems for parents who work or study need improvement to better address the unpredictable needs of families. This issue is becoming increasingly urgent amid global mobility and ongoing migration trends.

As the challenges faced by Ukrainian families in Denmark become increasingly evident, it's essential to recognize that similar struggles occur in other European countries. For instance, one Ukrainian woman recounts her experience of starting anew in the Czech Republic, highlighting the unique obstacles she encountered while adapting to a different social system. To learn more about her journey and the broader context of Ukrainian emigrants' lives in Europe, read about her experiences starting over in the Czech Republic.