STANWOOD, Wash. — Summer camp is a world away from Mia Utchenko's war-torn home in Ukraine.
She and her mother Svitlana came to Snohomish County 20 months ago to escape the violence - leaving their entire family behind.
The 9-year-old remembers having to hide from the daily rocket assaults on her hometown.
"I had to hide behind walls away from the windows because they could break from the bombs," Utchenko said. "You could hear them."
Utchenko could not go to school in Ukraine. She could not even go outside and play.
But that is all changing.
Utchenko is one of 70 Ukrainian children taking part in a free summer camp put on by the YMCA of Snohomish County and Volunteers of America Western Washington (VOAWW). It's a place where she can play games, run outside and just be a silly little girl.
But most important for Utchenko is, "friends," she said, with a wide smile across her face.
Friends are something that helps Utchenko heal the wounds of war.
"She doesn't feel like she's alone or can't communicate with other children," said Svitlana, Utchenko's mother. "She's happy."
There are about 25,000 Ukrainian refugees in Washington. Three thousand are in Snohomish County. Most of the refugees are children.
All of those kids need a normal childhood.
Utchenko left everything she knew behind. She came to a foreign country not knowing the language, culture, or a single person.
"It's heartbreaking for a mom," said Galina Volchkova, a family support specialist with VOAWW.
Volchkova came to America from Ukraine 24 years ago and believes this camp is a significant step toward helping refugee families rebuild their lives.
"Having the peace of mind that the children are okay is huge. That's one stressor that's gone away," Volchkova said. "See the children smile and everything else will come together after that."
Utchenko's mom said little by little her daughter is forgetting the horrors she experienced in Ukraine.
Those painful memories are slowly being replaced with happy ones of summer camp and friendships.
Just like any other kid.