Angelina Jolie makes surprise Ukraine visit, meets children

Category: Top Stories

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. displaced / dɪsˈpleɪst / (adj.) – having been forced to leave one’s home because of war or a disaster
    Example:

    The displaced typhoon victims are now staying at a temporary shelter.


  2. sustain / səˈsteɪn / (v.) – to experience something bad, such as an injury or damage
    Example:

    Vincent sustained an ankle injury during his training.


  3. deliberately / dɪˈlɪb ər ɪt li / (adv.) – relating to an action that was done intentionally
    Example:

    Anton deliberately parked in front of our gate to annoy our dad.


  4. offensive / əˈfɛn sɪv / (n.) – a military attack done by large forces
    Example:

    The government’s military troops launched an offensive against rebel groups.


  5. counseling / ˈkaʊn sə lɪŋ / (n.) – the act of giving advice or support to someone dealing with problems
    Example:

    The counseling sessions I went through helped me resolve my trust issues.


Article

Read the text below.

Hollywood actress and U.N. humanitarian Angelina Jolie made a surprise visit to the western Ukrainian city of Lviv on Saturday, the Lviv regional governor said on Telegram.


According to Maksym Kozytskyy, Jolie — who has been a UNHCR Special Envoy for Refugees since 2011 — had come to speak with displaced people who have found refuge in Lviv, including children undergoing treatment for injuries sustained in the missile strike on the Kramatorsk railway station in early April.


The attack in the eastern Ukrainian city appeared to deliberately target a crowd of mostly women and children trying to flee a looming Russian offensive, killing at least 52 and wounding dozens more.


“She was very moved by (the children’s) stories,” Kozytskyy wrote. “One girl was even able to privately tell Ms. Jolie about a dream she’d had.”


He said Jolie also visited a boarding school, talked with students and took photos with them, adding “she promised she would come again.”


According to Kozytskyy, Jolie also met with evacuees arriving at Lviv’s central railway station, as well as with Ukrainian volunteers providing the new arrivals with medical help and counseling.


“The visit was a surprise to us all,” he wrote. “Plenty of people who saw Ms. Jolie in the Lviv region could not believe that it was really her. But since Feb. 24, Ukraine has shown the entire world that there are plenty of incredible things here.”


This article was provided by The Associated Press.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • Do you think all celebrities should use their fame and influence to help humanitarian causes? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • Jolie has been a UNHCR Special Envoy for Refugees since 2011. Do you think it’s really helpful for organizations or charities to partner up with celebrities or famous figures? Why or why not? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • If you were Jolie, what would you say to the victims of war that you visited? Discuss.
  • If you were someone influential like Jolie, how would you use your influence to help victims of humanitarian crises (ex. create art/stories to raise awareness, feature videos about the victims)? Discuss.