Sofia Khvashchinskaia, 9-year-old Russian refugee, a small model of successful integration

From Moscow to Angoulême logically

Back in 2019. The family decides to leave Russia and its capital. “We didn’t see a future for our daughter given the political context,” the mother soberly summarizes in perfectly understandable French, which she keeps apologizing for being “so bad”. Angoulême is surprisingly simply chosen. Sacha worked for several years as an ambassador for Rémy Martin in Russia. A professional actor, he also played in Angoulême, with François Cluzet during the filming of the film “Le collar rouge”. “It was pretty obvious in the end. »

If they still love Charente, it is no longer El Dorado. In the land of the tsars, he was an actor. She, public relations manager. “We knew that we would lose our standard of living financially. Our two jobs were based on perfect mastery of the language. Today, we need to get closer to Paris to work more. » They will go to Rouen.

For Sofia, the adaptation was rather obvious in Angoulême. After a year, the little one learned to read. Which does not prevent the mockery of certain comrades. “In the senior section, two boys called me a baby because I didn’t speak French. One day I responded to them by sucking my thumb and saying I was a big baby. They never bothered me again.”

Sofia à The Voice Kids ?

From this story, she drew her first piece of music “Criminelle”, which she wrote herself. She participated in the sound arrangements. For the world of music, she exchanged her Russian surname for a simpler name: Sophia Perle. “Criminelle” is now on Deezer, Spotify or Youtube. “I wanted to show all the little girls that you shouldn’t let them push you around. When a boy in the yard refuses to let you play football, you have to play anyway.” She now hopes to sign up for The Voice Kids.

War proves to us that this is the right choice.

At school she is one of the best in her class. Alexandra Silvestre, the school’s director, is full of praise. “It’s a great little family. Sofia is an excellent student, both in terms of work and attitude.”

Russia’s attack on Ukraine in the winter of 2022 could have changed everything. “We were afraid of being misjudged. But it went very well and the war proves to us that we made the right choice.” The little girl, whose Russian accent is not noticeable, would not say otherwise. During the hour-long interview, she devoured four slices of galettes. “French cuisine is great!”