We are a British-Ukrainian non-profit organisation that provides free lessons of English to Ukrainian children affected by the war.
Our students are children who have lost their homes as a result of missile attacks or fled their home towns after russian occupation. Those whose parents are serving in the Ukrainian armed forces or have lost their parents.
After Russia's full-scale invasion, the Ukrainian education system faced massive challenges. Hundreds of schools have been completely ruined, damaged, or are located in the occupied towns. Millions of families have been displaced within the country. Thousands of teachers have evacuated abroad. The lessons are often interrupted by air raid alerts when teachers and children have to go to shelters.
Due to a shortage of staff and financing, Ukrainian schools struggle to provide quality teaching. Especially in small towns. Parents/carers lost their jobs. Thousands of children have parents in the army or have lost a parent in the war. These families can't afford any additional paid courses or tutors for their children.
Having become refugees who arrived in the UK after a full-scale invasion, we understand more than ever that the knowledge of English is extremely important in the modern world. It is essential for children's future.
And they can't wait for better times. Their education can't wait.
'According to the latest survey data, up to 57% of teachers report a deterioration in students’ Ukrainian language abilities, up to 45% report a reduction in mathematics skills, and up to 52% report a reduction in foreign language abilities'.
Unicef. August 2023
