For the third year in a row, children in Ukraine will begin the school year under martial law. Days will be spent learning in bomb shelters converted into classrooms, with generator-supplied heat, light and power.
In some parts of the country, classes resume earlier than usual, due to power supply and other issues. But many children are eager to return to the safety of the classroom and the company of their instructors and peers. Schools have been a haven for children throughout the crisis, providing hot meals, warmth, and security.
Over the past many weeks, our staff and volunteers worked tirelessly to ensure children are prepared for the new year. They distributed bright colored backpacks filled with school supplies of all types. Gift cards for new clothes and shoes were given to families who can barely afford food and housing.
We have also been working hard to ensure teachers and other education professionals have the support they need to provide mental health services to children who have endured so much. New courses have been developed and training is provided at locations around the country.
The education curriculum was updated, and many more materials were translated from Russian to Ukrainian. Programs and activities have been added to keep children engaged and to address the emotional and mental health issues that abound.
We look forward to welcoming kids and their families back to the schoolhouses to begin another year of learning. We hope and pray that next year at this time there will be peace in Ukraine and around the world.
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