Educational direction

The educational initiative was launched in the summer in response to the social challenges in education caused by two years of occupation in eastern Ukraine. Local communities faced an urgent need for development.

Since then, the initiative has provided comprehensive support to educators, civil society representatives, and local authorities. Over this time, we have implemented human rights-based projects and global education practices in 45 educational institutions across the Luhansk region. These efforts are continuously reinforced through additional activities, training sessions, expert counseling, and methodological and material support.

That same year, we established a network of activity centers in frontline settlements.

Our team launched the annual Opinion Festival, an intellectual platform for discussing socially important issues. Open to all, the event encourages debate and meaningful dialogue with quality feedback. It brings together opinion leaders, government representatives, public sector actors, and the international community to discuss key aspects of life in Ukraine.

We transformed the Opinion Festival into a school event by organizing a scientifically practical game called “Model UN in the Luhansk region.” This game allows schoolchildren to simulate Assembly meetings, where they act as delegates representing world countries. It provides an opportunity to learn about decision-making processes and address the most pressing global issues.

During the game, participants discussed critical topics such as violations of children’s rights, financial literacy, and the responsibilities of teachers during the educational process.

We organized thematic conferences for educators as part of the “Global Education – Knowing Human Rights” project in the Luhansk region and “School – the Territory of Human Rights” in various locations, including Lviv, Shepytivka, Nova Kakhovka, Zolotonosha, Kryvyi Rih, Khmelnytskyi, and Drohobych. Additionally, we hosted a youth conference titled “I Know! I Act! I Change!”.

We also organized the Education Fest, which took place in the format of discussion platforms focused on pressing educational issues. Furthermore, we held the third scientific and practical conference “Model UN in the Luhansk region”, provided European lessons for middle school students, and conducted a series of training sessions.

We continued to implement various educational projects, including the Human Rights School: The Right to Be a Human Rights Defender training for activists. Additionally, we conducted a series of training and online sessions as part of the “Together: Strengthening Self-Governance Capacity in Frontline Settlements of the Luhansk Region” course for authorities and NGOs from 12 communities in the Luhansk region.

In October and April 2020, we launched a project to engage volunteer teachers in schools across the Luhansk region (Novotoshkivka, Triokhizbenka, and Shchastia) to address severe staff shortages in educational institutions located near the contact line.

Additionally, we introduced the “Human Rights Education for Schools in the Luhansk Region” project, aimed at encouraging educational institutions to adopt human rights and democracy-based approaches in school management and the organization of the educational process.

We organized a training session and conference, “Human Rights Education for Schools in the Luhansk Region,” in Sievierodonetsk, where school teams focused on creating a learning environment where respect for human rights principles is central to teacher-student relationships. In May, we continued with thematic events for the project participants, providing further training and support.

In April, we launched the first youth educational camp, “The Power of Diversity,” aimed at fostering social cohesion, national unity, and expanding interregional cooperation. The camp’s key topics included anti-discrimination, human rights, and equality. A second camp was held in November, where participants learned communication strategy fundamentals and developed concepts for joint projects that could be implemented across different regions.

We conducted training sessions at the International School of Human Rights for activists from Ukraine and Belarus.

To address key issues hindering the growth of public participation initiatives, we organized a roundtable discussion on “Challenges of Public Budget Formation and Implementation in Kherson.” Participants explored obstacles and potential solutions to improve the budgeting process.

We also held an online training, “From Idea to Change: Advocacy for Civil Society Organizations,” designed for Ukrainian civil society representatives. The session covered core principles and strategies for advocacy campaigns, analyzed both successful and unsuccessful cases, and identified the most effective tools for protecting public interests.

In July, we gathered local activists from Odesa for the Youth in Politics school, where they explored ways to engage in democratic processes at the local level and learned how to develop and implement their own political projects and initiatives.

In November, we launched the “Global Education – Knowing Human Rights” project in five schools across the Luhansk region. Teachers, parents, and school administrators practiced applying a human rights-based approach to community development and organizing the educational process.

That same month, we hosted the 5th anniversary Model UN scientific and practical conference in Sievierodonetsk.

In 2021, our educational initiatives expanded with a new project supporting two communities in the Luhansk region. This initiative focused on democratic development, participatory planning, and improving dialogue between local authorities and self-governing bodies.

Additionally, in collaboration with trainers and participants from the “From Conflict to Dialogue” training program, we developed the “I Can” manual. This guide provides practical recommendations for managing stress and resolving conflicts, including techniques and exercises to strengthen coping skills in challenging situations.

We conducted a four-day training session, “Development of Teachers’ Digital Literacy,” for educators from the Luhansk region.

We participated in the educational youth camp “The Power of Diversity” in Uzhhorod, which brought together representatives of the Roma and Jewish communities, the LGBT+ community, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and those working with these groups.

As part of the “Global Education – Knowing Human Rights” project, we held local training sessions in three educational institutions in the Luhansk region. These sessions focused on students’ and teachers’ perspectives on school-related challenges, effective communication, and fostering a learning environment grounded in human rights principles.

Additionally, we organized the “Summer School for Educators 2022” within the “Global Education – Knowing Human Rights” project, where participants reflected on the war’s impact on education.

In November, we held the VI All-Ukrainian Scientific and Practical Conference “Model UN” online. Over two days, representatives from 10 Ukrainian schools gathered to present statements, draft documents, and vote for the best delegates. Key discussion topics included “Creating a Post-War Economic Assistance Program for Ukraine” and “Reforming the UN Charter.”

Additionally, we conducted webinars on the protection of civilians in armed conflict and children’s rights during war.

In collaboration with the informal Coalition of Organizations Working to Protect the Rights of Victims of Armed Aggression, we helped develop a free online course, “What Should an Internally Displaced Person Know?” on the Prometheus platform. This course provides internally displaced persons (IDPs) with essential information on their rights, available opportunities, and key issues related to healthcare, education, and integration.

We also organized webinars for educators, including “Techniques for Dealing with Stress and Anxiety for Adults and Children: A Workshop” and “Identity of ‘I Am Human’ and ‘I Am Teacher’ in the Context of War: My Resources and Opportunities.”

We launched the School Up project, bringing together representatives from 35 schools and 10 universities across the Dnipro, Lviv, Chernihiv, Zhytomyr, and Luhansk regions. Within the initiative, educators participated in professional training sessions, developed psychosocial support skills, and received supervisory consultations. Our team also equipped schools with technical resources to enhance the learning environment. The educational course was developed by international and Ukrainian experts, teachers, trainers, and psychologists.

Additionally, we introduced the “Educational Meetings” initiative—a series of lectures, psychological sessions, and workshops for teachers. This project provides psycho-emotional support, fosters professional communication, and strengthens the skills of frontline educators. It equips them to navigate the challenges of blended and online learning formats, ensuring adaptability in the evolving educational process.

We have become a partner in teacher professional development on the Edway platform. Educators who complete our training sessions receive certificates of professional development with ECTS credits (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System).

Additionally, we launched the “Grow” project—a program designed to empower activists and public organizations in Ukraine. It provides valuable resources and training through a series of educational webinars led by experts from the Institute of Leadership and Management of the Ukrainian Catholic University.

We also presented the report “De-Occupied Territories of Ukraine: Results of Visits to Educational Institutions”, which is based on 24 monitoring visits to schools in the Donetsk, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Sumy, Kherson, and Mykolaiv regions.

In July and August, our team, in partnership with MTÜ Mondo, organized Easy Camp in Zakarpattia to help 150 children from the Zaporizhzhia region recover from educational losses. Later in autumn, we presented a report on the project’s outcomes, which includes: an analysis of changes in skill levels and interest in core subjects among participants, insights into their emotional transformations during the camp, and feedback on their overall experience.

Additionally, our educational team is planning a retreat for IDP educators, a catch-up camp for schoolchildren from conflict-affected regions of Ukraine, the Opinion Festival, an educational project for activists and NGOs, regardless of experience, and other socially impactful initiatives.