Strengthening the Capacities of Frontline and Relocated Schools in Ukraine/SCHOOL UP Project
As a result of the full-scale war in Ukraine, where one in seven schools has suffered devastating damage from bombings, the education sector is facing a severe crisis. Challenges range from prolonged distance learning, which hinders the social and emotional development of both children and teachers, to critical underfunding for the restoration of educational infrastructure. Communities are now forced to seek additional resources to bring students back to safe, in-person education, creating an urgent demand for new management tools to support strategic decision-making.
The project aims to enhance the professional development of teachers and school administrators by providing training in modern project management methods, digital literacy, and resource mobilization to restore and strengthen the education sector, which has been severely affected by the war. The initiative addresses key challenges, including prolonged distance learning, declining quality of education, lack of skills in developing and managing innovative projects in schools, which serve as vital centers of civil society in the regions. By integrating new management approaches and digital solutions, the project will create stable conditions for both face-to-face and distance learning, strengthen the role of local communities, and support the sustainable recovery and development of Ukraine’s education system.
- Project Management Bootcamp
A four-day intensive offline training for ten school teams from frontline and border communities. Each team includes teachers, school administrators, and pupil representatives.Throughout the boot camp, participants learn key project management methodologies and tools, going through the full cycle — from researching pressing issues in their communities to developing project ideas to solve them.
After the training, the teams prepare full project proposals and budgets under the guidance of experienced mentors, which they present during a pitch event.
The five strongest teams will receive funding to implement their initiatives.
- Training for teachers on digital competencies and media literacy
Training for teachers from ten displaced schools. Teachers will share the knowledge they have gained by organizing similar training sessions in their own educational institutions, which will help make online learning in displaced schools more effective and interactive. It will also make it safer, as educators will gain knowledge that will help prevent cyber threats and disinformation.
- Education Recovery and Development Plans
Participating communities will prepare their individual strategic plans for the recovery and development of the educational process. Ten schools will be involved: five relocated schools and five from frontline areas.
This initiative is expected to have a lasting and strategic impact on education development in these communities.
CISU – Civil Society in Development
Danish Helsinki Committee for Human Rights
Teachers, school administrators, local authorities, and community representatives
January 1, 2025 – June 20, 2026
Frontline regions bordering russia: Kherson, Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipro, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Sumy, Chernihiv, and Kyiv regions, liberated territories (occupied in 2022), displaced schools from temporarily occupied territories
DKK 1 957 800
“Since 2016, we have been supporting educational institutions and developing programs aimed at strengthening civil society and addressing educational losses. The project presentations showed that the teams have learned to listen to their communities and take action for their benefit. When children and teachers act together, it’s the best investment in building stronger communities for the future,” said Yuliia Krasilnykova, Executive Director of the Charitable Organization “Charity Foundation “East SOS”.
“A school during wartime must be about unity, resilience, and the ability to act. We provide motivation and support to participating schools as they take their first steps. After completing the program successfully, the teams will not only develop a project and submit an application, but also receive institutional support,” explained Anna Loza, Education Program Coordinator, “Charity Foundation “East SOS”.
“The community needs assessment – and the pupils themselves – showed that both pupils and teachers need to be heard, to release stress, and to stop being afraid to talk about what hurts. We became inspired by the idea of creating a multifunctional space in the school assembly hall, which we plan to divide into different zones: one for musical instruments, one for handicrafts, one for sports, and one for relaxation. It will be a place where the community can come together — to knit socks for the military or weave camouflage nets. We’re happy to have won and grateful to receive feedback from our community, especially knowing that parents and local craftspeople are willing to come and hold activities for us,” shared Nataliia Drobot, a teacher at Dyvosvit Lyceum of the Zhovti Vody City Council.
Donors
