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.

1. Project management training for 10 school teams from frontline areas. With the support of mentors, school teams will develop their own project ideas, which they will later present during a pitching event. Five winning schools will receive funding to implement their projects.
2. Training on digital competencies and information literacy for teachers from 10 displaced schools. After completing the training, teachers will organize similar workshops in their respective schools to expand the impact. 
3. Development of community education restoration plans: 10 project schools (5 relocated and 5 frontline schools) will develop strategic plans for the restoration and development of education in their 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