Despite the ongoing war, Ukrainian educators have worked tirelessly over the past two and a half years to ensure children’s education continues. Education is a key priority for Ukraine, as it plays a crucial role in nurturing informed, active citizens capable of defending their independence, identity, and advancing democracy.
This week, we will discuss the impact of the war on Ukraine’s education system. We will also share updates on our exhibition “Ukraine in Miniature” and provide information about a project aimed at raising awareness about Ukrainian prisoners of war.
For the past two and a half years, the Ukrainian education system has had to adapt to the harsh realities of wartime. This year, many schools across Ukraine were unable to open their doors. According to the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, by the end of July 2024, 197 schools had been destroyed and 1,625 had been damaged. The average cost of constructing a single school is approximately 150 million UAH. Thus, the estimated cost to rebuild the destroyed schools is around 29.5 billion UAH. The Donetsk region has suffered the most from Russia’s military aggression, with 111 educational institutions destroyed and 397 damaged.
Civil society news
USAID/ENGAGE Supports Development of Strategy for the Ukrainian Institute
On August 27, the Ukrainian Institute, with the support of USAID/ENGAGE, conducted the final strategic session in a series of eleven meetings dedicated to developing the Institute’s strategy for 2025-2029. The outcomes from these sessions will be incorporated into the Ukrainian Institute’s public diplomacy strategy for 2025-2029. The event also established priorities and directions for the Cultural Diplomacy Forum, which will take place on October 8 in Kyiv.
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Center for Civil Liberties Launches Project on Civilian Hostages Held in Russia’s Captivity
On August 30, International Day of the Disappeared, the Center for Civil Liberties (CCL) launched the poetic video project “Hold On! I’m Holding On!” The project aims to highlight the pain and resilience of Ukrainians who have fallen victim to Russian captivity and to raise awareness of the challenges these prisoners face. The event featured poetry readings by renowned Ukrainian poets as well as poems written by Ukrainians currently in Russian captivity.
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USAID/ENGAGE to Showcase Threats to Ukrainian Cultural Heritage at Superbloom Festival
On September 7-8 in Munich, we will present the exhibition “Ukraine in Miniature” at the Superbloom Festival, featuring 29 miniature 3D models of Ukrainian cultural sites, complemented by a VR tour and musical compositions. The exhibition will be open from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Olympic Park Munich, Spiridon-Louis-Ring 21. Admission is free for all festival participants.
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Transparency International Ukraine Launches Tool for Monitoring High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) Decisions
On September 5, Transparency International Ukraine (TIU) will unveil an online platform for tracking and analyzing HACC decisions. Developed through civic oversight and regular monitoring of HACC hearings, this interactive platform provides easy access to a database of court decisions, detailed case descriptions, infographics, and analytics from TIU experts.
What we read?
Education and Children’s wellbeing in wartime Ukraine
The full-scale war has devastated the lives of the 7.5 million children in Ukraine. Aid agency “Save the Children” reveals the devastating toll that two years of conflict have taken on children, with a survey of over 1,500 children, parents, and caregivers finding that nine out of 10 children are suffering from psychological and emotional stress. Among these children, the most common issues are feeling unsafe or fearful (73%), disinterest in learning (64%), and sadness or low self-confidence (54%).
