The Ukrainian World Congress called for strengthening support for Ukrainian schools abroad

War always changes destinies, and for children its consequences are the deepest and most lasting. After the start of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, millions of Ukrainian children were forced to leave their homes and seek refuge in other countries. Moving abroad became for many not only a physical test, but also a psychological barrier: a foreign language, a different culture, lack of friends, breaking ties with the native environment. At the same time, the war created new challenges for preserving Ukrainian identity in a new environment. The difficulties faced by Ukrainian children abroad are multifaceted. That is why it is difficult to overestimate the importance of supporting Ukrainian educational initiatives abroad. In this context, the call of the World Congress of Ukrainians (WUC) to support Ukrainian schools outside of Ukraine sounds especially relevant and acute.

Initiative of the World Congress of Ukrainians

The World Congress of Ukrainians as part of the global campaign “Have Faith In Ukraine’s Future” called to support Ukrainian educational centers abroad. We are talking about Saturday and Sunday schools, which have become real outposts of national identity for children who were forced to leave the Motherland because of the war. This is reported on SCU website.

The war not only took away the children’s familiar world, but also endangered their connection with their native language, culture and history. Today, in the world of information wars, when Russia is trying to rewrite history and distort facts, the formation of national consciousness among the younger generation of Ukrainians is gaining even more importance. If children lose this connection, it will be more difficult for them not only to integrate into new societies, but also to return to Ukraine after the war as citizens who are aware of their identity and culture.

SCU emphasizes that without a strong national consciousness, children become more vulnerable to assimilation processes, risk losing their cultural roots and the opportunity to build a future in an independent, free Ukraine.

Centers of language, culture and hope

Today, more than 300 Ukrainian Saturday and Sunday schools operate around the world. They preserve not only the knowledge of the Ukrainian language, but also pass on traditions, historical memory to children, and form a sense of belonging to the Ukrainian nation.

For many children, these schools have become more than just a place of learning. They have turned into centers of living culture, a community of support and pride in their origins. Here, children learn the Ukrainian language, history, literature, learn about national holidays and traditions, sing Ukrainian songs and participate in cultural events.

In times of war, such support becomes especially important. Education centers not only provide knowledge, but also help children overcome the trauma of losing their home, giving them a sense of stability, community and belonging.

New projects to strengthen the education of Ukrainian children

The World Educational Coordinating Council (WCE) under the SCU joined forces to strengthen Ukrainian education abroad. One of the important projects was the creation of the first specialized textbook on the history of Ukraine, adapted for Ukrainian diaspora schools and children over the age of eight.

This textbook does not aim to simply convey facts. Its task is to help children gain a deeper understanding of who they are, to develop critical thinking, to teach them to recognize attempts to falsify history, and to instill pride in their people. In a world where there is a struggle not only for territories, but also for historical truth, such a textbook becomes a weapon of cultural stability.

The development of high-quality, affordable materials for the education of Ukrainian children abroad is an investment in the future of the nation. After all, children who do not lose their roots will be able to be not only good citizens of their new countries, but also bearers of Ukrainian culture, regardless of where they live.

Why support for Ukrainian schools abroad is needed today

SCU calls on everyone who cares to join the support of Ukrainian schools abroad – governments, international organizations, communities, private patrons and ordinary citizens. Support can be different:

• assistance in providing schools with modern textbooks and educational materials;
• support for teachers and volunteers who work in extremely difficult conditions;
• financial assistance for maintaining school premises and organizing events;
• participation in the development of new educational programs aimed at preserving Ukrainian identity;
• promoting the dissemination of information about Ukrainian schools in local communities abroad.

Supporting education for Ukrainian children outside the Motherland is not only a concern for the present, it is the formation of a base for these children to return or remain ambassadors of our culture in the world after the war.