Interview 10. Working through Trauma. Yana Petliovana
Yana Petliovana, a teacher from Ternopil Region, tells us how plastuny (Ukrainian scouts) help the army, why it is necessary to return to offline learning, and what a cruel joke the mistakes of history can play.
Ukrainian teachers need to learn how to cope with war trauma, the consequences of which will be felt by both children and adults for a very long time. This is explained by Yana Petliovana, a teacher of history and jurisprudence, deputy director of educational work of the Chortkiv Education and Research Institute of Entrepreneurship and Business of the Western Ukrainian National University, deputy head of NGO Alternatyva-Chortkiv, head of NGO Plast National Scout Organization, Stanytsia Chortkiv. In her teaching and volunteer work, she is confronted with people who have experienced trauma during war and how painful current events affect their psychological state and ability to learn.
Therefore, Yana suggests giving more qualified assistance to people who have been in extreme situations and learning how to help in order to overcome the consequences of the war after our victory.
Confronting the horror
For me, war is a terrible nightmare from which we cannot awaken. I keep waiting for the news of our victory and for this nightmare to finally end. In fact, given the reality, I realize that our victory is not for tomorrow. We must make a considerable effort, and this will be our daily task – to get closer to victory day by day.
We have been volunteering since 2014 when the war in eastern Ukraine began. But then, unfortunately, not everyone was aware of the threat, and today the war has covered the entire territory of Ukraine. Most regions are in danger, so only our united front can support the people who have lost their relatives and are now in great pain, without homes, property, and without an understanding of their future. If everyone works as a team, better results can be achieved, and people in need can be helped.
I have always felt proud to be Ukrainian. After all, we have a great history and our nation is the best in the world, without any exaggeration. Current events once again confirm this. I will carry this pride throughout my life. I am proud of the fact that I am raising my own children and my students in our Ukrainian tradition. Today, this pride is more tangible because our indomitable and enduring spirit is spreading throughout the country. Our nation has shown the whole world how to act in such critical moments, how to unite the people around us.
In word and deed
Since February, we have all been living in a kind of turbo mode. I personally and my like-minded friends, organized a crisis humanitarian volunteer hub and began to collect aid from the first hours of the full-scale Russian invasion. Because we remember how difficult it was in 2014-2015. We decided not to waste a minute and threw all our energy into helping others. I have a family and a job, and it’s actually complicated to combine all that when you’re at the hub almost 24 hours a day and trying to find everything you need for the front line. It is quite exhausting. However, we purchase ammunition for the military daily, and equipment (thermal imagers, walkie-talkies, drones, etc.) almost weekly; we collect aid for people who live in constantly bombed cities or in areas of active hostilities. We go on volunteer trips and deliver supplies directly to specific locations. I am infinitely grateful to everyone who helps us! Today, everyone is a Hero: our Defenders, those who provide medical care, volunteers, and benefactors — they all work incessantly without a day off.
In these conditions, Ukraine is united and Ukrainians are fighting for their country; people are selflessly working towards victory – our fighters and people who help internally displaced persons and teach and educate children from such families. This happens in many cities, and in ours as well. I am proud to be involved in this work.
We also re-started Plast (Ukrainian scouting) meetings back in March. We realized that we could help in this way. We were approached by IDPs who asked us to work with their children. These children suffered significant psychological trauma because they were forced to take shelter in basements; they survived the occupation in Bucha, Irpin, and the bombings in Kharkiv. We work with such children; they have now opened up and started talking; they come to our classes inspired. It is very stimulating for us to be able to help them, even a little.
In the spring, our 10-11-year-old scouts decided to help the army and organized a charity fair: they baked cookies and cupcakes, made Easter decorations, and one boy collected honey from his grandfather’s apiary. They set up a stand in the city square, collected UAH 6,000, and with these funds, we bought ammunition for our soldiers. Because the children said that they had to help, even if it was a little. We held the same fair on June 1, Children’s Day. And in the context of Plast scouting, we would like to sincerely thank the entire Plast scouting community abroad, which also tirelessly helps Ukraine. Special thanks to Plast Poland – their support is currently the most powerful!
I would not want anyone to live through what we are currently experiencing.
War as a litmus test
Even before the war, our community had many problems. Especially considering that certain officials are not where they should be. I always underline that each person should take their rightful place in society and perform their duties professionally. When a person is unprofessional, it is visible in their daily activities and affects their efficiency. Today, we see the results of this non-professionalism, because there is almost no coordination. If it weren’t for the volunteers, we would be in a lot of trouble, as the city administration is practically absent.
Our government continues to engage in self-promotion, but there is no practical help. It is a pity because we placed our hopes in the municipality bodies regarding community coordination. Several volunteer organizations have taken up the challenge and provide needed supplies for our military and the IDPs. The city government is doing something, but no one understands what, and when it comes down to the nitty-gritty, everything important is done by the volunteer community. Difficult times reveal a person’s true character, and unfortunately, it is not always positive.
Echoes of old mistakes
In fact, I would not want anyone to live through what we are currently experiencing. But, I would like to draw your attention to something very banal. If you do not draw lessons from the past, you will make the same mistakes in the future. In a global sense, what is happening in Ukraine today echoes the mistakes the world made 30 years ago – in Transnistria, then in Georgia and Syria, Crimea, and Donetsk and Luhansk. The world was silent when russia committed such brutal acts and atrocities. Everyone was quiet, afraid, and now we see the consequences. Silence is costly when you don’t stand up for those in need. And then impunity will result in the kind of war that is currently ongoing in Ukraine.
Education spreads the light of learning, so we should not be silent, but we should speak out loudly. Through perseverance and strength, we can change something. I also want to underline that by nurturing our history, language and pride for our country, we can defend it. We want our dedication, unity and sacrifice to become an example for the whole world.
Live communication
The greatest challenge to wartime education is online learning. After two pandemic years, the shortcomings of online studies are being acutely felt. During the pandemic, there was not so much anxiety. Everyone understood that it was necessary to protect oneself from the virus, that it would pass, and that we would soon resume our lessons. But now, there is anxiety, tension and irritation – both children and parents feel it, because it is not clear how long the war will last.
Many children have gone abroad with their parents, and only a few remain in the city. Many cannot join online classes; out of 32 children, only 18-20 join, and we feel it. We go through the material according to the textbook; the children complete the tasks as usual. But, we sense the children’s agitation in their reactions to our questions; there is an acute difference between online learning in pandemic and war times.
At the same time, we organize thematic clubs, for example, for students who want to know the Ukrainian language better. The children also want to learn a foreign language, and these lessons take place offline. Such classes are popular, because everyone needs live communication. Of course, traditional online lessons are challenging, but children and parents really appreciate courses outside school because they can communicate, open up, and develop their ideas with others. Such courses are now in high demand and very popular. Because we all need to work through trauma, and only communication can reduce the level of anxiety. Therefore, we organize offline classes so that children feel that they are needed, are listened to and can make other friends.
Educational Front
Unfortunately, the war has traumatized all Ukrainians, and the distance from the front lines does not matter. In particular, Chortkiv suffered a missile attack in June. According to the Ternopil Regional Military Administration, several educational institutions were damaged — a school, a kindergarten, and one of the buildings of the sports school. More than 20 people were injured, including an IDP family.
In order to help Ukrainian educators to continue teaching children during the war, the EdCamp Ukraine community launched a crowdfunding campaign — collecting funds for computer equipment and Internet access for teachers who lost their pedagogical equipment in the war. The funds will be used for psychological support for teachers and to organize conferences where they can share their pedagogical experiences during the war. Both foreign colleagues – on the GoFundMe platform, and Ukrainians – on the EdCamp Ukraine page, can join the campaign by adding the comment My War. Lessons to the payment.
Psychological Help
We usually try to create a game for everything we do. This gives children the opportunity to play and at the same time learn the material. Thanks to our games, I check the level of knowledge and give new material without burdening the students. Before the war, my lessons were also built on games; now, they help overcome stress and relieve tension.
My teaching style has practically not changed. The only change is that children need more individual communication about their condition and future. I spend more time listening to them, helping them sort out their thoughts, and working through their emotions. Therefore, I have added psychological work with the children and their parents to my schedule, because sometimes the parents are overwhelmed and also need a distraction from everyday life. We involve parents in various activities when there are no air raid alerts so they also feel they belong to our community.
In general, I would introduce more psychological games promoting trust and confidence in education. Today, I see that children need to be prepared for different non-standard situations, for the realities of life. We need to provide them with more practical skills for everyday life. Unfortunately, because of the war, we have not had time to learn the tools of SEEL, social-emotional and ethical learning. If I had these practices at my disposal, I could help people more effectively. I see that these practices are very important, because they allow you to find balance in life. Not everyone knows how to develop a proper way of balancing in time.
It is necessary to teach children to communicate with each other. They have practically no social skills. This can become a problem in the future if you ignore it now.
Lack of social skills
Unfortunately, my children have lost their sense of responsibility for learning. The charm of learning, the joy of research, of gaining interesting information that can be found in every subject has been lost. If we take into account the two previous years of distance learning, then the meaning of studying is lost. Even at home, I have to tell stories to my three children and use games, movies and cartoons to encourage them to study this or that topic. Children lose interest in learning; they do not feel that they can find something new and exciting. On the other hand, many teachers have become indifferent; they attend lessons, but do not worry about students’ results. In my opinion, this is sad and unfortunate.
Thank God, there are no active hostilities in Ternopil Region, and there is an opportunity to study offline. Schools could organize informal meetings and re-establish communication between children. Such a format would be much better for children and the teaching community. I would revise the education policy in favour of offline learning, but pay special attention to security. It is necessary to teach children to communicate with each other. They have practically no social skills. This can become a problem in the future if you ignore it now.
This is why we re-started the Plast scouting meetings; the children needed to socialize. Many more children came to me than registered. I conclude that they want more live communication and games; they need to get together, drink tea and chat. I am especially glad that we were able to get together with the children who arrived here from Kharkiv, Bucha, and Irpin; we managed to draw them out of their silence and help them talk about what they had experienced. I recommend that schools and universities conduct classes offline, even if it’s for half an hour; thus, both school and university students would better understand what and why they are studying.
Survival skills
If I were to hold an EdCamp (un)conference at my educational institution, I would focus on some psychological aspects and supporting people in extreme situations, practical first aid skills, mine safety awareness, etc. For example, we would like to involve specialists who could talk about survival kits and the rules of urban guerilla fighting, survival in extreme situations – aspects that should have been discussed before the war. I believe that even after our victory, these topics will remain relevant; in addition, it is necessary to work with psychological trauma. After our victory, this will also be a challenge for us teachers, to which we must respond correctly, and the involvement of specialists of this kind is essential.
A symbol of pre-war life
While on maternity leave with my third child, I knitted many toys. They helped me to develop, to distract myself from everyday life. Now, these toys are a source of strength. Sometimes, I take them to our volunteer hub. Toys help to distract and support, because they are positive and created with heart and soul and love. Previously, these toys were a way to entertain children and interest them in something else; now, they are symbols of a carefree, peaceful life and help us to remain positive… which is very difficult to find in today’s reality.
My children are also a source of strength, which enables me to move on and understand who and what we are all fighting for. We fight for our children, for a better future.
My father has been protecting us on the eastern borders from the beginning of russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. After a projectile hit the car driven by my father, he suffered shrapnel injuries and is now in hospital, in intensive care. My husband is also defending us. My mother, also an educator, and my sister, volunteer in Chernivtsi. We pay a high price for our freedom and independence. However, we cannot neutralize everything because of some unqualified people who managed to gain power in some strange way. We are responsible for everything that has happened, is happening, and will happen in our country. I believe in our victory and that Ukraine will become one of the most developed countries in the world. And the russian federation will disappear forever! Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the Heroes!
Text — Halyna Kovalchuk.
The interview series My War. The Lessons was prepared with financial support from the Black Sea Trust for Regional Cooperation – a project of the German Marshall Fund of the United States.
The views and opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of EdCamp Ukraine and the Foundation.
