My War. The Lessons for Ukraine and Humanity
👉 “When talking about big Ukrainian cities like Kharkiv, kids had an immediate association that the city was being bombed. While preparing drawings for Ukrainian defenders, they often draw ships that are firing rockets; they depict fires and blood. At the same time, when I asked kids if they were feeling in danger, children answered that they were not. Still, the pictures show something else — the war has affected their feelings and consciousness.”
This is a small excerpt from a large interview with an educator who is continuing to teach children during the war.
Today is a very special day for us. It’s special because we are presenting our new, vitally important project to all of you, friends. Every word here is an imprint of the war, which formed a great initiative called “My War. The Lessons for Ukraine and Humanity”.
It is made out of two parts.
1️⃣ We have prepared 25 unique, emotional, honest, and very sincere interviews with educators. They all are from different parts of Ukraine and have gone through totally different experiences, but they were united by one huge disaster that struck us on February 24.
These are the stories of people who differ in age, professional experience, and the subjects they teach. Some were forced to leave their homes because of war … others helped their colleagues who endured losses from war … Still, each and everyone is united by an understanding of the value of Ukraine, a sense of personal responsibility and belonging when talking about the situation in the country.
In the interviews, teachers — men and women — talk about the lessons they have learned and share their thoughts on what lessons are still ahead: from personal experiences to lessons for the global community.
These texts are about vulnerability and strength, and, most importantly, about educators’ contribution to Ukraine’s victory. These stories are history that teachers are creating right now.
The texts will be published in the course of two months in Ukrainian and English on our website, on the “Nakypilo” Media Group website, as well as on international platforms.
2️⃣ As part of this initiative, we are launching a crowdfunding campaign https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-ukrainian-educators-teach-kids-during-war “Help Teachers in Ukraine Support Kids during War” both in Ukraine and internationally.
It has been designed to help teachers continue fulfilling their main mission — teaching Ukrainian children the value of freedom and democracy, teaching them responsibility, critical thinking, and, finally, kindness.
When fleeing your home under shelling, it’s easy to forget your computer or laptop. All you need to save are kids, pets, maybe documents, and some clothes… So, we are raising funds to buy equipment and internet access for those educators who need them now.
We raise funds for:
🔹 distance learning sets (laptop, mouse, router, earphones, internet connection services);
🔹 counseling services who those who need psycho-emotional support;
🔹 holding regional teachers’ (un)conferences.
Please read more about the campaign and learn how you can join it in the article at Nakypilo website https://nakipelo.ua/osvita-pid-chas-vijny-iak-dopomohty-ukrainskym-uchytelkam-i-vchyteliam/
You can easily follow the interview texts and all project news using the hashtag #EdCampTheLessons.
The first material is coming tomorrow!
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.