April 25th, 2023

By Joseph Nichols, Organizer

It has been quiet the past two weeks and volunteers took the opportunity to go visit some of the more remote classrooms in the central and eastern regions. Before the war, most of the Ukrainian villages were populated with local farmers and craftspeople – now they are filled with families seeking safety from drones, and shelling. There is a growing atmosphere of fear as the summer months are expected to see a return of intense warfare in more regions – the fighting along the front is continuing without much change.

Right now we are trying build supplies of food, batteries, hygiene products, basic medical (Rx) supplies, and activity supplies for the classrooms east of the Dnipro River. In the western region, where most of the IDP’s (Internally Displaced People) are located, the need for hygiene and food remains our focus. Our continuing need for transport costs, the small rents we are charged for classroom space, and support for the Ukrainian staff remains.

Our volunteers continue to pay 100% of their own travel and living expenses.

Offering the children a sense of community and a chance to share activities with others is critical to their emotional and physical well-being. Their time in the classrooms is filled with arts and crafts, basic learning skills, and were possible music and language lessons. Learning English is important to many as they prepare to move into EU countries – where knowing basic English helps in school and in securing work. These lessons are available to parents as well, and currently we have over a dozen native English speaking volunteer teachers.

Your donation, of any amount, helps make this happen. $30 pays a Ukrainian teacher for a month!
Thank you for any help you can offer.