October 16th, 2022

By Joseph Nichols,

Kyiv, Ukraine

The current attacks on the civilian infrastructure in Ukraine has prompted the Ministry of Education to order that schools revert to on-line classes, most likely all through the winter months. As our efforts are focused on the 7 million Internally Displaced People (IDP) in Ukraine, we know that this decision, though prudent, will have the greatest negative impact on the IDP population.

Most of the IDP population consists of women and children that have relocated from Eastern and Southern Ukraine to Central and Western Ukraine. The men and older boys tend to stay closer to their homes to either prepare to enter the conflict as soldiers, or to be around the greatest family asset – home. With 25% of the Ukrainian population in poverty, and 55% expected to be in poverty in 2023, protecting the family home seems like the only choice for future stability.
Currently, government support for IDP’s stands at $39 per month for adults and $69 per month for children and disabled adults.

As Russia continues to deport families in the occupied regions from Ukraine to Russia, the IDP population is dramatically increasing in the west. Families are leaving areas along the front line (1600 miles) as fear of being re-occupied increases. It is estimated that over 200,000 children have been separated from their families and moved to Russia. IDP families have barely enough to pay for rent, food and heat this winter – internet is a luxury with the electrical grid under attack and money a rare commodity.
We find that only 1 in 3 of our regular students has access to a computer, most use cell phones with limited bandwidth for internet access.

As we have been doing now for eight months, teachers from the local IDP population(s) hold “classes” for students in small, sometimes remote, classrooms where basic subjects are presented in such formats of Arts and Crafts, Music, Stories, Plays, and traditional study. Most of the time there is a chance to get healthy meals/snacks, hygiene products, and currently winter clothing. Most importantly, it is a chance to socialize, for the kids to see they are not alone in their situation, and for serious issues at home to be brought forward.
The parents and volunteers are critical to the effort. As I wrote previously:

In the “Keep the Kid’s Learning Program” there are now:

• 215 teachers, each receiving a $30 – $50 (US) stipend a month (depending on our cash supply)
• 150 volunteers (no payment)
• 1400+ children, ages 5 – 17, in 30+ locations
• 16 medical students that trade off making weekly visits to learning sites
• A fluctuating number of foreign volunteers teaching English and German …. and definitely great entertainment for the kids as they try to speak Ukrainian.

These numbers often change, sometimes up – sometime down. Sometimes we just guess at the statistics. It’s a community effort with no government support. So far, we think it’s done pretty darn good.

Thank you!