School 2 School Program

Seventh-day Adventist Schools in Australia are supporting schools in Ukraine through ADRA’s School 2 School Program. 

ADRA has reached more than 1 million affected individuals in response and recovery activities. ADRA’s aid includes providing emergency supplies, shelter support, and psychosocial support for internally displaced persons (IDPs). While ADRA’s day-to-day response activities remain constant, there is also a focus on reducing the long-lasting impact of the war on children and their education. 

In a school in Lviv, ADRA Ukraine is running a program for 400 internally displaced families. The program includes free tuition, meals, and social activities for children who are IDPs. Food parcels and psychosocial support is available for the students and their families.

Tetiana, her ten-year old son Artem*, and Tetiana’s retired mother were forced to relocate when the war broke out in their hometown of Kherson. Her son attends school in Lviv thanks to support from ADRA. 

“The period of adaptation in the new city was very difficult financially, psychologically, and emotionally,” Tetiana says. “Being a displaced woman raising a young child on my own, I would not be able to afford my son’s education at such a school without sponsorship.” 

When Tetiana and Artem first arrived in Lviv, Artem was completing his studies online with his school back in Kherson. But a missile strike caused widespread blackouts for six months, and Artem’s online classes were cancelled. Without a way to access education, Artem would have been further isolated from his peers and at risk of falling behind in his studies. Thankfully, Tetiana received support from ADRA to help enrol Artem in school.

Attending school has helped Artem adjust to life in Lviv. Tetiana has seen the positive change in her son since he first started attending, thanks to support from the principal, teachers, counsellor, and being surrounded by peers. “His emotional and psychological state improved significantly compared to when he first started studying at the school,” she says. 

Artem’s school is a mix of local students and IDPs. This balance has helped Artem adapt to life in Lviv while also being surrounded by peers who understand all he has been through. 

“He does not feel alone in his status of ‘displaced child’ because there are enough children in his class and throughout the school who had survived the terror of war and found shelter here,” Tetiana says. 

“I like to spend time with my friends in the school yard,” Artem says. “I also like it when we go on an excursion with the whole class. Recently, we went to the Museum of Science, which was very cool.” 

ADRA Ukraine is seeking funding to roll out the program at Artem’s school into other regions, particularly in the western areas with large populations of IDP children and families as there isn’t as much conflict there. Seventh-day Adventist Schools in Australia will be helping to support these schools and children like Artem, so they can look forward to a bright future. 

“I like physical education and classes called ‘Learning Together’ where we talk about relationships,” Artem says. “Now I dream of either becoming a professional football player or starting my own business.” 

To learn how your school can participate in the School 2 School Program to fundraise for schools in Ukraine, email [email protected] or call 1800 242 372. 

*name changed for child protection purposes