Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, over 5 million Ukrainian children and youth have had their education disrupted. IREX’s USAID-funded Ukraine National Identity through Youth (UNITY) program is supporting the national education system in responding to this challenge by bringing students back into classrooms and improving their education and overall well-being. By opening youth-oriented spaces and partnering with the national and local governments, UNITY is systemically revitalizing youth education in communities across the country.

Innovative accessible learning spaces restore education in war-affected areas

Over 3,000 educational institutions in Ukraine have been damaged or destroyed since February 2022, leaving communities with critically limited, deteriorated, or nonexistent educational spaces. In severely damaged communities, IREX along with its partner savED, is coordinating with local governments to construct transitional learning centers (TLCs). These innovative centers provide safe spaces for in-person and hybrid education, improving the quality and accessibility of education. 

In late July, IREX opened its first TLC in Kyiv region restoring youth access to in-person education since Russia’s forces destroyed the local gymnasium and kindergarten in March 2022. U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget A. Brink, USAID Mission Director Julie A. Koenen, and Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine Oksen Lisovyy joined IREX to mark the opening of this crucial resource. The TLC is providing over 250 youth with full-time, in-person education alongside youth development programs that provide media literacy training, mine safety courses, and career counseling sessions.  

“By restoring access to safe, full-time, in-person education for Ukraine’s youth, the United States is equipping Ukraine’s future generations with the skills to support Ukraine’s recovery and determine their own futures,” said Ambassador Blink. 

This TLC is the first of 20 that UNITY is installing across Ukraine. These centers will provide a safe and comfortable environment for students to learn until destroyed educational institutions are rebuilt.

“Now I can go to school with my classmates, and there is no need to travel to other villages,” said Yaroslav, a ninth grader in the community. “We’ll have more time to participate in extracurricular activities and do our homework, and our parents won’t worry about our safety when we travel to schools outside of our village.”

Creating safe spaces for Ukraine's youth

Prior to the full-scale invasion, Ukraine’s smaller cities and rural areas lacked physical spaces where young people could gather, a situation that has only worsened due to the war’s destruction of infrastructure. 

In addition to building TLCs, UNITY is working with local governments to establish and renovate inclusive, safe spaces for youth of all backgrounds to spark community engagement, develop new skills, and provide mental health and psychosocial support services. 

UNITY completed its largest renovated youth center to date in Vasylkiv, Kyiv Oblast, on July 25. The mayor of Vasylkiv, USAID Deputy Mission Director Milan Pavlovic, and youth leaders joined IREX in welcoming visitors to the grand opening. With UNITY’s support, the center was upgraded to include a large room for events and meetings, a coworking space, an in-house psychologist's office, and a staff room for the team.

“When I was forced to move to Vasylkiv, I could not even imagine that a youth center would open for me here, with the opportunity to join the youth center team,” said Oksana, an IDP youth worker. “Being a part of this team allowed me to gain new and valuable experience; I can always learn something new and bring about changes that benefit my country and the [community] where I live... I realized that wherever I am, I can implement my ideas everywhere; the main thing is to find great people who will support them. I found such great people at the Vasylkiv Youth Center.”

The youth center was initially established in November 2022 through a joint effort between local youth, NGOs, government representatives, and city council members. In the months since, the center has become a hub for youth engagement in Vasylkiv, hosting more than 3,100 young people across 650 events. The youth center is visited by approximately 200 youth per month, who participate in educational events, psychosocial support activities, career counseling, and many other activities. 

Despite the significant challenges facing the country, the youth center demonstrates the local community’s investment in their future. This opening marks the completion of UNITY’s eighth youth center. By the end of the program, IREX will support a total of 40 youth centers with renovations and resources to empower youth. 

Equipping students with essential skills

In addition to the creation and renovation of spaces for youth, UNITY is supporting students through curriculum improvements to strengthen STEM skills and catch-up programming to help combat the toll that the war has taken on Ukrainian youth’s educational outcomes, including significant drops in math, science, and reading skills. 

After years of disruptions, Ukrainian youth have experienced numerous challenges that have impacted their education. UNITY’s reinforcing efforts to help students return to school and ensure they have the materials needed to support their well-being and learning are critical in advancing education outcomes and resilience.