Despite air raids, destroyed infrastructure and life near the frontline, dedicated teachers like Larisa Luchko fight every day to keep children learning – and to protect their future.
Teachers Who Refuse to Give Up
In a small village near Zaporizhzhia, less than 50 km from the frontline, teachers continue to bring hope and confidence to children despite seemingly impossible circumstances. Since 2022, regular in-person classes have been impossible. Many children studied exclusively online – often only with their parents’ old smartphones.
Yet amid these challenges, there are people who refuse to give up. One of them is Larisa Luchko, the school director, who has been teaching for more than 40 years – first as a geography teacher and now as the head of the school. Every day she tirelessly organizes, plans, and fights to make learning possible again. “I cannot allow these children to lose their future. Every hour we spend together is a step toward hope,” says Larisa Luchko.
A Village School’s Fight for Learning and Safety
In summer 2024, together with the school leadership, we identified the most urgent needs. This led to a comprehensive support program:
- 40 refurbished laptops for the children
- printers and laminating devices
- schoolbooks and materials for primary grades
- renovation of a basement into a shelter where children can attend classes in shifts and stay safe during attacks
- launch of art and photo therapy projects to strengthen emotional well-being
- full school supply kits for first graders from low-income families for the 2025 school year
Tangible Impact, Growing Hope
The impact is tangible: children can once again learn through a blended form of in-person and distance education, they regain confidence, and the school has once more become the heart of the entire community.
This project shows that even in the darkest times, commitment, passion, and solidarity can create hope – and that teachers like Larisa Luchko are true everyday heroes. To continue providing help for children in Ukraine, we rely on the support of partners and donors in Switzerland.
