Jun 29, 2023

Educating Children During the Ukraine War

As the war rages on between Russia and Ukraine, Federation’s overseas partners are providing vital services to those who cannot leave the country, and that includes educational support for school-aged children in Ukraine. Through funding from Jewish federations across North America, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) has developed a new educational program for Ukrainian children at five Jewish community centers, with 120 students participating. The youngsters take part in online learning, and tutoring is provided to help those needing extra support. Between lessons, the children have time to interact with their peers and receive psychological assistance from trained experts, a critical component to their mental health as they live through ongoing traumatic events in their country. In response to a JDC survey to determine if the program should be expanded in 2023-2024, 79 percent of parents confirmed their children need educational support and 30 percent said their children also need psychological support.