An event featuring Ukrainian teenagers — participants of the UActive program implemented by Spirit of America Worldwide in partnership with SavED — took place at Ukraine House. The gathering brought together youth, experts, and members of the public to discuss education and Ukraine’s recovery during the war.
This was reported by Ukraine House.
During the meeting, participants heard stories from teenagers who are already actively contributing to rebuilding their communities — helping restore schools, creating educational spaces, and investing their time and effort into shaping the country’s future.
Opening remarks were delivered by Ukraine’s Ambassador to the United States Oksana Markarova, who also serves as Chair of the Advisory Board and Advisor to the President of Ukraine on Reconstruction and Innovation. She emphasized the crucial role of human capital:
“The most important investment of Ukraine is its people,” she said, noting that education is the foundation for preserving the younger generation and securing the country’s future.
CEO of Spirit of America Worldwide Jim Hake highlighted the entrepreneurial potential of Ukrainian youth:
“It is a great honor for us to help these creative students gain the resources they need to grow as future leaders of Ukraine,” he noted.
Co-founder of SavED Anna Novosad presented findings on the current state of education in Ukraine. According to her, the war has both physical and social consequences:
- more than 4,500 educational institutions have been damaged or destroyed;
- about 400,000 students are forced to study exclusively online;
- in frontline regions, learning takes place under constant interruptions and danger.
“For children near the front line, education is a constant struggle with obstacles that deprives them not only of knowledge but also of social interaction and friendship,” she emphasized.
The event also featured a panel discussion on how to maintain connections between Ukrainian students abroad and the realities in Ukraine, as well as how to effectively cooperate with schools. Particular attention was drawn to the story of UActive participant Taras, who shared his personal experience of studying and civic engagement during the war.і
Participants in the discussion included:
- Yuliia Lemesh, President of Ukrainian Global Scholars;
- Grant Pieler;
- moderator Khrystyna Kashchuk.
The event was moderated by Colleen Denny, who also led a moment of silence in memory of Roman Haiovyi, who was killed in a Russian attack on Kyiv.
Organizers emphasized that the main goal of the event was to amplify the voices of Ukrainian youth and draw attention to the challenges facing education during the war. Participants stressed that supporting educational initiatives is critical to ensuring that Ukrainian children can not only continue learning but also preserve a sense of childhood.
Photo:Ukraine House
Author: Danylo Pievchev