Every Ukrainian child deserves to learn and grow up in a peaceful and safe environment

My frequent route to World Vision’s office in Kyiv, Ukraine includes a small private school then busy preparing for children to be back this September. This is a normal place for children’s primary education, except that, all its windows were stuffed with green sandbags.

The sandbags are meant to protect them from blasts and explosions, that have become all-too frequent in Kyiv and many parts of the country. But they also keep the sunshine and fresh air out that are supposed to permeate in a child’s classroom.

Even as you hear the cacophony of voices eager to join friends and new classmates in the classrooms, you heart also sinks thinking this is the dire reality that millions of children in Ukraine is faced with as the war goes on.

I always wonder, and despair, what does the future holds for them?

Talking to a group of mothers displaced from different parts of the country, the collective frustration and worry are on their children’s future, learning just like other children all over the world free of the war and violence.

The journey of these children as full of heartbreaking stories as they fled from their villages and towns on the heels of violence and attacks.

This is unacceptable. Every child deserves to grow up in peace, get a quality education, and enjoy the life pursuing a dream for the future. 

But many of the children, over four million of them in Ukraine, are caught amid the war do not have this, and for many even beyond their reach.

Viktoria, a teen who left her ravaged town in Bakhmut, must grapple with her new reality moving to Kyiv after leaving everything in her childhood behind. She is one of those who are resolute to focus on her online classes while trying to adapt to a new environment.

Without acquaintances and friends, the struggle to be uprooted and to find her foothold is a difficult journey for the children. Oksana, a project lead supporting children like Viktoria, emphasized the need to continue providing psychosocial and mental health support.

These long-term initiatives must go together with education programs, whether in the classrooms with air raid shelters or online. As they gradually integrate to their new communities and pursue their education, the support should never be broken.

It takes a village to raise a child. We were reminded of this all the time. But when a village is destroyed by the war, along with it the houses, schools and critical infrastructures that serve children and families are gone, we all know there is a tough work to be done.

One silver lining, and a very bright one, is how I see the hope that never dimmed in every Ukrainian child’s eyes. Viktoria is still very driven to become a diplomat and recently represented World Vision at a child protection event in Panama.

Vika, attending a World Vision child-friendly space, started to engage with her peers even as she come out from her struggle on epilepsy and autism. Andriy from Donetsk Oblast is even more eager to learn from activities that prepares him for life beyond academics.

Even as over 3,000 schools were damaged, and destruction of educational institutions sadly continue, the grit and resilience of the Ukrainian children clearly shines bright despite the horrors and turmoil of the war they do not deserve.

No doubt, every Ukrainian child will persevere. The world, which includes you and me, should not fail them.

Watch video: Ukraine's empty classrooms are just bricks without the children

Blog by Cecil Laguardia, Advocacy and Communications Director, World Vision’s Ukraine Crisis Response