Our mission is to build a competent and responsible society. To achieve this, we focus on three strategic directions:
After the organization’s rebranding, we began developing our strategic directions with innovation. At the end of 2024, we joined the Ukrainian EdTech Association. As part of this direction, in 2025, we are implementing a project to support Ukrainian language teachers by creating online materials that will significantly simplify their work across different teaching formats (distance learning, blended learning, and traditional classrooms) amid the war and uncertainty. Additionally, as members of the EdTech Association, we aim to collaborate on projects with a strong social impact.
Our next area of focus is the psychological training of professionals and the mental health of Ukrainian society as a whole, given the severe impact of the war on personal emotional states, interpersonal and corporate relationships, and daily activities.
Thus, in 2025, in collaboration with professional psychologists, we are developing specialized programs for psychological training of professionals and mental health support for Ukrainians.
Leadership development remains our top strategic priority. Beyond cultivating strong moral and ethical character, this also includes enhancing the competencies of managers in innovative leadership approaches.
Since gaining independence in 1991, Ukraine has long operated under the “vertical” management practices of the Communist Party of the USSR. These practices have negatively impacted organizational and corporate ecosystems. The Soviet-style command-and-control leadership model is now outdated and often even toxic. Surprisingly, this model still characterizes many organizations in Ukraine, slowing the country’s development, reducing competitiveness, and creating challenges for individuals.
In times of war, upheaval, and uncertainty, such hierarchical models harm not only employees but also businesses themselves. With the rapid development of digital technologies, vertical command styles are no longer viable. In terms of organizational health and success, they are outpaced by modern approaches like Agile.
In 2025, we will focus special attention on forming a new elite of leaders to rebuild Ukraine, engaging in preparatory work to develop a systematic solution in this direction.
On January 9, 2025, the Ukrainian School of Elites officially became a member of the EdTech Association Ukraine. This partnership grants the school access to cutting-edge tools and collaboration while providing a voice in shaping Ukraine’s future.
The school has identified educational technology (EdTech) as a strategic priority, focusing on practical applications to address specific needs:
By joining the association, the Ukrainian School of Elites positions itself to address these challenges head-on.
While focusing on leadership formation and building psychological competences among the young people and professionals, our third strategic focus is EdTech — educational technologies. This is not “technology for the sake of technology” but our desire to drive a positive social impact inlined with our mission.
This includes access to education for children, youth, and adults in challenging social or economic situations, developing helpful innovative materials for teachers, and accelerating and simplifying the learning process through EdTech.
In the times of war, upheaval, and uncertainty, educational technologies are truly important. We are honored to play our role in addressing these challenges.
The Ukrainian language is a compulsory subject for students pursuing higher education in Ukraine, yet it receives limited technological investment. Unlike STEM fields, where global demand attracts funding, the Ukrainian language’s localized nature limits its commercial scalability.
To bridge this gap, we partnered with the first Ukrainian language online-school uMOVA, in 2024 to develop methodological materials supporting the teachers of Ukrainian language. These resources cater to:
Scheduled for completion by August 31, 2025, the project will offer free, systematically developed materials to educators, easing their workload and enhancing student outcomes.
In wartime Ukraine, education faces immense disruptions. The school has directed its efforts to support teachers, recognizing their critical role in shaping the next generation. This includes equipping Ukrainian language educators with tools to adapt their teaching methods amid instability. This is exactly what we are aiming to achieve in 2025.
Membership in the EdTech Ukraine Association connects the school to a network of innovators working to transform education.
For example, the partnership has enabled access to proven EdTech platforms like GIOS, a Ukrainian-developed interactive STEM learning system with over 100,000 users. While STEM resources are widely available, the association can draw attention to the Ukrainian language to receive the support it urgently needs to prepare Ukrainians for higher education, as well as support to the teachers, despite the war and its consequences.
As Ukraine rebuilds, the demand for highly skilled professionals is critical. By focusing on the Ukrainian language, mandatory for higher education, and leveraging EdTech, we will contribute to a positive social change. Membership in the association will reinforce our efforts in this field.
On December 12, 2024, the Ukrainian School of Elites (UASE) officially became a member of the EdTech Ukraine Association.
The Association is led by Natalia Lymonova, the founder of the globally recognized interactive online platform for teaching mathematical sciences, GIOS. This Ukrainian startup has long expanded beyond our borders, educating children and adults from Canada, the USA, European, African, and other countries.
Khrystyna Seryozhechkina, CEO of Kooperative, supports the Association by graciously providing space at Kooperative in the heart of Kyiv for important events hosted by the Association.
Since the start of Russia’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine, Natalia Lymonova has actively promoted Ukraine as a brand. She has also highlighted Ukraine as a country of highly talented developers, intellectuals, and creatives. This has attracted foreign investments during this critical time for our nation. It is an honor for us to work with such high-level individuals.
The Board of Directors is led by Natalia Lymonova, with a team including Khrystyna Seryozhechkina (Kooperative), Yuriy Balkin (Optima School), Maxym Pochebut (Sigma Software), Denys Skrypka (Nanit Robot), and Oleksandr Mandyrkin (Charitable Foundation “For the Future of Children”).
The EdTech Ukraine Association was officially established on September 24, 2024, during its founding meeting. The official presentation of the Association took place on October 17, 2024, in Kyiv. Its founders have gone through a long journey to turn this dream into reality. The appearance of this organization specializing in educational technologies in Ukraine is the result of the determined efforts of the best professionals in the EdTech industry.
EdTech Ukraine is a member of the European EdTech Alliance, a community that unites educational technology organizations from 30 European countries.
The mission of the Association is to form a powerful EdTech ecosystem in Ukraine. It aims to successfully develop projects both within the country and internationally. Additionally, the Association collaborates with European and global EdTech communities, fostering the development of educational technology innovations in Ukraine and worldwide.
In 2025, the Ukrainian School of Elites will continue addressing the problem of educational decline caused by the war.
In particular, the school will continue the work, started in September 2024, on the strategic project aiming to reach out to 10k+ of the teachers of the Ukrainian Language (mandatory for any University entry in Ukraine) and 100k+ students in a 5-year period.
While managing the project, we concluded a contractual agreement with top experts from uMOVA, an online platform specializing solely in the Ukrainian language. Their expertise extends beyond e-learning, also supporting teachers with innovative methodologies and educational resources.
By the end of August 2025, we plan to complete the project aiming to:
We believe in the power of focus and targeted help. Therefore, this strategic project will be our specific contribution to the country’s recovery from the war.
Joining the Association opens new opportunities for UASE for collaboration and partnership in the field of innovative education and EdTech. The Association unites the leaders of the EdTech industry in Ukraine, providing a platform for sharing experiences, ideas, and resources.
We are confident that our collaboration with EdTech Ukraine Association will be the key to the successful implementation of projects and the development of Ukrainian education.
Dear friends and partners,
On behalf of the Ukrainian School of Elites, I sincerely wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2025! ✨
May these festive days fill your hearts with joy, warmth, and hope. I wish for 2025 to be a year of new accomplishments, significant achievements, and shared victories. May your homes be filled with peace, harmony, and prosperity, and may your good deeds continue to make the world a better place.
With warmest wishes,
Yuri Safonov
President of the Ukrainian School of Elites
The Ukrainian School of Elites actively supports innovation, particularly in the EdTech field, and plans to engage in collaborative initiatives in this area.
The EdTech Ukraine Association is building a robust EdTech ecosystem in Ukraine, advancing its projects on both national and international markets. The association fosters cooperation with European and global EdTech communities and promotes the development of educational technology innovations in Ukraine and globally.
The founder is Nataliya Lymonova, Director of EdTech Ukraine and the founder of the GIOS platform (Global Innovative Online School).
Key directions of EdTech Ukraine’s work:
The platform creates a space for dialogue among various stakeholders to collaboratively work on transforming education in Ukraine.
On November 28–29, 2024, Ukrainian School of Elites (UASE) participated in the Global Leadership Summit (GLS) — “Design Your Tomorrow.”
In addition to its international and business focus, the summit carried a strong spiritual foundation, as renowned pastors shared their word of inspiration, among other speakers.
Ruslan Kukharchuk, Director of GLS Ukraine and founder of the movement “All Together!“, guided Ukrainian leaders through the specifics of Ukraine’s unique context, even within the global nature of the summit.
“Ukrainian-centricity is a trait we overlooked in the past but must now reclaim to preserve what we have,” emphasized Ruslan.
For perhaps the first time, such a clear emphasis on this idea resonated within a community upholding Christian values. (This is especially relevant considering the Vatican’s stance toward Ukraine at the start of Russia’s full-scale war crimes in 2022, pacifist sentiments in certain evangelical circles, and the overtly anti-Ukrainian policies of the Russian Orthodox Church under the Moscow Patriarchate.)
A vital component of building a successful Ukrainian society is its spirituality and culture, as well as its family values and Christian ideas and principles. In his speech, Ruslan highlighted the Presidential Decree on the Day of Ukrainian Statehood (No. 455/2023 dated July 28, 2023). The decree emphasizes Ukraine’s civilizational choice rooted in Christian values:
To affirm the continuity of over a millennium of Ukrainian state-building, based on the history of Ukrainian statehood, which traces its roots to the founding of Kyiv and the flourishing of the state under Prince Volodymyr the Great — the state-builder who, through the adoption of Christianity in 988, affirmed Kyivan Rus’ civilizational choice, whose successors include modern Ukraine […]
Presidential Decree on the Day of Ukrainian Statehood No. 455/2023 dated July 28, 2023
Yuriy Safonov, President of the Ukrainian School of Elites, affirmed shared views on spiritual and family values, which are critically needed in Ukraine today for its recovery and the construction of a successful society.
In our opinion, the bold, honest, and transparent discourse on leadership within the Ukrainian context was the most valuable part of the summit.
Several hundred attendees in the packed hall and over 200 online viewers had the honor of joining this initiative — something vital for everyone working for Ukraine during these challenging times.
Dear friends and partners,
Happy Thanksgiving! I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to each of you. Thanks to your support, collaboration, and compassion, we are making meaningful changes in the world together, helping those who need it most.
Your belief in our shared mission and your willingness to help inspire us every day. Every contribution you make is not just assistance but a gesture of kindness that warms the world and makes it fairer.
It is an honor for us to collaborate with you. Thank you for your generosity, trust, and shared commitment to making the world a better place.
May gratitude warm every heart today, and may inspiration for new good deeds accompany us all in the future.
With best wishes,
President of the Ukrainian School of Elites
On November 9, 2024, the Ukrainian School of Elites supported an initiative promoting the mental health of women during wartime by participating in the therapeutic gathering “Clothed in Dignity.”
The event was organized by our partners, the New Life Evangelical Fellowship in Kyiv, and took place in a church hall. The organizers worked hard to create a cozy and welcoming atmosphere, arranging round tables for comfortable communication and a separate tea area for relaxation.
The gathering brought together approximately 100 women aged 18 to 65 from various regions of Ukraine. Despite the age differences, participants had the opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations, share experiences, and uplift one another.
The event featured spiritual music, delicious food, a creative workshop, and delightful surprises for the attendees.
Psychologists Maia Chyhir and Viktoriya Androsova delivered inspirational speeches, sharing their expertise and addressing a key question:
The Ukrainian School of Elites provided financial support to the New Life Church in organizing this program, affirming our shared mission of care, empowerment, and social responsibility.
On November 9, 2024, Yurii Safonov, President of the NGO Ukrainian School of Elites, and Marichka Pohorilko, Grant Program Manager at the Razom Foundation (“Together for Ukraine”), discussed the prospects of Ukraine’s humanitarian sector in 2025 and potential collaboration opportunities.
One of the key insights focused on redefining the concept of “leadership development.” Here are three distinct lenses through which leadership is usually viewed.
Since Ukraine regained independence from the USSR in the 1990s, “leadership development” has been associated with academic programs, knowledge, and awareness. This approach emphasized gaining information about leadership — understanding what it is, how a leader differs from a follower, and the characteristics and personality traits required. But does awareness alone create a leader?
“Our goal is not to just inform but to transform” — this is the approach to leadership we promote at the Ukrainian School of Elites.
Obviously, knowledge about leadership is not enough. A holistic approach is needed. Leadership involves more than just knowledge; it requires character — a mature person. Psychological, moral, and even spiritual maturity is key, ensuring actions align with words.
In the early 21st century, this holistic approach is gaining relevance in Ukraine. Interestingly, one often-overlooked aspect of leadership is physical health and wellness. Many who associate themselves with leadership lack this essential component, which is now recognized as critical.
Today, Marichka Pohorilko from the Razom Foundation highlighted another perspective. We sensed it intuitively, but now it was finally voiced directly.
Razom Foundation places special emphasis on the local leadership. It advocates for investing resources in a targeted way to address specific local issues, rather than just spreading “information about leadership.” This is particularly valuable for communities with limited resources for the development of children and youth.
In rural areas, young people form initiative groups to develop their own community improvement projects in areas where they can make an immediate impact. This includes creating sports facilities in places that have never had them, playgrounds, and development centers, etc. — all grassroots initiatives led by local leaders.
After participating in mentoring programs, these teams present their projects in a “pitching” session (a term borrowed from the investment sector, where startups showcase projects for funding; in our humanitarian context, it involves securing funding for nonprofit initiatives aimed at positive community change). The most promising projects receive funding.
The amounts involved are small, even symbolic (for instance, 100,000-200,000 UAH). However, the goal is not the “amount” but the formation of the new generation of leaders who succeed with their projects locally.
Through this approach, the Razom Foundation not only shapes leadership skills among youth (planning, teamwork, budgeting, implementation, monitoring, reporting, transparency, accountability, etc.) but also builds faith and fonfidence in the new generation’s ability to effect positive change in their communities.
Thus, November 9, 2024, marked a “rethink leadership” day for the leadership, partners, and volunteers of the Ukrainian School of Elites.
On October 7, 2024, the Ukrainian School of Elites supported the initiatives of GoFriends NGO on the psychological and physical rehabilitation of veteran families, internally displaced persons, and vulnerable populations affected by Russia’s aggression.
The financial support was provided generously by the supporters’ community of the Business Coalition of the World Evangelical Alliance, supervised the coalition’s Director Timo Plutchinski.
Since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Yevhen Moiseyev, Founder of GoFriends IT Academy for orphans, evacuated the academy’s students and his family from Kyiv to Western Ukraine — first to the city of Stryi, where he initiated social care for the internally displaced people, and later to Morshyn, where he established an organized social center.
People who lost or left their homes, mostly coming from the occupied areas of the Eastern Ukraine, all actively set to work, and organized a farm in a village near Morshyn town that not only fed them but also supplied food to other social centers! That captured our attention and we decided to support that responsible and proactive community.
In 2024, GoFriends NGO created the environment for psychological rehabilitation of and mental care for the IDPs, Ukrainian veterans and their families, and others who suffered from the war. The Friends provide both emotional and physical healing. Those seeking spiritual support also have an opportunity to receive soul care.
Rehabilitation at the farm is enhanced by the natural setting: a few lakes, spacious meadows, and clean air — exactly what all psychologists recommend for healing.
Every month, 20—100 people undergo rehabilitation ministry of GoFriends.
In October 2024, thanks to our international friends at WEA BC, we were able to transfer a portion of financial aid to support these amazing efforts of GoFriends.
For more details on GoFriends NGO, see our blog here. What an honor to be part of these life saving initiatives!
