Join our fascinating project — Ukrainian language EdTech learning programs for the Ukrainian diaspora children, to support 30 million Ukrainians all over the globe.

What major problem does this project solve?

As a result of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, approximately 7 million Ukrainians were forced to leave their homes in search of refuge abroad.

As of September 2024, according to the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, more than 335,000 Ukrainian students, while being abroad, continue their studies in Ukrainian schools. At the same time, about 250,000 students remain outside the Ukrainian education system:

Problem

No country in the world can provide 500,000 Ukrainian schoolchildren abroad with the necessary number of teachers of the Ukrainian language.

The literacy level of Ukrainian students abroad is rapidly declining due to the inability to study their native Ukrainian language, which helps shape their way of thinking.

Those students who dream of returning home to live, study, and work in Ukraine are deprived of the opportunity to study the Ukrainian language, which is not only the “language of nightingales” but also mandatory for admission to any institution of higher education in Ukraine, the language of official and business communication, as well as the state language.

Ukrainian refugees after 2022

The percentage refers to the total number of Ukrainian refugees who left Ukraine after Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.

Global context

In addition to the 7 million Ukrainian refugees who left their homes after 2022, it is worth mentioning the post-Soviet period of emigration. In the first decades after the restoration of independence, 6 million Ukrainians emigrated abroad. This period spans from 1991 to 2014.

Over 30 million Ukrainians abroad

Thus, there are 13 million Ukrainians abroad in the modern period of our history: 6 million who left their homes from 1991 to 2014 and 7 million refugees from the Russian war after 2022.

However, this figure is not final. Even before the full-scale invasion, the Ukrainian diaspora numbered about 20 million people, spread across the globe. The largest communities live in the following countries:

Ukrainian diaspora before 2014

As of 2024, considering the “historical” Ukrainian diaspora (over 20 million people), Ukrainian emigrants of 2014 (6 million), and wartime refugees (about 7 million), there are over 30 million Ukrainians abroad.

Who will teach their children Ukrainian? Where will we find enough teachers? What educational and methodological resources exist specifically for this category of children, schoolchildren, and high school students? This is the problem that the “Children of the Diaspora” project aims to systematically solve.

Ukrainian schools abroad

Ukrainian communities abroad strive to preserve Ukraine’s cultural heritage through educational institutions. For example, in the USA alone, there are about 30 Ukrainian schools, including:

In other countries (Argentina, Brazil, Canada — dozens of countries), Ukrainian schools also function, often feeling disconnected from the Ukrainian education system and experiencing a lack of educational and methodological resources for proper teaching of the Ukrainian language, literature, and culture.

As of September 2024, there are more than 350 Ukrainian educational centers worldwide, and their number is constantly growing.

It is worth noting that these are usually small schools operating solely on a volunteer basis. They are often schools attached to Ukrainian spiritual centers (often Catholic communities), informal gatherings on Saturdays or Sundays organized by Ukrainian parents living in a particular locality.

Problems faced by Ukrainian parents and schools abroad

Response to these problems

To help over 30 million Ukrainians abroad in the USA, Canada, Australia, European countries, and other parts of the world learn Ukrainian language and culture, we initiated the development of EdTech programs for diaspora children.

The goal is to help millions of young Ukrainians abroad learn the Ukrainian language and culture through a system of EdTech programs and applications developed by top experts — modern, engaging, user-friendly, interactive, and gamified (with a gaming component).

The Ukrainian Elite School takes responsibility for initiating, developing, administering, and implementing this project.

What will the result look like?

Our partners and specialists have already implemented similar projects. Among them is the interactive mobile app “Bible for Kids,” specially designed for preschool and early school-age children.

One of the most successful examples of what our project for children aged 8–10 will look like is the Ukrainian-language app “Bible for Kids.” It was implemented thanks to the joint efforts of the organization “OneHope,” Bible.com, and the Ukrainian localization expertize (translation, media, and technological solutions) led by Oles Dmytrenko.

Result: The app has already been downloaded by over 50 million users. Details can be found on Bible.com, where you can download it for free and see how fascinating this program is for children, their parents, and even their grandparents!

Another example of a great product for school-aged children is the GIOS Math Learning System, developed by our friends and co-founders of the EdTech Association Ukraine, which includes the Ukrainian School of Elites.

See how interesting, thanks to interactive and animated technologies, Math learning can be (in our case, the Ukrainian language programs). The GIOS platform is used by over 100,000 students in Ukraine alone.

Thus, our project involves creating a series of interactive programs and applications for learning Ukrainian using the same innovative approach — including technology, visualization, engagement, gamification, and user interaction to educate and develop Ukrainian children in all parts of the world.

By inviting the best experts — teachers, graphic designers, EdTech masters and others — we will develop an exciting educational system that evokes positive emotions and facilitates learning by our children, bringing joy to their parents and grandparents.

Audio, animation, games, and much more will work to ensure that millions of Ukrainian children enjoy communicating in their native language and pass on Ukrainian culture from generation to generation.

What obstacles hinder the project’s implementation?

According to the policies of most investment and charitable funds, priority is given to global projects with international impact or those related to “entering foreign markets.”

This means that commercial ideas of “scalability” often take precedence over the humanitarian mission of solving pressing problems, such as a child’s broken psyche when living abroad and feeling disconnected from their people, language, and culture. Or the desperate attempts of Ukrainian parents whose children were born in another culture to pass on the rich and fascinating linguistic, literary, and cultural heritage of their nation — due to a lack of resources.

Due to popular grant requirements, universal subjects such as math, physics, robotics, etc., quickly receive funding because they can be “scaled.” Meanwhile, the Ukrainian language (literature and culture) does not fit standard criteria.

Thus, there are two main obstacles:

  1. Lack of funding for strategic projects to support the Ukrainian language and culture abroad.
  2. Lack of understanding among foreign charitable foundations, humanitarian organizations, or individual donors about the urgent need for Ukrainians to preserve their language and culture, especially in the context of Russian aggression.

Are there other obstacles to implementing this project? No, there are no other obstacles. We have unique experience in project development, administration, and implementation. We have established an excellent network of partners, specialists, and like-minded people.

We know how to implement this grand project from A to Z. All that is needed for its implementation is financial support in line with the budget.

Project cost

The total cost of the project: $1 million USD.

The cost of the first phase: $200,000 USD. Duration of implementation: 12 months.

Impact of the project

What is included

The total budget covers the development, administration, and implementation of the complex project consisting of thirty-five components:

  1. Development of a methodology for Ukrainian language programs for diaspora children.
  2. Program for preschool diaspora children to study the Ukrainian language.
  3. Program for diaspora children in grade 5 to study the Ukrainian language.
  4. Program for diaspora children in grade 6 to study the Ukrainian language.
  5. Program for diaspora children in grade 7 to study the Ukrainian language.
  6. Program for diaspora children in grade 8 to study the Ukrainian language.
  7. Program for diaspora children in grade 9 to study the Ukrainian language.
  8. Program for high school diaspora students to study the Ukrainian language and prepare for external independent testing (for those planning to pursue higher education in Ukraine or meet the Ukrainian language proficiency standards set by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine).
  9. Interactive gamified computer (desktop, laptop, tablet) version of the educational program for preschool diaspora children to study the Ukrainian language.
  10. Interactive gamified mobile version of the educational program for preschool diaspora children to study the Ukrainian language.
  11. Interactive gamified computer (desktop, laptop, tablet) version of the educational program for diaspora children in grade 5 to study the Ukrainian language.
  12. Interactive gamified mobile version of the educational program for diaspora children in grade 5 to study the Ukrainian language.
  13. Interactive gamified computer (desktop, laptop, tablet) version of the educational program for diaspora children in grade 6 to study the Ukrainian language.
  14. Interactive gamified mobile version of the educational program for diaspora children in grade 6 to study the Ukrainian language.
  15. Interactive gamified computer (desktop, laptop, tablet) version of the educational program for diaspora children in grade 7 to study the Ukrainian language.
  16. Interactive gamified mobile version of the educational program for diaspora children in grade 7 to study the Ukrainian language.
  17. Interactive gamified computer (desktop, laptop, tablet) version of the educational program for diaspora children in grade 8 to study the Ukrainian language.
  18. Interactive gamified mobile version of the educational program for diaspora children in grade 8 to study the Ukrainian language.
  19. Interactive gamified computer (desktop, laptop, tablet) version of the educational program for diaspora children in grade 9 to study the Ukrainian language.
  20. Interactive gamified mobile version of the educational program for diaspora children in grade 9 to study the Ukrainian language.
  21. Interactive gamified computer (desktop, laptop, tablet) version of the educational program for high school diaspora students to study the Ukrainian language.
  22. Interactive gamified mobile version of the educational program for high school diaspora students to study the Ukrainian language.
  23. Development of media materials: audio recordings, video recordings, etc.
  24. Development of visual tools: graphic design, illustration, etc.
  25. Scientific support for the project (especially in folklore, ethnology, and culture: symbols, concepts, terms, chronology, stages, eras, names, titles, approaches, facts, etc.).
  26. Development of a unified systematic approach to gamification.
  27. Development of technological and interactive functions (synchronizing audio accompaniment with text, etc.).
  28. Development of AI (artificial intelligence) solutions adapted to the specifics of the project.
  29. Development of a testing system.
  30. Consultation on compliance with the requirements of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine.
  31. Consultation on moral and ethical compliance.
  32. Consultation on legal compliance.
  33. Project administration, including operational and organizational activities.
  34. Communication at all levels of the project.
  35. Promotion of the project to the target audience.

Implementation stages

First stage (12 months)

The implementation of the first stage of the project, “Development of methodology and creation of the first EdTech program — for preschool and early school-age children,” is scheduled for a period of 12 months.

The cost of the first stage: $200,000 USD. It consists of the following components:

  1. Development of a methodology for Ukrainian language programs for diaspora children.
  2. Program for preschool and early school-age diaspora children to study the Ukrainian language.
  3. Interactive gamified computer (desktop, laptop, tablet) version of the educational program for preschool diaspora children to study the Ukrainian language.
  4. Interactive gamified mobile version of the educational program for preschool diaspora children to study the Ukrainian language.
  5. Development of media materials: audio recordings, video recordings, etc.
  6. Development of visual tools: graphic design, illustration, etc.
  7. Scientific support for the project (especially in folklore, ethnology, and culture: symbols, concepts, terms, chronology, stages, eras, names, titles, approaches, facts, etc.).
  8. Development of a unified systematic approach to gamification.
  9. Development of technological and interactive functions (synchronizing audio accompaniment with text, etc.).
  10. Development of AI (artificial intelligence) solutions adapted to the specifics of the project.
  11. Development of a testing system.
  12. Consultation on compliance with the requirements of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine.
  13. Consultation on moral and ethical compliance.
  14. Consultation on legal compliance.
  15. Project administration, including operational and organizational activities.
  16. Communication at all levels of the project.
  17. Promotion of the project to the target audience.

How to support the project

To support the “Children of the Diaspora” project, write to us (click the “Support” button).

The financial goal of the first stage is to ensure a reliable project budget equivalent to $200,000 USD.

These funds will have a specific purpose (the “Children of the Diaspora” project).

Legal entities, foundations, organizations, or individuals can request the necessary documentation — payment documents, thank-you letters, reports, etc. Join us!

Reporting

We keep records of every contribution made by our friends, like-minded people, and patrons toward the project — date, amount, donor name, purpose. Each donor receives a financial report, as well as updates on the progress and results of the project.

The names of donors and organizations supporting our mission are displayed on the Thank You Page (except for those who prefer anonymity or request to be listed as Incognito). Join us, and let’s do something great together!

Every teenager dreams big — college, a career, a bright future. But for many Ukrainian high school seniors, these dreams feel out of reach. War, financial struggles, and loss have created barriers no child should face alone. This is where you can make a difference.

A special category of youth

Many high school students and prospective university applicants dream of higher education but cannot adequately prepare for admission. Among them are:

Problems addressed by the project

This youth faces various challenges—local, psychological, and social—that the project aims to resolve.

Local problems:

Psychological problems:

Apart from financial and educational challenges, this youth experiences a range of psychological issues:

National-level problems:

Ukraine’s recovery from the destruction caused by Russian military aggression requires:

When motivated youth are deprived of opportunities for self-realization, the state loses its most valuable asset—human potential.

Social consequences:

Young people who are unable to achieve their first major goal—admission to a higher education institution—due to circumstances beyond their control (financial difficulties, loss of one or both parents, etc.) often resort to anti-social behavior and degrade.

Positive impact of the project

Join the project that will improve the lives and destinies of 100 children from socially vulnerable categories. The project will have the following positive effects:

Instead of wasted years, this youth will gain a successful future. These boys and girls will acquire modern professions and become self-sufficient, supporting their families. The country will receive a new generation of energetic, highly qualified professionals essential for post-war recovery.

Project budget

Project duration: 9 months.
Budget: 2.7 million UAH.

Budget structure:

The project cost includes the following:

Project implementation

The project will involve the best specialists and partners:

How to support the project

You can support the project with any amount. Together, we can change the world for the better, giving a future to 100 Ukrainian high school students and prospective university applicants.

Cost breakdown:

Support one, two, ten, or even all of our students to contribute to the mission of forming a generation of competent, successful leaders who will rebuild Ukraine.

The Impact of War

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, nearly 7 million Ukrainians have been forced to leave their homes, seeking refuge abroad. Many lost everything—their homes destroyed or left behind in occupied territories. Mothers fled with their children, doing whatever it took to ensure their safety.

By September 2024, over 335,000 Ukrainian students living abroad continued their education through Ukrainian schools, often while juggling local school systems in their host countries. However, a shocking 250,000 students have fallen out of the Ukrainian education system entirely.

The countries hosting the largest numbers of Ukrainian refugees include Poland (1.5 million), Germany (1 million), Czechia (500,000), Italy (400,000), and Spain (300,000). These nations have opened their doors, but the challenges are immense, especially for young learners.

The Challenges We Aim to Solve

No country can provide sufficient teachers to ensure 500,000 Ukrainian children abroad have access to quality Ukrainian language education.
Without learning their native language, literacy levels plummet, affecting students’ ability to think critically and maintain cultural connections.
Students who dream of returning to Ukraine for higher education face an uphill battle since Ukrainian language proficiency is required for university entrance, professional communication, and civic participation.

The Solution

Our project will provide 100 motivated Ukrainian high school students living abroad with the resources, support, and preparation they need to succeed. These students are determined to return to Ukraine, pursue higher education, and contribute to their country’s future.

With your help, these students will:

Master the Ukrainian language.
Achieve high scores on the mandatory Ukrainian language section of the National Multi-Subject Test (NMT).
Secure admission to their dream universities in Ukraine.

In return, Ukraine will gain a new generation of motivated, skilled professionals—young leaders who have already gained invaluable international and cross-cultural experiences while living abroad. Equipped with higher education and specialized skills, they will help rebuild and transform Ukraine.

Why This Matters

We can’t help every displaced student, but we can make a meaningful difference for 100 motivated young people who are ready to take the next step. These students will go on to shape Ukraine’s future, applying what they’ve learned both abroad and at home.

Project Budget

The program will last nine months, with a total cost of 4.5 million UAH (approximately €103,000). The breakdown is simple. Preparing one student costs 6,000 UAH (€138) per month or 54,000 UAH (€1,242) for the entire nine-month program.

For 100 students:
Monthly cost: 6,000 UAH x 100 students = 600,000 UAH (€13,800)
Total for 9 months: 54,000 UAH x 100 students = 5.4 million UAH (€124,200)

How You Can Help

You can support this project with any amount. Every contribution brings us closer to giving these students a future in Ukraine.

The cost to prepare one student for nine months is 6,000 UAH per month or 54,000 UAH (€1,242) for the full program. Sponsor one student, five students, or even more. Together, we can help these young people return home, build meaningful lives, and contribute to rebuilding Ukraine.

Your support means the world to these students—and to Ukraine’s future. Let’s make it happen.