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!
On October 5, 2024, Psychologist Olga Dmytrenko, a volunteer at the Ukrainian School of Elites, conducted a mental care training session titled “Self-Care” for Kyiv’s New Life Evangelical church community during the retreat and rehabilitation weekend in a forest area of Cherkasy region, 2 hour drive to the South from Ukraine’s capital.
Internally displaced people, the elderly, young students, and others were built up emotionally and psychologically. Olha shared latest scientific research data on self-care. And conducted a practical part of the session. The training was a treasure in view of the war trauma and the consequent permanent stress everyone is experiencing as long as the war continues.
The Ukrainian School of Elites is honored to be represented by such experts as Olha Dmytrenko, the professional with a big heart.
On October 24, 2024, the President of the Ukrainian School of Elites (USE), Yuriy Safonov, within the framework of a charitable project aimed at overcoming psychological trauma, donated 150 copies of the book “5 Steps to Eternity” by Canadian author Leanne Paetkau, for free use to representatives of community organizations in Cherkasy.
The coordinator in Cherkasy is Maxim Hryhorovych Sahaidak, pastor of the Church “House of the Father.”
Leanne Paetkau is a Canadian author and missionary who lived in Ukraine for 20 years. At one point in her life, she and her husband John faced tragedy when their daughter Lanea died during a skiing trip in the rocky peaks of Kockreyn.
To cope with the trauma of her loss, Leanne kept a diary of prayers and reflections, where she poured out her soul, emotions, and anger at God, struggling to understand why this happened. The endless “Why?” is familiar to anyone who has lost a loved one.
The book has been translated into Ukrainian and published in Ukraine with the efforts of patrons and the authors themselves for free distribution among those in need of support.
During the war, Ukrainians are losing their loved ones—military personnel, medics, volunteers, and civilians. Every Ukrainian family has felt the pain of loss.
Leanne Paetkau‘s book aims to support all those who know this pain.
Yuriy Safonov, the President of the Ukrainian School of Elites, voluntarily oversees this project, distributing the books to those categories of Ukrainians who need psychological support during this time.
The Ukrainian School of Elites (UASE) focuses on values-based integral leadership formation, psychological training, and innovations such as EdTech and new approaches to management (Agile, Management 3.0, Scrum, etc.) We address ethical standards, poverty reduction, carrer growth opportunities for youth, quality education, society formation, and public dialogue between businesses, the church, government, and professional community.
The most immediate challenge is Russia’s ongoing aggression, starting with the 2014 invasion and full-scale war in 2022. The conflict has displaced millions, created orphans, and left countless families and communities in need of psychological support. UASE focuses on helping veterans, their families, volunteers, and internally displaced people by providing mental, social, and similar support.
A second significant issue is redefining the idea of leadership in Ukraine. Historically, Soviet influence suppressed independent thought and private enterprise. Leaders were not seen as morally driven but as corrupt. Today, UASE aims to cultivate leaders with integrity, reliability, and a commitment to ethical standards. This new definition of “elite” places emphasis on moral character and competence rather than wealth or possessions.
Continuing to transform our socity is crucial because Soviet ideology left a legacy of corruption that has slowed Ukraine’s progress. After the USSR collapsed, the country saw a rise in organized crime that seeped into the government. By promoting a model of ethical, values-based leadership, Ukrainian School of Elites seeks to steer Ukraine away from these negative influences.
UASE recognizes that civil society in Ukraine has deep roots, despite decades of repression. From the spiritual revival in the 1990s (Christianity was officially accepted as a state religion in 988 A.C. in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, but in the XX century it was persecuted by the Soviet regime) to mass movements like the Orange Revolution and Euromaidan, Ukrainians have consistently pushed for freedom and justice. Thus, we believe in the need to foster our spiritual heritage as a foundation for healthy society, and support positive societal transformations.
Ukraine’s education system faces unprecedented challenges. The Soviet-era structure, compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic and now the war, has led to a drop in quality. Many teachers lack the tools and training for effective online and remote learning, especially for teaching Ukrainian as a official state language. We address this issue by developing accessible educational resources and training programs to support teachers and students nationwide. Additionally, we emphasizes the importance of digital literacy and modern approaches (Agile, Management 3.0, Scrum) to doing business.
The Ukrainian School of Elites is dedicated to tackle some of Ukraine’s most pressing issues:
Through such initiatives, the Ukrainian School of Elites seeks to help Ukraine rebuild and thrive with a foundation of integrity, resilience, and community-driven growth.