Children in Zaporizhzhia hopeful after years of lost learning
Children like 13-year-old Elana are taking part in catch-up classes as part of Ukraine’s national ‘School Online’ strategy, aiming to return over 350,000 children to in-person or blended learning.
- Українська
- English
Thirteen-year-old Elana has been living in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine for nearly two years, after fleeing the violence in Prymorsk with her family in 2022. At first, adjusting to life in a new city was not easy – remote learning and the social isolation took a toll on her confidence. Now, with the help of catch-up classes supported by the European Union, UNICEF and the savED Foundation, she is starting to feel like herself again.
“It was hard for me to study online,” says Elana, who joins maths and Ukrainian classes twice a week. “I struggled to absorb the material because there weren’t enough explanations or face-to-face interaction. But here, the teachers help, explain things and offer support.”
“My knowledge and performance in many subjects have improved significantly. Now, my grades have noticeably improved, especially in maths and Ukrainian. And I’ve made new friends too.”
Hanna Lehutska, Elana’s teacher, has seen the young girl’s confidence grow, thanks to the guidance and support on offer at the learning recovery centre.
“Now she works confidently with algebra and geometry, isn’t afraid of difficult tasks and actively joins in school life,” says Hanna. “Her steady motivation and approach have helped her a lot.”
What makes the learning recovery centre special, Hanna adds, is that it focuses not on grades, but on giving children the freedom to try, make mistakes and grow without fear.
“Our centre has been operating since March 2025,” explains Hanna. “We offer free supplementary classes for pupils in Years 5 to 7. One of the greatest needs among our learners is live communication, both with peers and with teachers”.
“Many children are afraid to make mistakes because they’ve grown used to being graded harshly or judged for them. That’s why it’s so important that we don’t measure progress here through grades. This gives children the freedom to try, without fear and gradually fill in their learning gaps.”
Elana is not just catching up on what she missed in Year 7 – she is also learning how to manage her emotions, communicate and believe in herself again. She hopes to go to university and become a dentist one day.
“I feel that I’ve become more confident. I enjoy learning, and I’ve made many new friends here. I dream of going home, even just for a day – to see my town, my school, my house.”
Across the Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions, more than 24,000 children like Elana are taking part in the learning recovery programme. With support from the European Union, UNICEF and the savED Foundation, 207 catch-up centres and 48 digital learning spaces have been established. Over 1,000 teachers have received special training to support children’s learning and wellbeing. The initiative is part of Ukraine’s national ‘School Online’ strategy, aiming to return over 350,000 children to in-person or blended learning.
