Students at a STEM class in an ORT school in Kyiv
With frequent air raid alerts and power outages bringing death and destruction to Ukraine, ORT-supported schools remain vital centers of learning and resilience.
As winter approaches, we have identified around $2.6 million of needs –$1.8m of which are urgent essentials for the coming months.
As the new academic year unfolds, vital support is already being provided to the ORT Ukraine community of five Jewish schools (in Kyiv, Chernivtsi, Odesa and Zaporizhzhia) along with two Jewish ORT-affiliated schools in Bila Tserkva and Dnipro.
Additionally, ORT Ukraine’s own Tikkun Olam initiatives are supporting 11 small-town schools in the Kyiv region with essential educational resources for students in rural and under-served areas.
The assistance provided includes fleece jackets and blankets for new students and staff in school shelters; psychological support programs; assistance for ORT families affected by property damage, injury, or loss; backpacks and stationery sets for first-graders; Jewish education initiatives; hot meals; supplements to teacher salaries; support for schools’ social needs; essential study equipment; and other urgent needs.
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With stricter government regulations in Ukraine now requiring a return to in-person learning, our belief is that almost all students have resumed in-person classes.
The main exception is at our school in Zaporizhzhia, close to the front line, which continues to operate in a hybrid format. Some displaced students in other cities and countries are also still learning remotely.
The wide-ranging support provided by World ORT, our donors, supporters and network is already having an impact.
Thanks to your generosity our students, who are forced to study in underground shelters, have access to the latest learning tools that open up endless opportunities for them to learn about the world, develop critical thinking and creativity.
“Interactive panels are already being used in our underground classroom, making learning more visual, engaging and effective. They help teachers to apply innovative teaching methods and students to better absorb the material.”
Iryna Lukashenko, a teacher and mother of two students at the ORT Aleph school in Zaporizhzhia
Victoria, mother of a 9th-grade student at ORT’s school in Odesa, said she chose the school for her daughter because of “its focus on Hebrew, technology, and Jewish traditions – and we’ve been here since Grade 1.
“Elyzaveta is a well-rounded student involved in swimming, dancing, singing and English, and she’s taken part in extra robotics and math classes at the school.
“Without school buses, many students from distant districts simply couldn’t attend. Bus travel is also much safer during air raids. We’re endlessly grateful to you for ensuring our children’s safe commute and continued education.”
As another freezing winter begins, we have identified the following priority needs to sustain and strengthen the ORT Ukraine school communities during the daily hardships:
Educational Support
To sustain Jewish education across five Ukrainian schools (Kyiv, Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, Chernivtsi, Bila Tserkva), a further $88,000 is required. Programs include Jewish studies, holiday celebrations, and cultural activities that serve to foster identity and hope.
Shelter and Security
- A new shelter is needed at Kyiv Lyceum ORT #141: A structurally unsound basement must be replaced with a new shelter meeting safety standards ($980,000)
- Repairs and maintenance tools: Leak and mould fixes, plumbing, and electrical equipment ($37,000)
- Emergency meals: For shelter stays ($62,000)
- Medicine and first aid: Equipment valued at $11,000 is required
- Combined security needs: Including guards for Kyiv, Bila Tserkva, Zaporizhzhia; security cameras and upgrades, fencing ($259,000)
Infrastructure Repairs
- Hebrew classroom renovation in Odesa: Complete overhaul ($33,000)
- Electrical repairs in Odesa: Continued upgrades on unsafe wiring ($42,000)
- Shelling-related repairs: Roofs, windows, equipment ($42,000)
Energy Independence
To ensure continuity amid blackouts:
- Generator maintenance, fuel, repairs: $84,000
- Solar panels – Kyiv kindergarten: $150,000
- Battery replacements: $60,000
Community Development
- First aid training: $23,000
- SEN and trauma training: $15,000
- Meals in Chernivtsi: $30,000
- Support for 11 non-Jewish ORT schools: Urgent repairs, medicine, and training – $160,000
Emergency Reserve
A $500,000 reserve is needed for urgent crises: remote learning tools, emergency aid for families, and potential evacuations if heating systems fail amid Ukraine’s damaged energy grid. These funds will also address unplanned infrastructure damage from shelling.
