Two Years of War in Ukraine: Resilience, Reinforcement and Recovery
For the past two years, as Ukrainian society has grappled with the immense challenges caused by war, our ORT Ukraine community has become a beacon of support for our students, teachers and their families.
With the assistance of World ORT and our global fundraising partners, ORT Ukraine has provided essential aid including emergency financial assistance, psychological support, emergency response training, food, equipment and supplies.
But with the initial crisis response now developing into a longer, sustained provision, and the situation across the country remaining volatile and unpredictable, we must do more.
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Realities on the Ground
Around 370 dedicated ORT Ukraine teachers have continued to provide educational services for more than 3,800 of our students. Around two-thirds of the children are now learning in Ukraine itself, with the other students remaining abroad – most having fled the outbreak of violence in February 2022.
Across the six cities in which ORT is currently working – Kyiv, Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, Chernivtsi, Dnipro and Bila Tserkva – education is generally taking place half in person and half online.
In schools where face-to-face classes are possible, such as Kyiv, there is constant disruption and imminent danger, despite the safety precautions being taken such as upgrades to shelters.
Close to the front line, in Zaporizhzhia, our students and their families face a precarious balance between education and safety.
The impact on the mental health and educational continuity of children, families, and educators within the ORT Ukraine community is profound, emphasizing the remarkable resilience required in these trying circumstances.
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Support for ORT Ukraine
Thanks to the generosity of ORT supporters globally, and the continued support of the Jewish Federations of North America, in the past two years we have been able to raise around $3.7 million.
Those funds have been spent on:
Emergency Operational Costs
Including meals, transport, the evacuation and long-term support of hundreds of staff, students and families from Zaporizhzhia and Odesa to a safer area in western Ukraine, medication, relocation of staff and families, and other essential items
Learning Support
Since the onset of the Covid pandemic four years ago, our schools in Ukraine have provided hybrid studies, supported by much-needed technological infrastructure to ensure the educational process continues
Financial Aid
We have provided economic assistance to 400 teachers and school staff, as well as to students’ families
Support for Schools Receiving Refugees
Grants were provided to support the needs of Ukrainian refugees who arrived in Jewish communities and ORT schools across Europe, including in Rome, Sofia, Barcelona, Madrid, Prague, Vilnius, Tallinn and at World ORT’s Kfar Silver Youth Village in Israel
In the Past Year
We have:
- expanded capacity of the school shelter in Kyiv
- reopened our school in Odesa
- provided safety training and first aid certification across all ORT Ukraine schools
- supported Hebrew and Jewish education teachers financially
- run after-school clubs with lectures, Hebrew language courses, and other special events in Kyiv
- provided significant emotional support and trauma counseling
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The Ongoing Needs
The coming year promises to be equally challenging. We have estimated more than $1.5 million of further assistance is needed to meet the ongoing needs in the following areas:
Monthly expenses for meals, security and maintaining uninterrupted power supplies
Equipment for schools including maintenance and upgrades of equipment and restocking school bomb shelter supplies
Repairing school buildings and shelters where substantial damage has been caused by shelling and shockwaves in the area.
While thankfully none of our schools have suffered a direct hit, in Kyiv and Zaporizhzhia especially, roofs, supporting walls and windows are all showing signs of significant problems
Trauma counseling and emotional support for students and teachers across the country
Support for Jewish education to cover the shortage of Jewish Studies teachers
The lack of Jewish literature and textbooks remains a key issue in all our Ukrainian schools
Support for students with special educational needs following the reduction of government resources
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“My name is Raisa Sherbatuk. I have been working as a Hebrew teacher at Odesa ORT Jabotinsky School #94 for many years.
“The conflict has disrupted our classroom activities and significantly strained students and educators. Frequent air raid alarms disrupt the teaching and learning process, adding an additional layer of anxiety.
“Before the war, there were five Hebrew and Jewish Studies teachers: now we are only two. We have had to merge classes and reduce Hebrew lessons for some grades from three per week to two.
“My workload has increased dramatically. I now teach 36 lessons every week – seven or eight a day with no breaks. Additionally, I need to provide extra classes for new students, distance learning students and those who are behind.
“I want to express my deepest appreciation and gratitude to ORT supporters – your efforts have been invaluable, not only to me but also to our entire school community. Thank you for standing with us during this challenging period.”
Raisa Sherbatuk, Hebrew Teacher at Odesa ORT Jabotinsky School #94
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‘ORT Ukraine is a Family’
“My name is Yulia Koshtovna, I am the mother of Maria, a 10th grade student of ORT Alef Jewish School in Zaporizhzhia.
“My husband Mikhail has served in the Ukrainian Forces since 2014. We were worried about him almost every day because he served in combat and zones of the Donetsk region.
“Despite the difficult conditions in the country, we tried to keep our everyday life as it was. Maria went to the best school in our town, travelling long distances to get there but participating in and benefiting from many educational and informal activities during the past year.
“She has been doing gymnastics to a high level for years and has always showcased her performances at the school. Mikhail has always been present at her performances; he had to help with the equipment, applaud loudly, and support her. Our daughter studied diligently because she has always wanted to please her parents with good grades.
“In April 2022, great grief came to our family. My husband became terminally ill. Thanks to ORT Ukraine and its support, we were able to get him the best treatment possible, including several courses of chemotherapy in Dnipro, and essential medicines.
“Sadly Mikhail did not survive. It shook us all and it is hard to accept that we have lost the foundation on which our lives were built.
“Unfortunately, our eldest daughter, Alexandra, started losing her hearing. She had an operation on her left ear, but sadly, it did not give the desired result. She needed a second, expensive operation, and again, ORT was vital to us with financial support.
“The teachers, classes, parents and the whole school supported us. We appreciate it so deeply. It is good to know that there are people who care and are ready to help when someone faces hardship. In this way ORT Ukraine is a family to us, and we are forever grateful.”
Yulia Koshtovna, mother of 10th grade student, ORT Alef Jewish School in Zaporizhzhia
ORT Odesa Teacher, Anna, shares the realities of two years of war in Ukraine
