ORT in Ukraine: Education in Wartime
For many children in Ukraine, school is the only place that offers them structure, safety and a sense of normality in wartime.
Since the Russian invasion in February 2022, despite every effort to maintain consistent schooling, young people have had their learning continuously disrupted by air raid sirens, missile attacks, and power cuts.
Today, ORT Ukraine supports 8,258 students in 20 schools across the country. Alongside education, ORT is providing psychological support, safe learning spaces, and backup power supplies so children can keep learning even during prolonged blackouts.
ORT-Aleph Lyceum
Just 20 miles from advancing Russian forces in Zaporizhzhia, is the ORT-Aleph Lyceum, serving 326 students. The school building has been out of use since the invasion because it has no shelter. After a missile strike in November 2024, the building was significantly damaged and remains unsafe.
After several years of online learning, classes now take place in a shared underground shelter at a neighbouring school. Younger pupils learn daily in the shelter. Older students alternate between in-person and online lessons. Air raid alarms and nearby strikes regularly interrupt the school day. Explosions are sometimes heard before sirens even sound.
Disrupted lessons are not the only concern. In January 2025, 13 year old Aleph student, Lilia Shchennikova, was injured in a rocket attack while travelling home. A nearby explosion caused a blast wave through the minibus she was travelling in. Her physical injuries were treatable but she required long-term psychological support for the trauma. Unfortunately, stories like this are part of daily life for families in the city.
Current Funding
Since the start of the war, ORT and its partners have raised nearly $5million to support emergency education in Ukraine. But the crisis is not short term and needs are increasing. Schools require continued support to stay open and safe.
ORT must raise £225,000 to keep ORT-Aleph Lyceum running safely.
PRIORTY NEEDS:
1. Learning equipment — £11,000
Basic technology needs replacing so lessons can continue both online and in the shelter. This includes laptops, webcams, keyboards, and updated internet equipment to keep connections stable.
2. Backup power supplies — £12,000
Charging stations are needed so teachers can keep working and the school can function during long power cuts.
3. Security system — £3,000
Repairs and replacements for the school’s video monitoring system are needed to ensure students and staff are protected.
4. Building repairs — £190,000
The roof has been badly damaged and must be repaired to prevent further deterioration. The fence and gates also need fixing to improve safety around the school site.
5. Psychological support and first aid — £9,000
Ongoing counselling for students, teachers, and parents is needed, plus essential first aid training and supplies to respond quickly in emergencies.
Why your support matters
For thousands of children, ORT schools are more than classrooms. They are safe spaces in the middle of uncertainty. They are places where children can focus on maths, reading, friendships, and their future, even when war surrounds them.
Your donation will help keep schools open, protected, and ready to support every child who walks through their doors.
