The Russia-Ukraine war has been going on for so long that it’s becoming easier and easier each day to forget the real impacts that this massive conflict has and is still having. Ukrainian families and communities remain displaced, and the Ukrainian people still face massive challenges. The people affected by the war have been looking to the global community since day one for support, and it is about time to step up.
One of the most diverse schools in Texas, The Village School is all about its global community. From the March of Nations to the hours of service each student gives, it’s a school focused on making a difference in the world. The Village High School is full of clubs and societies working together to build communities focused on sharing interests, learning about each other, and making change– among them is EdUkraine.
EdUkraine is an out-of-school club that, although small, is part of a worldwide program that aims to support Ukrainian refugees affected by the war. During Russia’s invasion, Ukraine’s education system faced massive challenges. Over time, displaced families and estranged children had to flee the country with minimal support or knowledge of the cultures they were escaping to. This British-Ukrainian nonprofit’s mission (which can be found at edukraine.org) is to provide English lessons to children and help them adjust to their new situations; however, volunteers throughout the organization do everything from connecting people to resources to simply being someone to talk to.
The organization has utilised the support of school clubs throughout the nation, aiming to connect willing American students with young refugees via online chat and call. For the first year, The Village School will be one of the many schools participating in this program. Volunteers will be paired up with a participant of the program and will get the opportunity to chat
at least a few times a month. The goal is to give these refugees an opportunity to practice their English-language skills with a Native speaker, somewhat like penpals. In connecting these people across the world, refugees are able to share their experiences and culture with volunteers, and volunteers are able to do the same, working to build understanding and demonstrate across the world a beautiful show of human connection in a trying situation.
As 2025 begins, The Village School’s volunteers have just begun to meet their video-penpals.
“I am Ukrainian, and for me personally, I am a refugee in Spain, and I have the experience of not knowing a language or a culture and struggling to communicate,” said junior Mark Tripulskyi, co-leader of the EdUkraine Program at The Village School. “This same issue is happening for all Ukrainians who have moved to the United States. EdUkraine provides an opportunity for Ukranians to practice these essential skills.” Any of The Village School’s students interested in joining or supporting EdUkraine can contact Tripulskyi at [email protected] to learn more about participating in EdUkraine, or what they can do to help. “It’s no more than 30 minutes a week, or a month, but any contribution is valuable,” said Tripulskyi. “ At The Village School, I think this program is going wonderfully so far. We have 25 volunteers, and more than five people who have started doing their volunteering work. We’re planning to organise an event this semester; we want to raise money for Ukranians and refugees, and we have a couple of ideas. I am optimistic about how the club will do in the future at school.”
The world will always face its challenges and its dark times. What’s important is creating connections and supporting communities, no matter the situation, because with compassion and understanding, there will always be light at the end of the tunnel. At The Village School, clubs like EdUkraine understand the value of supporting people, whether they be next door or across the world, and it’s programs like these that make the school a very special place.
