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| Svitlo School | |
|---|---|
| Charitable online school for Ukrainian children affected by war | |
| Date founded | 14 March 2022 |
| Founder | Yuliya Kosko |
| Mission | Educating future political and social leaders of Ukraine |
| Registration | Svitlo Education; registered in England and Wales (No. 1201542) |
| Website | svitloschool.com |
Svitlo School (from Ukr. «світло» – “light” and Eng. “school”; officially Svitlo Education Ltd.) is an online charity that provides free extracurricular lessons in English to the Ukrainian students. It is officially registered in England and Wales as Svitlo Education(Charity Commission No. 1201542).[1]
The school was founded on 14 March 2022 by Yulia Kosko in response to the disruption of education cause by the Russian invasion of Ukraine,[2] to support displaced and disrupted students through continued access to language education and community initiatives.
Svitlo School also cooperates with educational institutions around the world, offering access to educational programmes, scholarships and summer camps in the UK and the USA.[3]
History
[edit]Svitlo School was founded by Yulia Kosko on March 14, 2022. At first, the initiative was launched for the children in her hometown of Zaporizhzhia, where the first lessons were delivered online by volunteers from the UK.
By June 2025, over 2,500 students aged 10-18 have joined Svitlo School, supported by more than 60 volunteer teachers working alongside Ukrainian coordinators.
In January 2023, Svitlo Education Ltd was registered in England and Wales (Charity Commission for England and Wales No. 1201542) and submits annual reports to the Charity Commission.[1]
Areas of activity
[edit]The organisation states its main goal is to support Ukrainian students outside the traditional classroom environment. Its core focus areas include improving English-language proficiency, fostering a global mindset, and developing “soft skills.”
Educational programmes
[edit]Svitlo School offers over 80 online courses on various topics, including unconventional subjects like yoga or art with math. All lessons are delivered in English in an attempt to create an immersive learning environment.
Preparatory English courses are provided for new students to bring them up to the level required for the main programs.
Summer Camps and Study Opportunities
[edit]The school has attracted support from educational institutions like International House London, which offer summer camp placements as well as funds for short-term international programs.[4]
Educational companies supporting Svitlo School include:
- Zoom, which provided free licences
- Pearson, which provided English tests and placement at online schools.
- Duolingo, which provided English proficiency tests.[5]
Building Community
[edit]Svitlo School highlights its student community as a significant accomplishment of the organisation. It creates socialisation for displaced students through various online events along with permanent systems:
- Houses — students are divided into four houses for friendly competitions
- Student Council— student representatives initiate projects and cooperate with the school administration.
- Buddies — experienced students provide mentoring
Svitlo School works with Ukrainian schools through the Svitlo Reads program to improve Ukrainian children's access to English-language literature. Bookstands modelled by British phone booths are installed in school bomb shelters as part of the effort.
The project originated as a student proposal during a GSL competition.[6] [7][8]
Media coverage
[edit]- ISC Research in the School Leader magazine highlighted Svitlo School as an example of an initiative to create a secure future for students in times of uncertainty.[9]
- The Independent Schools Association (ISA) published the article ‘How to unlock the power of education during war’, describing the challenges of Ukrainian students and the role of Svitlo School in overcoming them.[10]
- UCL School of Management recognised the Svitlo student's team for participating in the Deloitte Digital × UCL Design Sprint.[11]
- The Ukraina Moloda newspaper has repeatedly written about the school's charity actions and projects.[12][13][14]
- Ukrainian Radio talked about the school in the programme ‘Educational Diary’.[15]
- European Business Association presented Svitlo School as an example of an innovative educational project[16]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Charity Details for Svitlo Education". Charity Commission. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
- ^ "Construction starts on first underground school in Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia". zt.20minut.ua. 7 July 2024. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
- ^ "Summer School – Svitlo School". Retrieved 17 June 2025.
- ^ "What We Do – Svitlo School". Retrieved 17 June 2025.
- ^ "Partners & Sponsors – Svitlo School". Retrieved 17 June 2025.
- ^ "PARTNERSHIP/COLLABORATION SENIOR WINNER 2024/25 – SVITLO SCHOOL – SVITLO READS". Global Social Leaders. Future Foundations Training Ltd. Retrieved 8 June 2025.
- ^ "Книги замість страху: книжкові полиці в укриттях та освіта, що дарує надію". Дзеркало тижня. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
- ^ "Від книжкової шафи Svitlo School у бомбосховищах до перемоги: як освіта змінює майбутнє України вже сьогодні". Укрінформ. 10 February 2025. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
- ^ "Creating a Secure Future for Students in Times of Uncertainty". ISC Research. 6 February 2025. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
- ^ "How to unlock the power of education during war" (PDF). ISA. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
- ^ "BSc Information Management & Business Design Sprint 2024". UCL Management. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
- ^ "Svitlo School: An educational bridge to the future for Ukrainian youth [Svitlo School: Освітній міст у майбутнє для української молоді]". The Ukraina Moloda. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
- ^ "Children need light: Yevheniy Polishchuk on why Svitlo School is an investment in the future of Ukraine". Україна молода. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
- ^ "When you are not alone: stories of Ukrainian teenagers learning to stick together, photos". The Ukraina Moloda. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
- ^ ""SvitloSchool" - the light of education during war". Ukrainian Radio. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
- ^ "Svitlo School: освітній проєкт для успішного майбутнього покоління України". 18 April 2025.
External links
[edit]See also
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