Who are our heroes? Yuliia — a librarian and a mother raising her son on her own while her husband works far away. Mykhailo — her son, who says they share a love for traditions and family pets.
The beginning of the war forced their family to leave home and move to Poland, where they found temporary refuge. Mykhailo quickly adapted to the new environment, studying in two schools at once: offline in Poland and online in Ukraine.
“I was the best in English among all the middle-school classes,” Mykhailo recalls with pride about his studies in Poland.
And yet, despite the comfort and support they found abroad, both mother and son felt the pull of home.
“I didn’t feel comfortable staying abroad. We returned right after the school year ended in 2023,” Yuliia shares.
That was when the Educational Support program on overcoming learning losses became an important chapter in Mykhailo’s life.
He speaks enthusiastically about the friendly atmosphere, modern approach, and professionalism of the teachers. He says the learning experience was “perfetto!” and especially valued meeting peers from all across Ukraine.
“I attended extra classes in Ukrainian language and math. It was a lot of fun, especially when we played Kahoot!” he says.
For Yuliia, Educational Sup is a model of creative education.
“The material is presented briefly, but to the point. It’s much more engaging than in regular school, so I quickly noticed a positive change in my son’s progress,” she explains.
Today, despite all the challenges, Mykhailo not only studies well but also actively develops his hobbies. Alongside music and robotics, he organizes children’s movie screenings at the library — just one of his many passions.
“Every Saturday I set up the projector and play a film, while the other kids bring snacks. Last time we watched Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” he shares.
The story of Yuliia and Mykhailo is one of resilience and faith in education — showing just how important it is to support children and create new opportunities for them to overcome learning losses.
