The Parallels project is an educational and cultural exchange initiative launched by Teach For Ukraine Fellowship alumni to help children from different parts of the country explore new regions and discover how much they have in common.
Participants from “parallel” communities traveled across Ukraine, explored new places, and developed leadership and communication skills.
The project was initiated by Viktoriia Komaryn, Tetiana Burynyk, Hanna Kudrinova, Bohdan Stanchuk, and Sofiia Myshelova.
“For my students, who have been learning online for over two years while living on the front line under daily shelling, Parallels became a breath of fresh air. It gave them the chance to relive ordinary school days: chatting during breaks, playing table tennis, and reciting poetry in front of classmates,” — said Viktoriia Komaryn.
Students from Radushne Lyceum visited the village of P’yadyky, learners from Pokrovske Lyceum traveled to the town of Lisets, while Dobroslav Lyceum spent time with the community of Velyka Dymerka.
“One of our goals was to create space for youth interaction and broaden their worldviews. Hearing their stories about new friendships, discoveries, and experiences from Parallels was incredibly valuable. Hugs and tears at farewell showed we achieved what we set out to do — as did the participants’ requests to reserve spots for the next wave,” — shared Tetiana Burynyk.
The final stage of the project took place in Lviv at School No. 62, where the principal, Volodymyr Pererva, is a Teach For Ukraine alumnus.
Students joined excursions to !FESTrepublic, the Old Lion Publishing House, and Lviv City Council. They also presented their communities and exchanged experiences.
“The exchange was a success! The children returned safe, happy, and full of new impressions. They not only broadened their perspectives but also strengthened their adaptability skills. They saw how others live, explored new communities, and discovered the beauty of Lviv,” — said Hanna Kudrinova.
The project was implemented with support from the Alumni Initiatives Fund by Teach For Ukraine and the Ukraine-Moldova American Enterprise Fund, and as part of the VolunTEENS hackathons supported by the Ukrainian Volunteer Service and UNICEF Ukraine
