One of their core initiatives encourages young people to teach in small Ukrainian communities where teachers are in short supply. Motivated graduates and young specialists from various fields are invited to participate—pedagogical education is not required.
Oksana Matiyash, Chairperson of Teach for Ukraine, told Channel 24 that participants teach in small settlements for one year. The NGO works to encourage these young teachers to stay in their communities, addressing the ongoing shortage of educators.
Since 2017, the NGO has engaged young professionals from top universities, including former IT specialists, banking employees, and medical professionals. These individuals want to change careers and enter education.
“The ages of participants vary—from recent graduates to those with work experience ready for a shift. Their skills and professional knowledge are valuable assets; each brings unique expertise,” Matiyash emphasized.
She noted that Ukrainian children face learning gaps caused by COVID-19 and the ongoing full-scale Russian invasion, and these gaps keep growing.
“We don’t focus solely on solving the teacher shortage—that’s a systemic problem existing in Ukraine for a long time. Our focus is on creating systemic support for students struggling with learning by involving young professionals in schools,” Matiyash explained.
The NGO aims for program participants to remain in their local communities after their teaching term.
“For example, one participant became a school principal in Lviv, and a former graduate now heads a children’s creativity center where she taught. This systemic approach partly helps address the teacher shortage,” Matiyash said.
The NGO also runs a student mentorship initiative—an intellectual volunteering effort to support children in frontline regions with limited access to education.
“We involve 3rd to 6th-year university students, who receive free training and then mentor kids for eight weeks, helping with learning and skill development. Our community already counts about 300 members across Ukraine,” Matiyash shared.
Since the start of the 2024 school year, 30 young Ukrainians have joined the Teach for Ukraine Fellowship program, bringing their knowledge to children in small settlements.
Author: Yuliya Hrynishyna, journalist, Channel 24
