Education Amid Change: Teach for Ukraine NGO Joins the Multi-Year Resilience Programme Funded by Education Cannot Wait

In 2024, Teach for Ukraine NGO became part of a national consortium of educational organizations within the framework of MYRPUA — a two-year inter-agency initiative addressing critical educational challenges in conflict-affected regions. The program is implemented with the support of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and is funded by Education Cannot Wait (ECW).

Teach for Ukraine’s participation in the consortium highlights its key role in tackling urgent educational issues while contributing to long-term strategies for rebuilding and strengthening Ukraine’s education system. As part of the initiative, the organization leads programming that includes training and mentoring for early-career teachers, learning recovery activities that will reach over 450 teachers and 7,000 students, and a new adolescent mental health support program.

Anastasiia Donska, Head of the education recovery program at Teach for Ukraine NGO, says:

“Children in Ukraine urgently need educational support. While they may formally have access to schooling, the war continues to hinder their ability to fully learn and thrive. That’s why civil society and international partners now play a critical role in sustaining the national education system. One of the most impactful collaborations in the sector is this ECW-supported consortium of civil society organizations, working hand in hand with the Ministry of Education and Science.
Together, the six leading education-focused NGOs in Ukraine have aligned their priorities and strategic responses through mid-2026. We are now moving forward in sync, coordinating efforts and amplifying one another’s impact to build a powerful wave of collective action.
We’re bringing together the most dedicated educators, volunteers, and community leaders to be the support system that children so deeply need to grow and thrive.”

What is MYRPUA?
The Multi-Year Resilience Programme for Ukraine (MYRPUA) is designed to support the recovery and reconstruction of the education system in Ukraine’s most war-affected regions. The initiative is delivered by two consortia of Ukrainian and international organizations.
The Ukrainian consortium is led by the Kyiv School of Economics and includes Teach for Ukraine NGO, EdCamp Ukraine NGO, Projector Creative and Tech Foundation, Osvitoria NGO, SavED Charitable Foundation. The international consortium is led by Finn Church Aid Ukraine and includes: DOCCU NGO, Dream and Act Charitable Foundation, GoGlobal NGO

The program is funded by Education Cannot Wait (ECW) — the United Nations global fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises. ECW supports inclusive, quality education for refugees, internally displaced children, and other crisis-affected learners. Working across the multilateral system, ECW connects immediate emergency responses with long-term recovery efforts through multi-year programs.
In Ukraine, the MYRPUA program will reach more than 150,000 students and 12,000 teachers from socially vulnerable groups across the 10 most affected regions.

What has Teach for Ukraine NGO achieved so far?
With funding from ECW, Teach for Ukraine launched its work under the MYRPUA umbrella in October 2024. Since then, the organization has:
Engaged 7,462 students across Ukraine in a Holiday Advent Calendar, developed with informational support from the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. The initiative ran from December 6 to December 31, featuring 30 creative tasks for two age groups. Tasks were available for 3–5 days after release, and 1,111 students completed at least 18 tasks to qualify for the prize draw. 150 winners received branded gifts by the end of January.
Published an up-to-date brochure on catch-up education initiatives in Ukraine (as of November 2024), summarizing national and international programs for learning recovery planned or underway for 2024–2025.
Delivered tutoring methodology training to 29 teachers, who then independently led approximately 200 catch-up sessions with students between December and January.

What’s Next?
Since 2017, Teach for Ukraine NGO has been recruiting and training young teachers — many without prior pedagogical education — and since 2022, has developed a tutoring-based learning recovery model.
Now, under the MYRPUA framework, the organization aims to transform its proven methods into scalable, teacher training tools. Recognizing the urgent need for structured catch-up education, Teach for Ukraine is committed to expanding this work even further.
Another important new direction is the mental health support of adolescents through peer-to-peer activities. The team hopes this effort will become an integral part of both Teach for Ukraine’s programming and nationwide secondary school support systems.

“Our mission is to create an educational environment where every child can learn, grow, and feel safe,” says Anastasiia Donska.
“With the support of ECW, the Ministry of Education and Science, and other key partners, we are reaching a new level of impact. We also rely on the active engagement of teachers, communities, and parents. Together, we’re shaping a better, more resilient educational future for Ukraine’s children.”

Teach for Ukraine NGO is a nonprofit organization working to ensure that every child in Ukraine can unlock their full potential, no matter where they are born or live. Founded in 2017, the organization is part of the global Teach For All network, which spans 63 countries.

In 2022, faced with the challenges of full-scale war, Teach for Ukraine launched the Education SUPport initiative (in Ukrainian “Osvytnyi Sup”). In 2023, it evolved into a nationwide education recovery program, now the largest of its kind in Ukraine. This program integrates tutoring and mentoring approaches to help students overcome learning gaps and thrive, even amid crisis.