Dozens of laptops and robotics: how an international project helps schools
Three more Lviv schools received 30 laptops and 10 sets of robotics as part of the Ukrainian-Taiwanese charity project “Leave no one behind partnership”
This week, three Lviv schools received 30 laptops and 10 sets of robotics free of charge as part of the Ukrainian-Taiwanese charity project “Leave no one behind partnership”. This became possible thanks to the successful participation of student teams in entrepreneurship and innovation camps. In total, schoolchildren from 69 educational institutions of the Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk and Poltava regions have already acquired new knowledge and received certificates for the technical equipment of school computer science rooms.
“We held 21 two-day educational camps on entrepreneurship and innovation. Each time, these are new ideas and business projects. They are created by teenagers. This is how they master the canvas of business models, the art of negotiations, learn to calculate results and predict risks. And they also acquire equipment for their schools. Computer science teachers from 20 schools improved their qualifications at UCU under a separate educational program. About a hundred educational institutions, we will hand over 1,193 Taiwanese laptops, robots and projectors with screens,” says project coordinator Ulyana Pak.
Liliya Bolovchak is a high school student of Lviv School No. 73. She is passionate about history and leads student government, and recently attended an entrepreneurship and innovation camp with her peers. Their school has already received ten modern sets of robotics.
“We were interested in studying entrepreneurship, besides, we joined the project out of altruistic intentions. We really wanted something new to appear in our school. In the 11th grade, we won’t have time to work with new robots. But for me, for example, it would be interesting in my school years to deal with all these sensors, boards, and understand how a robot works. It’s wonderful that children now have such an opportunity,” says the camp participant. entrepreneurship.
Approximately 50% of school graduates who know mathematics well each year choose technical specialties, especially those related to the IT field. Tetyana Skabara, director of secondary comprehensive school No. 90 in Lviv, emphasizes this trend. Future programmers and engineers acquire the basis of knowledge at school, make efforts together with teachers, compete in Olympiads and competitions.
“For high-quality education, the modern material base of the school and the team of teachers who have technology and modern teaching tools are important. The teacher encourages the children, first of all, by his own example. The teachers of our school applied for advanced training at UKU, so far we managed to participate in the Ukrainian-Taiwanese project in the direction of student education. We will apply again if the training of teachers continues. This is a good experience and a chance to modernize the school,” Tetyana explains. Scabara
The innovative education and computerization project “Leave no one behind partnership” is implemented by the NGO “All-Ukrainian Democratic Forum” with the support of Taiwan and with the assistance of People’s Deputy Mykola Kniazhytskyi, who attracted charitable assistance.
“Everything innovative must start at school. The one who is smarter is stronger; the one who has the latest inventions and developments wins. We live in a difficult time when many people do not believe in the future. And we believe and invest efforts in the development of education. Taiwan helps us teach Ukrainian children entrepreneurship, provides Ukrainian schools with computers. This gives hope to children and their parents. Educators will be able to work with technology and teach our children according to the latest methods. We are working on this and are grateful to international partners for their support,” – Mykola Kniazhytskyi.
Leave no one behind: teenagers from Poltava Region studied entrepreneurship in the Carpathians
High school students of Lyceum No. 10 named after Volodymyr Korolenko of the Poltava City Council and the Kremenchug Sports Lyceum named after Ivan Piddubny took part in the entrepreneurship and innovation camp in the Kutsk community in the Ivano-Frankivsk region.
The educational innovation camp took place within the framework of the Ukrainian-Taiwan project “Leave no one behind partnership” and became a unique opportunity for teenagers from Poltava region and Carpathian region to gain new knowledge, skills and make acquaintances. The schoolchildren spent several days in the mountain community, learned about traditions and local crafts, and were interested in the culture of the region.
“We have already held 21 entrepreneurship and innovation camps,” said Ulyana Pak, coordinator of the “Leave no one behind partnership” project. This camp is special because it has children from two regions. Two dozen teenagers from Poltava and Kremenchuk came to the Starokut Lyceum of the Kut Settlement Council.”
Six teams from three schools presented their own unique business ideas. From services to innovative developments. For example, the team of Lyceum No. 10 of the Poltava City Council presented the idea of producing a unique alloy of materials.
“On the first day, we needed to create a prototype of an accessory for a gadget. Our team has come up with a case with cooling properties that will protect the device from overheating. Later, we decided that it is possible to develop cooling parts for any equipment,” says Maria Klepets, an eleventh-grader from Poltava. Of course, a specific material has not yet been invented, research and experiments are needed. According to the ideas of young innovators, these could be metal alloys capable of absorbing heat.
The next task from the camp coaches was a round of business negotiations between the teams. The goal is to defend one’s own position, convince rival teams and agree on a mutually beneficial partnership.
“In communication with peers, children learn to defend their own interests, to compromise for the sake of certain goals. We introduce teenagers to tools that develop entrepreneurship and innovation. Design-thinking, negotiation skills are needed not only when developing a business, but also when solving any life situations,” emphasizes trainer, assistant of the Department of Applied Economics and Business of the Faculty of Applied Sciences of UCU Maksym Kolyada.
According to the terms of the educational charity project, after successful presentations, teams from three schools received certificates for computer equipment for computer science classrooms. Deputy Director of Educational Work of the Kremenchug Sports Lyceum named after Ivan Piddubny, Poltava Regional Council Victoria Saiko noted that new equipment is very necessary and this is also the motivation for the participation of lyceum students in the project.
Victoria Zamula, teacher of informatics and technologies at Lyceum No. 10 named after V.G. Korolenko of the Poltava City Council became a laureate of the regional competition “Teacher of the Year” last year. She uses interactive teaching methods and encourages colleagues to use technologies in the educational process.
“In my classes, children immediately scan a QR code, follow a link, and do puzzles. And already, based on this completed puzzle, they will learn the topics of the project, the lesson”, – Victoria recommends giving children useful links, pages where they can quickly find more useful information. In her opinion, students should be carefully trained to work with artificial intelligence. The team of Poltava Lyceum No. 10 includes prize winners of competitions of the Small Academy of Sciences, winners of the regional Olympiad, and representatives of student self-government. The teaching staff is constantly looking for opportunities to raise funds for the modernization of the educational institution, which currently has 860 students. Last year, they applied for participation in the charity project “Leave no one behind partnership” and will soon be able to exchange the certificate for a set of modern laptops.
The project “Leave no one behind partnership” is implemented by the NGO “All-Ukrainian Democratic Forum” with the support of Taiwan and with the assistance of People’s Deputy Mykola Kniazhytskyi. As part of the initiative, training camps were held in Ivano-Frankivsk and Lviv regions, and 69 participating schools received modern technical equipment from the Taiwanese company Acer. In total, the project will cover a hundred educational institutions from three regions.
“We are implementing the project with the support of the people of Taiwan. This is the synergy of two states that stand for democracy. In order to win, we must educate children qualitatively, create the best educational conditions for them. Technological and intellectual development will be a guarantee of our future strength, stability and security”, – founder of the NGO “All-Ukrainian Democratic Forum” Mykola Kniazhytskyi.
Taiwanese support for education: Four more Lviv schools are upgrading their computer labs
Forty-five laptops, ten sets of robotics and projectors with screens. Equipment manufactured in Taiwan from the charity project “Leave no one behind partnership” was received by Yevshan gymnasium, Syhivskyi Lyceum, School N 72, Lyceum N46 of the Lviv City Council.
Many children who are interested in technical education study at the “Yevshan” gymnasium. This is confirmed by the high ratings of the educational institution according to the results of the external examination – “2” place in Lviv and “7” in Ukraine. Graduates choose technical specialties related to robotics and the IT industry. Iryna Smolyak, teaches informatics and robotics to high school students. “In today’s conditions, it is difficult to imagine teaching computer science without technology. Of course, the teacher can show something on the board or on the screen, but until the child does the action on his own, it will be very difficult for him to understand the essence. Therefore, educational institutions should modernize computer science rooms and create new, additional ones,” the teacher explains.
Charitable aid from Taiwan – 10 new modern sets of robotics “Arduino” will significantly change the rhythm and quality of education of high school students.
“Until now, we studied with seven sets of robots, now there will be more of them, every student will be able to practically use the equipment. Working with robots, children know that there is a certain microcomputer, sensors, sensors, and this is what the equipment consists of. Having this knowledge base, it is much easier to learn something new,” Iryna Smolyak emphasizes.
“Two months ago, the school team and I came up with a program that allows the consumer to set up a personal tourist tour anywhere in the world. We presented this idea at the entrepreneurship and innovation camp. The trainers told how to achieve a goal in business. Of course, everyone will agree to such an experience,” high school student Maria Geleta shares her impressions. It is very gratifying that for participating in the project, computers were presented to our school, they were brought and handed over to students for use.”
The coordinator of the “Leave no one behind partnership” project, Ulyana Pak, emphasized that 13 entrepreneurship and innovation camps have already been held in Lviv. Student teams from 43 Lviv schools took part in them. Each educational institution will receive new modern equipment for computer science and technology lessons.
“Another 9 Lviv schools will receive equipment as part of the training of informatics teachers. Educators have completed six months of training at UCU and can now teach not only students, but also their colleagues – teachers. We set ourselves the goal of creating a community of innovative teachers, as well as making teenagers confident and capable of starting their own business, boldly implementing their own ideas. We taught them business negotiations, and our students probably like it the most,” says Ulyana Pak.
The project of innovative education and computerization is implemented by the NGO “All-Ukrainian Democratic Forum” with the support of Taiwan and with the assistance of Mykola Kniazhytskyi.
“Intellect and critical thinking are very important,” Ukrainian People’s Deputy Mykola Kniazhytskyi emphasized during a meeting with schoolchildren, “because the country can be taken over without weapons by getting into people’s brains. In order not to lose, you need to train your intellect and creative abilities. Taiwan is in a similar situation to Ukraine. They have preserved democracy in the neighborhood of authoritarian China. Thanks to advanced technology production, Taiwan receives support from the world. This people who feel about the same as us, Ukrainians. That’s why they support us and provide help for the modernization of education and intellectual development of our youth. To win, we need to act creatively and innovatively.”
Pages of the “Leave no one behind partnership” project: Facebook, Instagram
Modern education for a better Ukraine: 1100 laptops, business ideas and innovations
Today, Ukraine is on the agenda of world politics. The eleventh year of the war erases the line between the undesirable and what becomes common, changes us. But this does not mean that it is time to give up. On the contrary, right now it is important to lay the foundation for the future for our children, to take care of their development. Because the economy will constantly need human resources, intelligence and creativity.
Ulyana Pak, coordinator of the “Leave no one behind partnership” project
Last spring, my colleagues and I thought about an educational project that would have not only a temporary effect, but also a long-term perspective. This is how the idea to teach Ukrainian teenagers the basics of business, to prepare them for adult life, appeared. This initiative was supported by the government of democratic Taiwan – a country that builds its economic stability on technological freedom and a high level of education. This is an approach that should be learned by Ukrainians as well.
This is how the project appeared Leave no one behind partnership, which started with the ambitious goal of covering a hundred schools in three regions: Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Poltava. We have identified two key directions: improving the qualifications of computer science teachers at the Ukrainian Catholic University and training high school students in entrepreneurship and innovative thinking. Each school participating in the project receives equipment for a new computer science office. We strive to raise the level of teaching informatics and robotics in Ukrainian schools, including by updating the material and technical base, developing proposals, and initiating changes to national curricula.
If you have ever worked with children at school, you are familiar with this feeling. They think rationally, but at the same time they can dream boldly. Just look at the business concepts that schoolchildren have developed: drones for spraying fertilizers on fields, safe house systems, rental chargers, electric car rentals, eco-villages, pet hotels. And during one of the camps, the discussion between the teams ignited around the possibility of using quantum computers in business!
Each time, the coaches offered the students to participate in a business negotiation tournament with their competitors from other teams. In order to win, it was necessary to be able to compromise, find compromises, and conduct a constructive dialogue. These are skills that will stay with them for life.
During the two days of the camp, each team developed a business idea, justified it and presented it to colleagues, coaches, and teachers. Their efforts were not in vain. Each school that participated in the project received a certificate for new modern technology for the computer science office. In fact, teenagers earned equipment for themselves and for the younger, next generations of students with their intelligence and hard work. This is not just motivation – it is about collective responsibility, about new opportunities for the school.
The NGO All-Ukrainian Democratic Forum, with the support of Taiwan and the assistance of People’s Deputy Mykola Kniazhytskyi, implements this project in Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Poltava regions.
And we can already summarize certain results: 52 updated computer science rooms will appear in Lviv alone, to which we will transfer 473 powerful laptops, 50 sets of robotics and projectors with screens. In the Ivano-Frankivsk region, we cooperated with 17 educational institutions and handed them 224 laptops from Taiwan.
Poltava schools that have submitted applications are already preparing for entrepreneurship and innovation educational camps. In the spring, we will announce the transfer of more than 1,100 laptops to Ukrainian schools.
We will survive if we take care of our future in time. Together we will build a better country.
The future belongs to robotics in education: New computer labs in Lviv schools
Sofiya Voloshina and her family left the occupied Melitopol of the Zaporizhzhia region. Moving to Lviv as a teenager appears to be a test for the girl.
“Honestly, it was not so easy for me to adapt to a new city and school. Interesting, problematic and funny situations arose. I was not a very active participant at first, it seemed to me that it was calmer to be alone. But the girls from my class began to approach me more actively, and somehow we became friends, everything got better,” says Sofia, who currently studies at Lviv School No. 60.
“We have a very developed student self-government, a good school principal, she involves students in various projects. I remember the participation of our school team in the entrepreneurship and innovation camp of the Ukrainian-Taiwanese project “Leave no one behind partnership”. In two days, we opened up a new opportunity to work with artificial intelligence, and most importantly, we, still teenagers, created our business project, which can really become a real business of our own,” shares Sofia Voloshina.
The director of school No. 60, Lyudmila Rachkovska, says that 53 children who came to Lviv to escape the war study in the educational institution. The educational institution also has 20 years of experience working with children with special educational needs.
“We were among the first to implement inclusion, adopting international experience. Since 2023, the inclusive resource center has been operating at the school. 25 children with special needs are studying with us,” says the director.
In January, Lviv schools No. 60, No. 77 and Lyceum named after Vasyl Simonenko received new computers from partners from Taiwan. This is part of the “Leave No One Behind Partnership” project, which is implemented by the NGO All-Ukrainian Democratic Forum with the assistance of People’s Deputy Mykola Kniazhytskyi.
“We are computerizing more than 50 schools in Lviv, and in total the project will cover 100 educational institutions in three regions. 33 informatics teachers from Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Poltava regions advanced their qualifications at the Ukrainian Catholic University. At the same time, entrepreneurship and innovation camps for high school students are held in schools. It is very important for us that children have the opportunity to get a good education in Ukraine and not go abroad. This is the main goal of the project: it is for our future,” Mykola Kniazhytskyi emphasizes.
New equipment is necessary for schools to implement STEM education, emphasizes Zoryana Demchuk, director of school No. 77 with in-depth studies of economics and management. Together with a team of teachers and students, several large-scale projects are implemented: “Full-day school”, “Cool for school”, “Active approach to learning”. The school integrates the content of educational subjects, unites them so that children learn about the world holistically, and not by separate branches.
“The future lies in the robotic school. The students of our school have been studying robotics for three years. We understand that the skills of using and programming robots need to be developed. Therefore, we use every chance to equip the school with equipment. Modern, powerful laptops from the “Leave no one behind partnership” project are the gift we need,” emphasizes Zoryana Demchuk.
According to the coordinator of the innovative education and computerization project, Ulyana Pak, an important condition for participation is responsible training of school teams.
“We gave equipment to schools in Ivano-Frankivsk region, now we are giving valuable gifts to schools in Lviv. Next, the project team is going to Poltava region. The number of people willing to participate in the project is increasing. We are grateful to Taiwan for the charitable help and we are working to continue and expand the project to other regions of our country,” said Ulyana Pak.
Myroslav Marynovych named a social problem, the solution of which will be influenced by educators
“You are currently forming those who will change the country in 10-20 years,” – the well-known dissident, adviser to the rector of the Ukrainian National University Myroslav Marynovych addressed the teachers. The discussion on the education of the future took place at the Ukrainian Catholic University within the framework of the innovative Ukrainian-Taiwanese project Leave no one behind partnership
33 informatics teachers from 20 schools of Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Poltava regions received diplomas on completion of the innovative program of professional development at UCU. For half a year, teachers studied the latest methods of teaching STEM, Python and robotics, and passed exams. Schools participating in the project will be provided with sets of modern equipment for computer science classrooms. The teachers have already received certificates for the equipment. The project is implemented by the NGO “All-Ukrainian Democratic Forum” with the support of Taiwan and with the assistance of People’s Deputy Mykola Kniazhytskyi.
“In this project, you were given not only professional knowledge, but also supplemented with what can be called value formation. And this is extremely important. We at UCU in such cases say that the correct education must be based on two wings – faith and reason, that is, professional education must be supplemented by value education. In today’s Ukraine, this is not self-evident,” Myroslav Marynovych emphasized. In his opinion, parents are the first educators of a child, but not the only and exclusive ones. It is teachers who supplement professional education with ethical training of pupils or students.
“We dare not continue to be the way we were before February 24, 2022. We need the tablets of a new law of our lives – a new social contract, and it must be set by a “critical mass” of those who, in memory of the innocently murdered, will renounce the recent dishonor. These changes must also affect the school, which must be a place where you testify to your values, without imposing them by force. Your actions should show who you are. When you testify by your own behavior, you become a role model,” explained Myroslav Marynovych.
According to him, Ukraine should be renewed on the basis of a qualitatively different concept of state management and on the basis of a new “social contract”. And these changes should grow from new ideas and eternal spiritual values. That is why today we have to rethink them anew.
“We are all witnesses of how before our eyes trust was established between the volunteers and soldiers of our army. They were the ones who pulled the “string” that untangles the whole knot: love for one’s neighbor, based on the truth, generates interpersonal trust, which, in turn, enables interpersonal solidarity, which becomes the nourishing energy of solidary social action. For this, it is not necessary to go to Kyiv with an army or to destroy palaces of officials, instead, one only needs to look into one’s own soul and restore the correct value matrix.”
In his speech, Myroslav Marynovych called on Ukrainians to always defend what we consider valuable. He quoted His Beatitude Lubomir Husar: “Let people grow into freedom.”
“Form schoolchildren in such a way that they grow up in freedom. So that they grow up in dignity, without which freedom is unthinkable,” emphasized the dissident. But he cautioned, it is important to teach young people to distinguish between freedom and permissiveness, which is not freedom. After all, freedom is also impossible without responsibility,” he emphasized.
In Lviv, computer science teachers learned about innovations, and their schools will receive new equipment
The meeting with the finalists of the project took place in the format of the discussion “Education of the future for a better country”. The head of the Taipei Representation in Poland, Ambassador Jeff Liu, joined the online conversation.
33 informatics teachers graduated from the first innovative educational program “Leave no one behind partnership”. Among the participants of the pilot project are educators from 20 schools in Lviv, Poltava and Ivano-Frankivsk regions. During 7 months of study at the Ukrainian Catholic University, the teachers mastered Python programming, robotics and STEM education.
According to the terms of the Ukrainian-Taiwan project of computerization and innovative education “Leave no one behind partnership”, schools participating in the project will receive a reward: sets of 16 laptops, sets of robotics, projectors and screens. The equipment will be installed in computer science classrooms and will be used by students.
“Seven months with lectures, homework, assessments, under the guidance of the best teachers. A total of 390 study hours. In the end, we got a community of innovative teachers. Three dozen specialists can now share knowledge, be experts in the field of innovative technological education. We are very happy to present them with well-deserved awards. We understand that the new technology is in safe hands, it will be used with benefit for children, and computer science lessons will become a favorite for children.”, – Ulyana Pak, head of the “Leave no one behind partnership” project, comments on the results of the training program.
The meeting with the finalists of the project took place in the format of the discussion “Education of the future for a better country”. The head of the Taipei Representation in Poland, Ambassador Jeff Liu, joined the online conversation.
“Although it is an extremely difficult time for us, we are trying to help Ukraine and support you. But it is necessary that such support is not only within the country. Unity of all around is needed. It is especially important to support those who bring education to your communities. Your desire to create a quality learning environment is a heroic effort. Taiwan is committed to supporting education and educators. Your struggle is a struggle of democracy against an authoritarian regime. We are sure that the one who is a dictator cannot win. Therefore, Ukraine will win”, – Jeff Liu on support from Taiwan.
The project is implemented by the NGO “All-Ukrainian Democratic Forum” with the support of Taiwan and with the assistance of Mykola Kniazhytskyi. The organizers hope that they will soon continue the project, because schools in other regions of Ukraine need similar help.
“We carefully designed the project “Leave no one behind” together with the teachers of UCU. We would like to develop it for the whole of Ukraine. So that Ukrainian children do not leave, but know that they will receive the best education here. And Ukrainian teachers were proud of their professional level and passed on their knowledge to children. We are thinking about how to help those regions where there are problems, where schools “went underground”. These are Kharkiv, Chernihiv Oblast, Sumy Oblast, Mykolaiv Oblast, Kherson Oblast. It is even more difficult for children to learn there, education is done remotely. But online education should also be at a high level”, said the founder of the NGO “All-Ukrainian Democratic Forum”, People’s Deputy Mykola Kniazhytskyi.
“One of the biggest challenges after the war will be to maintain a positive vision that would generate a big idea. There must be people and units capable of thinking about victory, about what will happen after the end of the war, and how to respond to future challenges. We have to be these people, people who contribute to the formation of the future”, – emphasized the rector of the Ukrainian Catholic University, Taras Dobko.
Lviv schools receive robotics equipment, laptops, projectors and innovative know-how
This week, four Lviv schools received equipment from the Ukrainian-Taiwanese project “Leave no one behind partnership”. 46 computers, 3 projectors with screens, 10 sets of robotics will serve the students of the Lviv Economic Lyceum, Lyceum No. 81 named after Pyotr Sagaidachny, secondary comprehensive schools No. 41 and No. 67.
The Lviv Economic Lyceum recruits students through a competition from the 5th grade. 360 children study here in the field of engineering and economics. They are avid participants and often winners of robotics competitions. According to computer science teacher Nazar Maksimiv, robotics is a more creative subject than computer science, because children design a robot, think about how it will look, how to fit it into certain frames, draw something on it, print certain details.
“In this way, the child is provided with the opportunity to fantasize, design, program,” the teacher notes, “the children see the end result – a robot that performs programmed actions, can drive, blink, react.” Children are just interested in the possibility of creating this robot themselves.”
The lyceum received ten new sets of robotics with a large number of spare parts as part of the “Leave no one behind partnership” computerization and innovative education project.
Project coordinator Ulyana Pak said that each school receives equipment, depending on needs. The equipment is handed over to schools that applied for participation in the project in the summer.
“Robotics as a subject in schools has been introduced recently, and modern sets of robots are needed in lessons. But it is difficult for schools to purchase expensive equipment on their own. At the same time, every child dreams of working with a set of complete equipment in order to assemble a robot according to his own idea. We give schools interesting and high-quality sets of robotics. Or also, depending on the needs of the educational institution, we hand over sets of new laptops for computer science classrooms,” said Ulyana Pak.
The educational project is implemented in two directions: improving the qualifications of teachers at the Ukrainian Catholic University and training high school students in entrepreneurship and innovation camps.
“Training graduates note that they better understand how business functions and how to implement their own ideas. In addition to knowledge, we provide schools with teaching equipment. This week, the first four schools received valuable gifts. In total, within the project, we plan to computerize 52 Lviv schools. And there are more than 100 educational institutions in Ukraine,” Ulyana Pak said.
The project in Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk and Poltava regions is implemented by the public organization “All-Ukrainian Democratic Forum”. Its founder, Mykola Kniazhytskyi, emphasizes that the goal is to interest children in learning through new technologies. Every school should have modern computer science rooms, access to the Internet and wise teachers. After all, Ukrainian children deserve the best.
“The new generation of Ukrainians must be very literate in terms of information and technology. This is primarily about responsibility, it is about safety. We have the example of Taiwan, where the level of information security and technological production is high. Technologies are especially important for us, because we will have to rebuild our country, make it better, innovative, and economically strong.”
Leave no one behind partnership: computer science classrooms will be updated in 52 schools in Lviv
The “Leave no one behind” project to update school computer science classrooms in the Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk and Poltava regions is implemented by the public organization “All-Ukrainian Democratic Forum”
“We live in difficult times, but our victory took place even at the beginning of a full-scale invasion. No one will destroy our independence, and the country will have to be rebuilt and we will make it better. Ukraine’s future development and strength depend on your education and skills,” said People’s Deputy and founder of the NGO “All-Ukrainian Democratic Forum” Mykola Kniazhytskyi, who met with high school students of Lviv schools. He shared his own experience in the field of media business and politics, answered the questions of teenagers. The politician emphasized the importance of developing one’s own content in social networks, which is a modern communication tool.
“The more you create your own content on your pages in social networks, the more information you convey to the world about Ukraine. Each of you can create and even earn money by working with technology. We must be open to the world and make our country so innovative and strong that no one dares to attack us again,” urged the young politician.
The communication took place simultaneously with the transfer of computers to schools, participants of the “Leave no one behind partnership” innovative education and computerization project. Teams of Secondary comprehensive school #67 and Lyceum #81 named after Peter Sahaidachnoy participated in educational camps of entrepreneurship and innovation and, under the terms of the project, received sets of new equipment for computer science offices.
“More than one thousand and one hundred students study in our school,” said the deputy director of school #67, Iryna Sovyk. “A third of them, almost half a hundred children, are from socially vulnerable families. In these difficult times, the school itself should give children more opportunities for development and skills in working with technology. That’s why we really need new computers right now. We are also grateful to the trainers of the entrepreneurship camps for their training. The high school students very timely acquired useful knowledge about the basics of business and will be able to implement their ideas more boldly.”
Ulyana Pak, coordinator of the “Leave no one behind partnership” project, noted that entrepreneurship and innovation camps continue in Lviv schools. And now the project team has started handing over equipment to educational institutions. A total of 52 schools in Lviv will be able to update computer science classrooms.
“This technique will serve many students and help them get the skills and abilities needed in the modern world, or get closer to a personal goal or dream, and the country to develop cool professionals. The name of the project is “Leave no one out of partnership”. And indeed, the schools that applied for participation have already been enriched intellectually and technically. We are grateful to Taiwan for this opportunity and grateful to educators for their activity, for their desire to make education modern and interesting for children,” Ulyana Pak emphasized.
The project in the Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk and Poltava regions is implemented by the public organization “All-Ukrainian Democratic Forum” with the support of Taiwan and with the assistance of Mykola Kniazhytskyi.
The “Context: War” digest at Via Carpatia 2024: Getting to know military writers
On November 11-13, dozens of warrior-writers met in the center of Kyiv for a three-day mini-residence and held creative meetings with young people. In a special focus – parallels of Ukrainian military literature of this and past wars. This literary and artistic meeting is called “Context: War” and takes place within the Seventh International Forum of Central and Eastern Europe Via Carpatia 2024 – with the support of the Ukrainian Book Institute and the International Renaissance Foundation.
Let’s meet our brave soldiers who, despite their main work on the military front, find time and inspiration for literary creativity.
Andriy Humenyuk
Writer, painter. Originally from Lviv. One of the founders in 1988 of the Lviv Theater named after Les Kurbas, where he worked as a stage designer before the war. He participated in numerous exhibitions of painting and graphics. Participant of the Orange Revolution and the Revolution of Dignity. With the beginning of the war in 2014, he became a volunteer, later a paramedic. Since 2016, a fighter of the OUN Volunteer Battalion.
Author of the books “Songs of War” (2018) and “Africa” (2022). “Africa” is a collection of biographical novels-notes about the war. The book also includes the author’s drawings.
“What annoys me the most is when they say: here, the artist took up a weapon in his hands. It is not necessary to make pacifists out of artists! – says Andrii Humenyuk. – In our history, many artists defended their land. We have a great example now, when doctors, computer scientists, and teachers have become warriors. I always say: it doesn’t matter what you do in peacetime, how old you are. If you are a warrior, then you are a warrior.”
Andriy Karpenko
Head of the chaplaincy service of the Central Territorial Administration of the National Guard of Ukraine, lieutenant colonel of the chaplaincy service, archpriest of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, poet. In civilian life, he was a theater actor and teacher. Originally from Dnipro.
Father Andriy has been taking care of military personnel since 2014. From the beginning of the Russian invasion, he was an officer in charge of cultural and educational activities and the service of military clergy, he was at the origins of the military chaplaincy service, and in September 2023 he himself became a chaplain.
Member of the National Union of Writers of Ukraine. Andriy Karpenko’s creative output includes two poetry collections: “I live in Paradise” and “Love hardened by war” (2023), three personal photo exhibitions, as well as a passion for embroidery and author’s songs.
“It is in poems that I see the greatest asset of the Ukrainian people, their heritage, because only the word preserves the immortality of the Ukrainian soul,” says Andriy Karpenko. – Sometimes poems are born as an impulse – like a bullet, a shot. The main point is that I write with a pencil, so some pieces are rubbed off, corrected, it’s such a part of the creative process. And sometimes you carry a poem for a very long time. You know the theme, the first lines, and then it falls flat – something is missing, some emotion. You hum as you walk, hum some words, and write down the best ones. That’s the result.”
Bohdan Nazarenko
A poet, by education – a teacher of the history of law. Now he is an officer of the social support department of the Main Directorate of the National Guard of Ukraine.
He was born in Donetsk region. Participant of the Revolution of Dignity. Before the full-scale war, he was the chairman of the Public Council under the KMDA. He was responsible for public relations and the implementation of public control over the actions of the authorities.
The organizer of the “Voice of the Fighting Heart” project – a book of poems by Kyivan soldiers, the author of the collection “Fifteen Months of War” (2023).
“Creativity is precisely one of the mechanisms of social rehabilitation during the war,” says Bohdan Nazarenko. – This is a bridge between the past and the future. It is a bridge between the terrible real present and a peaceful, calm life. We want to be heard. And as long as we live and the heart of each of us beats, we will create and fight for our state.”
Valery Palchyk
Writer, journalist, public figure. He was a participant in the war in Transnistria, the Caucasian wars in UNSO units (on the side of Georgia and Chechnya). Commander of the Poltava regional organization of the UNSO in 1991–1999.
In 1998, he ran for the Verkhovna Rada from the UNA. In the parliament of the 8th convocation, Lyashko Ihori Mosichuk was an assistant at public events to the People’s Deputy from the Radical Party.
After the start of the Russian-Ukrainian war, he took up arms and went to defend his native land. He was wounded in the battles near Mariupol, underwent several operations. After a full-scale invasion, he did not hesitate to defend Ukraine with weapons in hand.
The author of the book “UNSO. The first whistling of bullets” (2019), author and compiler of the collection “Friendship, sealed with blood. UNSO and Georgia” (2023).
Vitaly Zapeka
Warrior, writer, photographer. He is currently undergoing long-term treatment after being wounded by a sniper’s bullet, which he received in the Kurakhiv direction, in the village of Novomykhailivka, Donetsk region,
in April 2024.
Originally from Poltava, he fought in the “Poltava” battalion in 2015-2018. From February 25, 2022, he is at war again. Commander of the RPG branch in the 116th ground defense brigade.
He started writing his first stories and essays in 2015, when he volunteered for the war. The author of the books “Tsutsyk” (2019), “Heroes, heroes and not so much”, (2020), “Absurd” (2021), “Polinka” (2022), “Babach on the whole head” (2022), “Polinka in the country of fools” (2023), “Sausage thief in Paradise” (2024).
He wrote a play based on the novel “Heroes, Heroes and Not So Much”, which premiered in February 2020 at the Dnipro National Theater named after T. G. Shevchenko.
Winner of the “Warrior of Light” Award (2021), the Irina Wilde Award (2021) and the Award named after Vsevoloda Nestayka (2022).
Volodymyr Korotya
Writer, public figure. In civilian life, he was a food technologist, built solar power plants in Ukraine and the European Union. He was a member of the Buchansk City Council.
In 2014, he voluntarily joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Took part in military operations as part of a reconnaissance platoon of one of the battalions of the 10th separate mountain assault brigade in eastern Ukraine, demobilized in 2016.
During the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, he created and led the volunteer company-tactical group “Irpin”, thanks to which, in particular, the Russian invaders failed to break through the defenses in the area of Irpin. Now the commander of the 1st rifle battalion of the 3rd separate assault brigade.
Knight of the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky III degree (2023), Knight of the Order “For Courage” III degree (2022), Order of “National Hero of Ukraine” (2023), awarded with the medal “For Assistance to Military Intelligence of Ukraine” II degree.
Author of the book “The Adventures of the Phantom” (2020) and the collection of short stories “Thoughts of the Phantom on State Formation” (2022).
Volodymyr Skorostetskyi
Military journalist, poet. A professional military man, he graduated from the Lviv Military Institute in 2001. Since 2014, he has been participating in the war with the Russian invaders. Colonel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
A novice writer. Author of poems and short stories on military themes. The heroes of his works are real Ukrainian soldiers. During front-line editorial missions, he works in the trenches and at the combat positions of our troops, where he draws inspiration and plots for his own creativity.
Since 2014, he has been actively supporting the volunteer movement. He shot a series of commercials on how to choose armor, helmets, turnstiles. Organizes first aid courses and helps in every possible way to understand the arrangement of functional volunteer headquarters.
Co-founder of the All-Ukrainian Forum of Military Writers. Due to his initiative, many events of the Forum of Military Authors take place in the environment of cadets.
Iryna Bobyk
Veteran of the Russian-Ukrainian war, writer. Originally from the village of Ostriv, near Chervonograd in the Lviv region. In civilian life, she worked as the head of a literary circle at the Academy of Arts, as well as a decorator.
In 2017, she joined the volunteer medical organization ASAP RESCUE, worked in the Donetsk region.
In 2019, she signed a contract with the Armed Forces, served in the Royal 24th Brigade, worked as an instructor at Desna. With the beginning of the full-scale invasion, she participated in the battles for Kyiv. She fought in the 1st OBrSpP named after Ivan Bohun. In June 2024, she was discharged from military service due to family circumstances.
The creative collection includes the electronic collection of short stories “The Artist” (Strelbux publishing house, 2017), the collection of poetry and prose “D’voina” (the “Squirrel” publishing house).
“These texts – both poetry and prose – were born because I simply do not know a more ecological way to live my joys and sorrows. “D’voyina” means “to a warrior”, “warrior girl”, because you are divided into a military and a civilian personality”, Iryna Bobyk admits.
Leonid Matyuhin
Colonel, military journalist. From the first day of the occupation of the Republic of Crimea in 2014 until the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops to the mainland, he was stationed on the territory of the 36th separate coastal defense brigade (“Perevalne” garrison) and constantly informed the Ukrainian and foreign mass media about the situation in the military units.
From 2014 to 2017, he was the spokesman of the ATO.
Originally from Rivne region. He lived and served in the Crimea for a long time.
In 2019, the book “A mother will understand…” was published, which Matyukhin wrote in co-authorship with two more servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Yury Golovashenko, a combatant of the mountain assault battalion, and Igor Pidoprihora, an air defense officer. The book reproduces the diary of the Crimean events of 2014.
“You need to write about the war right away, because over time the perspective and feelings change. You need to take notes at the moment when you feel those emotions,” says Leonid Matyuhin.
Mykola Nikolaev
The writer Head of one of the logistics services of the 139th battalion of the 115th separate TRO brigade. He was born in Berdychiv, Zhytomyr region. He served his term of service in Afghanistan. In civilian life, he was an entrepreneur.
Participant of the Revolution of Dignity. He was mobilized to the ranks of the Armed Forces in February 2015. He served in the 14th Separate Mechanized Brigade, fought in the east and south as a platoon commander and company commander. From 2016, he continued his service under the contract. In 2017, he was transferred to the operational reserve with the rank of captain.
In February 2022, he stood up for the defense of Ukraine in the ranks of the Military Intelligence Service, where he is still serving.
During his military service in 2015-2016, he kept a handwritten diary, which he printed at his own expense in 2019 under the title “Diary of a non-professional soldier”. Realized the entire circulation and released the 2nd edition in 2023. In 2020, he started writing the fiction novel “Predators”, which he planned to publish in 2022. But a full-scale invasion made adjustments, and now we expect an exit next year, in 2025.
Myroslav Otkovich
Journalist, press officer of the 241st brigade of TRO of Kyiv.
In civilian life, he was a presenter and editor on TV channels 1+1, ICTV, NTN, TVi, STB, NTA. Originally from Lviv.
At one time, when Yanukovych came to power, he openly spoke out against censorship in the mass media. What started the “Stop Censorship” movement, which grew into systemic resistance to the authorities of that time.
From the first day of the full-scale invasion, he joined the ranks of the capital’s terror defense. He was a mortar gunner in the mortar battery of the 130th battalion of the 241st TRO brigade. He received a knee injury, during recovery he underwent training and became an officer. He headed the public relations service of the 150th Training Center of the Armed Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, now the press officer of the 241st Territorial Defense Brigade of the Armed Forces of Kyiv.
Plans to organize the first collection of prose and poetry.
“Poems are my reflection, the desire to find myself outside the context in which I am,” says Myroslav Otkovich. – Because if you focus for a long time only on military mundane or non-mundane and experiences, a person stops thinking of himself outside of the war. Poems provide an opportunity to tear yourself out of this context and, at the level of feelings, to feel yourself again as a free, civil person who knows how to be happy. This is another dimension, a space that allows you to detach yourself from the realities of war.”
Oleg Borodai
Poet, novelist, bard musician. He is a teacher by profession. Originally from Myrhorod, Poltava Oblast.
He went to the front as a volunteer in 2014. Still at the front, a soldier of the National Guard of Ukraine.
During the war, he began to write poems and memoirs, which he later printed. Laureate of the festival-competition “Slobozhanskyi Spas” and the competition “From word to word”. Member of the Myrhorod Literary Association “DieSlovo”.
The author of four books published by the Kharkiv publishing house “Maidan”: “Echoes of the trenches” (2018), “Relaxation of the soul” (2021), “Fire shaft” (the first part – in 2022, the second – in 2023).
Oleksandr Prodan
Temporary acting platoon commander, mortar battery in the 219th battalion of the 125th TRO brigade, poet.
In civilian life, he was a sales manager in a furniture company. He joined the army as a volunteer on March 22, 2022 – to the ranks of the Lviv 125th brigade of military personnel. Junior sergeant.
Oleksandr comes from the village of Tomashpil, Vinnytsia region. By education, he is a finance and credit specialist, graduated from the Vinnytsia Educational and Scientific Institute of Economics of the Ternopil National University of Economics.
Author of the collection “Marathon” (2024). He says that he has been writing poems since school. Although there were often periods of breaks of several years. At the beginning of the war, creativity greatly helped the soldier to relieve himself emotionally.
“I mostly write about love,” adds Oleksandr Prodan. – Mostly, my work consisted of poems about unrequited love. Now everything has changed – now it’s just about love. Sometimes there are poems about the war and the world around me. Now I am collecting material for a collection of poems specifically about the war. The next one will be just such a collection.”
Olena Lototska
Writer, senior sergeant, military officer of the Military Law and Order Service.
Originally from Polissia, she lived in Crimea from 1999 to 2014, where she worked in the Yevpatoriya Archive. He is a philologist by education. After the annexation of the peninsula, she left and settled in Lviv. Since 2015 – in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Author of collections of short prose “Now the cuckoo was forging” (2020), “Angels in necklaces” (2023). Actively promotes speech, applied and applied art of his Polissia. Laureate of the Vasyl Skurativskyi, Vasyl Stefanyk, and Ivan Chendey Awards.
“Creativity for me is not entertainment, but the second job after the Armed Forces,” says Olena Lototska. – My writing is not spontaneous, it is a conscious decision that came after a deep analysis of the reasons for the annexation of Crimea. I thought to myself: what did I do to prevent that hunchback from happening? And I understood: nothing personally.”
Olena Mokrenchuk
Major, press officer of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, journalist, writer. Call sign – “Swallow”.
Mother of four children, grandmother of three grandchildren and a granddaughter. In civilian life, she is a teacher, historian and conductor of a church choir. Originally from Snizhne, Donetsk region.
Participant in hostilities since 2015. She was the press officer of the 72nd separate mechanized brigade, the head of the press center of the Operational Command “North”, the head of the press service of the OTU “North”, an officer of the Department of Public Relations of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Has numerous military awards.
Member of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine since 2000, National Union of Writers of Ukraine since 2019. The author of the books “Aliska, frontline fox” (2018), “Afinka from “Cuba” (2019), “Wind from the Wild Field” (2023), “Heroes of my country: Mykhailo Drapaty” (2023). Co-author of the National Book of the History of the Holodomor, the series of almanacs “Priazovya: a portrait of a contemporary” and others.
Roman Dronyuk
Author of prose and humorous collections, manager of amateur theater, director and director.
Originally from Pokuttya, from Horodenkiv district, Ivano-Frankivsk region. Prior to the full-scale invasion, he was the head of the Horodenkiv amateur theater “Sveminin”. On stage, he played the roles of OUN leader Stepan Bandera, UPA commander Roman Shukhevych, and reincarnated as other historic characters significant for Ukraine. On March 27, 2022, the premiere of his author’s play “Prytrafunky Uyka Misya” was scheduled.
Despite his visual disability, from the first day of the full-scale war, together with other volunteers, he signed up for the local Teroborona unit. And already on March 4, he found himself in the 17th separate battalion of radio-electronic warfare of the Air Force. Served as a military cook. After a year and a half of service, the veteran returned home.
He created a series of humorous short stories “Prytrafunky Uyko Misya” in the Pokut dialect, which is in great demand among readers, as well as the telegram channel of the same name and the Facebook group “Uyko Misya”. Laureate of the Les Martovych and Pavlo Glazovoi Awards.
Ruslan Leskiv
Warrior, poet. Now he is in the southern direction, he is a MANPADS shooter.
Originally from Stryi region, Lviv region, lived in Stryi for many years. In civilian life, he was a TV operator: he worked for 13 years at the “Lan” shopping center in the city of Stryi.
At the beginning of March 2022, he went to the front. During these almost three years of the great war, he fought mainly in the south of Ukraine, where he still protects our land.
The first tests of the pen were still at school. But he did not return to poetry until 2014. Terrible footage from the destroyed maternity hospital in Mariupol led to the writing of the first poem “Lullaby”, which Ruslan Leskiv dedicated to his son, who at that time was not even three years old. This was the beginning of the warrior’s poetic creativity.
Leskiv is currently working on one poetry collection, “Words of Silence and Thunder”, which was presented in May 2024 (Ukrainian Priority publishing house). Currently, he is working on the second collection of poems.
“To listen to the thunder, one must learn to hear the silence,” says Ruslan Leskiv. – I try to do it every day, every free minute, especially now, when there is a war in Ukraine. When, in addition to physical destruction, silence and coziness are broken by explosions – that state when people feel peace in their souls, in their families, in their homes. I try to appreciate these simple things, realizing how many broken souls, lost families and destroyed houses our land has already seen…”.
Rustam Dmytruk
A poet, a warrior. In civilian life, he was a professional bartender. In February 2022, together with a partner, he planned to open a cocktail bar in the center of Lviv, but a full-scale invasion destroyed these plans.
On February 24, 2022, he went to military service, became a soldier-shooter of the 103rd ground defense brigade. Now he is a senior soldier, the Reb company in the 103rd brigade of military personnel.
In March 2023, the first collection of poems by Rustam Dmytruk “Africa” was published. Takes part in poetic performances, actively participates in literary events, if the operational situation at work allows.
Now the author is preparing material for a new book, and it will be an interesting experience of combining impressions from observations of rear life and life in the war.
“We have to write history in bright colors. Because there is no one to do dark and painful things to us,” Dmytruk says.
Sergey Dzyuba
Writer, screenwriter, author of several television shows. In particular, the screenwriter of the feature films “Callsign Banderas” and “Forbidden”, the documentary film “Life after 16:30”. He is a theater director by profession, worked on television. Born in Kyiv. Since 2009, he held the position of creative producer of the company “Creative Alliance”.
In 2022, he joined the ranks of the Armed Forces. Junior sergeant, serviceman in the 5th assault Kyiv brigade. Awarded the “Iron Cross” medal and the “Honor” medal. Glory. State”. In September 2022, he was wounded in the battle near Horlivka.
Co-author of the books “Callsign Banderas”, “Callsign Banderas. Operation “Tomos”, “Forbidden”.
Serhii Pantyuk
Writer, translator, editor, journalist, public figure and publisher, soldier. Member of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (since 1993). Member of the National Union of Writers of Ukraine (since 1997), its secretary (2011–2014).
He worked at the factory, at school – as a teacher of Ukrainian, German, drawing and physical education. Later – in the editorial offices of several newspapers, passing the way from proofreader to editor-in-chief. He founded “Serhiy Pantyuk Publishing House”, which published both poetry collections and historical and journalistic publications.
He participated in the student protest “Revolution on Granite”, the “Ukraine without Kuchma” and “For the Truth” movements. Participant of the Orange Revolution and the Revolution of Dignity.
Since 2014, he fought as part of the OUN Volunteer Battalion.
From February 24 to May 12, 2022 – a volunteer of the TRO. From May 13, 2022 – a serviceman of the Armed Forces, chief sergeant of the battery of anti-tank guided missiles of the 23rd OBSP.
Author of 19 poetry collections: “The Sacrament of Communion” (1994), “Shadow of Ariana” (1994), “Temple of Characteristics” (1996), “The Lord of Fire” (2000), “Kiss of Lightning” (2002), “Bosyatsky Kalfa” (2003), “Bosyatsky Kalfa. Selected poems” (2005), “Taste of God” (2009), “Naughty. Poems for Children” (2010), “Solo for Drumba” (2012), “Movyzna” (2014), “Anthracite-Colored Eyes” (2015), “Wounded by a Cherub” (2015), “Nineties. Poem-essay about poets and poetesses” (2016), “Thus Zarathustra was silent. Selected poems” (2017), “About 100 poems. Emotions, States” (2018), “Mushroom Alphabet” (2019), “Emojinarium, or Journey to the World of Feelings” (2020), “The Lost Winter” (2023). As well as prose works: the novel “Seven Days and the Knot of Death” (2007), a collection of short stories “How to tie a knot and smoke” (2009),
the novel “War and We” (2012), the science fiction novel for children “Vinci and Edison”, (2015), the novel for children “Timko and the helgotunchik Skoda”, (2016), the novel for teenagers “It’s not faster”, (2020), the collection of short stories and short stories “The Book on the Road” (2021), the fairy tale for children “Ficus” Benjamin talks about happiness” (2024). Winner of numerous literary awards.
Founder of the All-Ukrainian festival of poetry and author’s song “Under the sign of Aquarius” (1996, since 2000 – “Sliva-fest”, since 2012 – “Cherries”). Co-organizer (with Maksym Rozumny) of the first All-Ukrainian poetry mega-marathon “Cherries”, which lasted from March 1 to April 7, 2012.
The literary and artistic meeting “Context: War” was supported by the Ukrainian Book Institute.
