Solutions from Ukraine: new laboratory in Mykolaiv offers informal education for war-affected children and teens

A space for informal education is being established in Mykolaiv to support children and teenagers aged 4–17 who have been impacted by the war. This initiative offers a specialized program that includes complimentary English language courses, creative workshops, instruction in spatial modeling with building materials, and sessions with trained psychologists.

The organizers informed Rubryka of this.

What is the problem?

As the full-scale invasion began, the Mykolaiv region became a safe haven for nearly 130,000 internally displaced people.

More than 32,000 are children, and supporting them with socialization and adaptation is particularly crucial.

What is the solution?

The Honcharenko Center of Mykolaiv has launched the "Honcharyk" laboratory for informal education for children and adolescents. This initiative aims to aid in developing and reintegrating forced migrant families into the educational process.

"Education is only one of the directions of our project. Indeed, it is essential to return children's interest in learning, but it is equally important to support them, provide psychological support, and help with socialization and adaptation. Therefore, "Honcharyk" is a complex story in which children will work systematically, taking into account their needs and requests," Kateryna Tlumak, mentor of the "Honcharyk" space, said.

How does it work?

Within the scope of the project, participating children will be able to visit:

• free English language courses,
• creative master classes and workshops,
• classes on spatial modeling using constructors,
• classes with psychologists.

"It is important to understand that each class is not just an hour of study or drawing. It is a small step towards restoring the child's morale, socializing him, and finding new friends. We are extremely grateful to the partners who believed in our idea and helped launch the project. Then there is much work, but the result is definitely worth all the effort," Tlumak adds.

All classes within the non-formal education space "Honcharyk" will take place at the educational and cultural Honcharenko Center of Mykolaiv, located on the street Velyka Morska, 67. The project's start is planned for November. To pre-register children, one needs to fill out a short form using this link.

"The support of local NGOs in Ukraine during the war is critical because they know how to respond to the needs of their communities. These organizations deeply understand the local context and know how to provide the necessary assistance and services to people in places that are sometimes difficult to reach. Our implementing partners do not only respond to immediate needs but offer ongoing support and assistance, which gives people a sense of stability and hope," Wolfgang Jessen, project director of EMPOWER, says.

For reference:

It's worth mentioning that the Honcharenko educational, cultural, and volunteer center, located in the heart of Ivano-Frankivsk, offers a new program for teenagers called the UAV Operator School. This program is free and specifically designed for students aged 14 to 18.

In addition, the Honcharenko Center launched free online English courses for older people.

Furthermore, the Honcharenko Center, a network of educational and cultural spaces, will launch a two-month free school for volunteers in six cities throughout Ukraine.