Safe Return to Learning Consortium Marks Major Milestones, Impacting Over 120,000 in Ukraine’s Education Sector

The Safe Return to Learning - Ukraine Education Response Consortium, a collaborative initiative led by Finn Church Aid, Save the Children, People in Need and War Child Holland is proud to announce significant achievements in restoring safe and inclusive education for children affected by the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. Since its inception in July 2022, the Consortium has reached over 120,000 students, teachers, and parents across eight oblasts in Ukraine, with lasting contributions to educational infrastructure, psychosocial support, and teacher capacity building.

To ensure access to quality learning, the Consortium has restored, equipped or created 193 learning spaces, with 12 more currently underway. These include comprehensive renovations of school buildings and bomb shelters, the setup of temporary learning spaces, and the launch of digital learning centers, collectively serving more than 80,000 students. The rehabilitation of schools and shelters has been particularly crucial in enabling children to return to in-person learning where possible. Overall, these efforts have been pivotal in re-establishing a sense of normalcy and safety in areas most affected by the ongoing war.

Basak Kara, Consortium Manager, reflected on the Consortium’s collective impact:

“Our work has focused on carefully coordinated solutions to help children and teachers navigate the realities of living and learning during a crisis. At its core, this work is about restoring a sense of normalcy for children and reaffirming schools as safe, trusted spaces where hope can take root again. Thanks to the joint commitment of the four partners, we’ve been able to bring back education where it was most shattered by war. We are profoundly grateful for the