Since the war started, almost 5 million refugees have fled Ukraine to neighboring countries, half of them are children. As the crisis unfolds, we have been developing a number of initiatives that address the immediate and longer term educational needs of those children. In these first months of the war, we have been distributing education stationery packs and Ukrainian academic books in Ukraine and in neighboring countries to help disadvantaged Ukrainian children without a device or who are waiting in temporary shelters or homes to access the local education systems. Our academic materials have been translated into Ukrainian, adapted by Ukrainian educators, and covers a range of topics that include numeracy, literacy, creativity and psychosocial development.

Through the amazing partnerships we have with local NGOs, charities and children’s homes, we have been able to support 13,000 children. As the war continues, we too must continue building and developing our response and partnerships to ensure we stay attuned and informed on educational needs and plug the growing learning gap for as many children as possible. If your organization is interested in supporting our work in Ukraine, we encourage you to reach out to us via our website.

World Refugee Day is an opportunity for us not only to reflect on the difficult living conditions that millions of refugees are facing every day and the compounding effects it has on their children, families and their futures. It is also a stark reminder for us to continue to work together to ensure families and children can have quality and fulfilling lives. For the Breteau Foundation, education has been our focus and contribution towards families and their children to improve their life chances. Through our partnerships with incredible organizations and local communities, our work in Lebanon and Ukraine continues to be made possible, meaningful and impactful for the children and families we work with.