Two years of aggression
In February 2022, after Russian attacks on large parts of Ukraine began, the Friends of Waldorf Education became active on various levels - including an immediate appeal for donations to support Waldorf schools, Waldorf kindergartens and special education facilities in Ukraine. A great wave of help flooded in, through which we were able to achieve a lot. The war has been going on for two years, and on the occasion of this sad anniversary, we would like to inform you about the current situation in Ukraine through reports from the schools and the emergency education work.
Thanks to our donors’ great willingness to help and the support of various foundations, we were able to pass on around 1 million euros to Waldorf schools, Waldorf kindergartens and special education institutions in Ukraine in the first year of the war alone, thereby helping to finance the salaries of the Waldorf teachers who remained in Ukraine. We were also able to help finance the construction of bomb shelters that every school must provide in order to be able to hold face-to-face teaching. In 2023, we were able to pass on another 700,000 euros for teachers' salaries and other tasks. But even in 2024, the Waldorf education movement in Ukraine will continue to rely on donations.
Sophia School, Kyiv: Trauma and emotional fatigue
Reports from the Waldorf schools in Ukraine clearly show that, after two years, the conflict has become a sad everyday occurrence. This is also the case at the Sophia School in Kyiv, which was founded in 1997. Currently, 200 students are being taught in person and an additional 110 refugee students are being taught online. In an email, Serhiy Zabolotnyi from Sophia School reports:
“Every day we try to provide the children in our school with a normal life, regular lessons and care. In recent months, the number of students taught online has fallen to 110 as some families have decided to settle in other countries. We learned about the general mood of families abroad during the parents' meeting, which took place online in October and was attended by 50 families. All families and their children told us that they miss our school. About 50% of families plan to return to Ukraine after the end of the war, 25% have not yet decided, and 25% have already decided to live in other countries.
Our teachers do their best to organize various projects and school trips at a safe distance and in safe places, for example a trip as part of the Class 7 astronomy period. During their environmental internship, the Class 8 examined soils, plants and animals in the forest and steppe areas of Dnipro. Class 6 also went to the slopes of the Dnipro and examined the sedimentary rocks there. With classes 1 to 3 we went on a lantern walk on St. Martin's Day. Unfortunately, a large part of the lessons take place in the basement because of the air raids. It is very difficult to conduct classes in a bomb shelter, especially when a large class is not divided into subgroups. The constant threat is a great burden for everyone. Some children are traumatized because their fathers or big brothers are at the front. Many teachers are tired and emotionally exhausted due to stress and a lack of holidays.
We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for supporting our school community!”
Sonnenhof, Kyiv: Lively communication
The Sonyachne Podvirya (Sonnenhof) Centre for Special Education has been caring for children and young people with different degrees of disability since 2004. There were several serious drone attacks on Kyiv during the winter months. Nevertheless, lessons and the winter festivals were able to take place reliably, as the school management reported to us in February 2024.
During the three winter months, our centre continued its work with children and young people with disabilities. Thanks to the financial support of the Friends of Waldorf Education, we were able to offer regular music lessons and board games, as well as individual support in one-on-one sessions.
The winter months were marked by festive events. This year we were able to organize an Advent Garden again, which could not take place last year due to the massive power outages. The Advent Garden is one of the most atmospheric and popular events in the year. Melodic music, the fragrance of pine needles and bees wax, and the soft glow of the candles enveloped us in a beautiful way. This year, the centre’s staff and colleagues needed this celebration no less than the people they cared for. We were all happy to banish some of the darkness by lighting the candles. But on 29th December, a terrible bombardment occurred when drones and about 30 missiles were fired at Kyiv. There was also very heavy shelling on 2nd January and 7th February. Each time there were several terrifying mornings filled with the thunder of explosions in the air and on the ground. These terrible days leave their mark, with the tragedy of loss of life, injury and destruction touches everyone in the city in one way or another.
The missile threat has occasionally disrupted our lesson plans, but on the whole, classes have taken place regularly. And since our pupils and students need lively communication, we were happy that we didn't have to give online lessons all winter.
Thank you for your support and cooperation!
Dnipro Waldorf School: Support in difficult times
The Waldorf School in Dnipro was founded in 1995. At the beginning of the war, the city of Dnipro was the target of several air raids in which many civilians died. Despite the ongoing situation of threat, the school manages to run a reliable, daily school routine. In February 2024, the school community reported to us about the past winter months.
At the beginning of December, despite the daily air raid alarm, the anticipation of Christmas was particularly noticeable. The kindergarten teachers and teachers prepared and celebrated the Advent spiral. On December 1st, the upper school students organized a cultural evening with music, dance and poems. On December 15th, children, parents and guests were invited to the Christmas market to buy or make gifts for their loved ones. The academic term ended with a traditional final assembly, where each class was able to present what they had learned through the autumn. This included eurythmy performances, singing and much more.
In preparation for Christmas, a singing group made up of children was formed among the high school students and was allowed to take part in the city's artistic events in December and January.
The students in the 10th grade worked on a selection of maths topics for their project work. They presented their work at the end of January. Unfortunately, these presentations had to take place in the basement due to the air raid alarm.
In January and February, we were able to organize some inspiring discussion evenings with parents, to which we also invited experts. The topics included “Trust and attentive listening”, “Waldorf education in times of war”, but also, “Further development of physics teaching in the 21st century”. In addition, the college organized a series of information events for people who are interested in Waldorf education and want to become teachers themselves, and also, of course, a preparation meeting for the parents of the children of the future Class 1.
Dear friends, we are all very grateful to you for your interest in, and care for the development of Waldorf education in Ukraine and for your support in these difficult times!
Stupeni Waldorf School, Odessa: Lots of lessons in the basement
The integrated (what do they mean by integrated?) Waldorf school Stupeni (Steps) was founded in Odessa in 1992. In an email, Natalia Lukyanchenko told us about the school's work in the winter months of 2023/24:
“This winter wasn't too severe. It was so mild that we had to put the heating on only rarely. That was a relief for us because heating costs have risen sharply. Luckily, there were no more power outages - unlike last year. However, the air raid alarms have not gone away, so the children spend part of their lessons in the air raid shelters.
In the run-up to Christmas, we were able to spend many wonderful hours with the school community. The children went through the Advent spiral, we celebrated Christmas, the younger classes sang Christmas carols and the older ones put on a play. We also held a Christmas market where high school students and adults chatted happily and made gifts for the holidays.
The parents' club met regularly to hear lectures on Waldorf education; and a series of lectures were organized for the parents of the future Class 1.
Our students and teachers took part in various competitive events so that as many people as possible could get to know our lyceum. It is nice that the quality of our achievements and the knowledge of our students is highly recognized by independent juries in various competitions. Our teachers also actively educate themselves in Waldorf seminars.
We are currently working intensively in the College of Teachers to understand the paths of our development. It is a tough time for our school community, but we are looking for ways to improve the situation.
We thank you very much for your financial support. The money you raise helps us to continue our work and enables our children to receive a Waldorf education in Odessa.”
Shkola Pokuttia, Horodenka: The path is made by the one who follows it.
Shortly after the incursion, the Waldorf school in Horodenka became a refuge for many families from eastern Ukraine. This was also made possible through donations that the Friends of Waldorf Education were able to pass on to the school. Yurii Shkremetka from Shkola Pokuttia reports on the second half of last year:
“We started the 2023/2024 school year with two new classes. Class 8 consists entirely of the children of internally displaced persons, while Class 1 consists almost entirely of local children. There are also new pupils in the other classes. We are also very happy that the school has a new subject: Bothmer gymnastics. Like the eurythmy teacher, the Bothmer gymnastics teacher also comes to us once a month. Now we are looking for a good German teacher. All other subjects are pretty much covered.
Our community continues to work in many directions to build an educational centre with sustainable development, financial stability, high-quality, free education, public trust and strong social ties, which has the chance to become one of the newest cultural centres in the region, and for the future of Ukraine. We are aware that this is a long and difficult path, especially in times of war, but we follow the motto, “The path is made by the one who follows it”, and we have a sincere belief in it. Also, we have many good friends in Ukraine and abroad who are always ready to help and support us, for which we are incredibly grateful.
In the last few months, we have been able to experience many beautiful celebrations: school enrolment, Thanksgiving, the Lantern Festival, and St. Martin's Day with trips into the city, then the Advent celebrations with the Advent Garden and much more. Some plays were also performed that brought the school community together.
In addition to many positive aspects, there is also a less pleasant one that has put a strain on the school recently - the complete lack of ventilation in the building with all the negative consequences in the form of poor indoor air quality, high humidity, mould on the walls and, of course, an often poor state of health in the teachers, and children with frequent illnesses. The problem existed before, but with the increase in the number of pupils and students this year and especially in the cold season, it has become critical. In response, we are now actively looking for ways to ensure the necessary and appropriate ventilation.
So, we start the spring with new challenges, plans, and dreams, and we thank you very much for your support.”