The British Council has implemented the "Social Cohesion and Resilience Through Schools" Project since June 2019 in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and financial support of the British Embassy in Ukraine. This project is part of the British Council programmes to support the reform of secondary education "New Ukrainian School". 

The project "Social cohesion and resilience through schools" consists of 3 areas: "Learning Hub", "Teachers' Upgrade", Active Citizens.

The aim of the project is to enhance the ability of schools in GCA Donbas and Transcarpathia to provide effective and relevant education to young people and to develop young people’s ability, enthusiasm, and opportunities for social action, so as to contribute to greater social cohesion and resilience and to counter young people’s disengagement in communities affected by or at risk of conflict in Ukraine. 10 secondary schools in Zakarpattia region and 30 secondary schools in Donetsk and Lugansk regions became the participants of the project.  
 

The results of the project are:  

  • establishment of 40 “Learning Hubs” in schools as the location for after-school clubs set up and facilitated by teachers but run by young people, fostering leadership skills as well as creating fun and engaging learning and debating opportunities for children and the community. The Hubs also act as centres for teacher groups, providing professional and personal support for teachers, and support for outreach work including, via digital means, to sister schools in other areas;
  • establishment of "Teacher Activity Groups" to support the professional development of English teachers. TAGs enable English teachers to set up supportive communities of practice, allowing teachers to engage in meaningful informal professional development and relate to other teachers from other communities;
  • representatives of schools - participants of the project had a chance to take part in the following activities: "Core Skills" training, "Dialogue, Negotiation, Debate" training, "Gender Sensitivity", "Conflict Sensitivity/Social Cohesion" and "Active Citizens" training for youth that aims at intercultural dialogue and sustainable social development; 
  • informal spaces have been formed around participating schools, where active citizens can cooperate and implement social action projects. More than 100 projects have already been implemented - find out more here.
Learn English, Homepage, UA-YP

The project is implemented in partnership and cooperation with participating schools and envisages the following requirements for potential participating schools: 

  • readiness to cooperate with other schools in the community (village/city/region) or be prepared to establish and maintain partnerships with other schools; 
  • the availability of a spacious room equipped with furniture for educational materials for the arrangement of "Learning Hub" as open educational space; 
  • identify who from the English language teachers will lead the "Learning Hub"; 
  • ensuring the participation of teachers as trainers and facilitators of training programmes, that are specified in the Project's structure; 
  • administrative comprehensive support of project participants' teachers and adherence to the Learning Hub and Active Citizens programme activities, including extracurricular activities involving school students and community members. 

 
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