IECC’s Chair addresses diaspora educators ahead of new school year

by Lyuba Lyubchyk, Chair of the UWC’s International Educational Coordinating Council (IECC)

Source: Lyubchyk on Facebook

Dear Ukrainian diaspora education community! Dear colleagues and teachers of the great Ukrainian world!

As the new 2024-2025 academic year begins, each of you, as always, finds yourselves far from your homeland but certainly within a Ukrainian school in the countries where you reside. On all five continents where the Ukrainian heart beats, your native school becomes a vital educational space, nurturing People, Patriots, and Ukrainians.

The strength of Ukrainian teachers abroad lies in their unwavering dedication to the Ukrainian cause, belief in themselves and others, boundless love for their homeland, and relentless desire to succeed.

In Ukraine’s future great victory – so eagerly awaited and so dearly earned – your personal victories are crucial achievements of every school teacher.

Your victory is when, despite the challenges, you establish new educational hubs – centers for learning Ukrainian, Saturday or Sunday Ukrainian studies schools, Ukrainian houses – in the cities, towns, and villages of your host countries.

Your victory is when you, through your exemplary service to the Ukrainian cause, teach and lead by example.

Your victory is in creating a strong Ukrainian-language environment around you, engaging Ukrainian families, some of whom may not always grasp the importance of preserving Ukrainian identity and national consciousness abroad.

Your victory is in your selfless dedication, where, often in inadequate spaces and on a voluntary basis, the eyes of your students give you the strength and inspiration to continue, even when you might feel discouraged. And you keep going – confidently and resolutely – writing the history of Ukrainian education around the world in your beloved schools. Your journey is a triumphant one!

Wishing you a victorious academic year, dear educators of the Ukrainian diaspora!

To echo Franko’s sentiment, it is not merely the school that flourishes through the dedication of teachers; it is the whole nation that stands strong because of them.