By Yehor*, 15, a student in Ukraine and a member of the Education Cluster’s Children’s Strategic Advisory Group
Studying in the middle of a war is a daily reality for myself and millions of other Ukrainian children. For us, schooling is not just about lessons and learning – it is about living with constant uncertainty.
I live in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, where we often have power outages. Since my home is on the 20th floor of an apartment building, it means that I have to climb 20 flights of stairs with a heavy backpack filled with books when elevators do not work. I’ve often had to do my homework with a flashlight – or even a candle – when the electricity has gone out.
The worst part, however, is the constant air raid sirens and missile attacks. Since there are no shelters close to my home, I often run into the bathroom – the safest room in our apartment. Sometimes I even sleep there.
Since February 2026, my school has had to move from the classroom to a nearby shelter at least 15 times because of air raids. These shelters are often noisy and crowded – hardly the best environment to learn.
Many students are also forced to constantly switch between online and offline learning, if they cannot access their schools. This is disruptive at the best of times, and even more so when you do not have a stable internet connection.
Learning in a conflict zone is exhausting and takes a real toll on your mental health. It is terrifying to think that a rocket could strike my house at any moment. The constant stress makes it difficult to concentrate and to prepare for exams.
Despite this, Ukrainian children continue to wake up and go to school every day – because education gives us hope.
This is also why I have become an advocate, to ensure that all children and young people in Ukraine can access the education even during this difficult time. My journey began with a UNESCO project focused on the role and mindfulness of youth in Ukraine, followed by a mentorship role during a student session at the All-Ukrainian UNESCO Schools Forum
Eventually, this path led me to the Save the Children/Education Cluster Children’s Strategic Advisory Group. Being a member has empowered me to participate in high-level national and international platforms, advocating for the rights of children and youth, especially the right to education in Ukraine. A major turning point in my advocacy was speaking at the Humanitarian Networks and Partnerships Weeks 2026 in Geneva. I highlighted the challenges facing Ukrainian education and presented recommendations directly to decision-makers. This resulted in new commitments from the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine to prioritise the voices of children and youth within humanitarian response efforts, particularly in the education sector.
We recently produced an Analytical Note that set out the things that are most important to Ukrainian children when it comes to education. These include psychological support for both students and teachers, as well as safe shelters and safe schools to make sure that children can return to offline education.
Listening to children and young people in this way is crucial. To provide effective support, humanitarian organisations, donors and others must first hear from students directly to understand their real needs. Sometimes, organisations act without asking – they might show up with hygiene kits or blankets, for example, when what students really need are power banks to help them during electricity outages.
Young people also have many creative and practical ideas that can be implemented in real life. They are agents of change who propose real solutions, not just passive recipients of aid. Since young people are the ones who will build the future, it is crucial to involve them in decisions that affect their lives.
For the international community, my main message is to please listen to young people and take them seriously. They have the power to create change, but only if they are included in decision-making processes, especially on issues that directly affect them.
Without youth participation, many solutions will not be effective. But when young people are actively involved, when their voices are heard and respected, the impact becomes much stronger.
On a practical level, Ukrainians also needs funding to continue to learn. Without the right resources, safe shelters, adequate schools and psychological support programs will simply not be possible.
I really want to stress that Ukrainian children are not asking for special treatment. All we want is to be safe and to have the opportunity to learn, because education today means the future of Ukraine tomorrow.