Books Under Threat: Why Promoting Reading Is a Matter of Ukraine’s Future

Books Under Threat: Why Promoting Reading Is a Matter of Ukraine’s Future

18 August 2026

 

“Following the tragedy in which Russia destroyed the warehouses of the Kharkiv-based publishing house ‘Ranok’—resulting in the loss of up to 10 million books—along with similar targeted attacks on the production facilities and warehouses of other Ukrainian publishers this year, the idea of ​​developing digital reading is gaining increasing traction in the public discourse.

This is true. However, we must recognize that forming a new habit—even one less complex than reading—requires at least three months of daily effort. Furthermore, statistics indicate that reading is a ‘dying form’ of leisure across all age groups in Ukraine.

While for adults, reading primarily supports intellectual longevity and the development of critical thinking skills, for children and young people, it serves as the foundation for a high-quality education and the human capital essential for all sectors of the economy—most notably Ukraine’s defense-industrial complex.”

To learn more about how the ‘Educational Initiatives Foundation’ has been fostering a culture of reading among children and adults in Ukraine for many years—and to discover current charitable book projects—read the latest blog post by the Foundation’s founder, Nadiia Omelchenko, written exclusively for OSVITA.ua: https://osvita.ua/blogs/97679/

We will help set up a safe and spacious space for cats

We will help set up a safe and spacious space for cats

12 August 2026 

Friends, our Foundation continues to support our four-legged friends.

Let’s join forces to help the “Jerry” mini-shelter for animals build a spacious outdoor enclosure—a safe, sunny space for their little purring residents to enjoy.

“Jerry” is a special kind of shelter. It provides care for animals that are chronically ill, elderly, or have been abandoned by their owners.

Our goal is to raise 20,000 hryvnias. Every contribution is vital!

Link to the donation jar: https://send.monobank.ua/jar/8VUSVNLfqi

Card number: 4874 1000 3092 4164

UA Energy Photo Report: From Ukraine’s History to Its Future

UA Energy Photo Report: From Ukraine’s History to Its Future

06 August 2026 

We are sharing photo reports from the project “UA Energy: From Ukraine’s History to Its Future.”

Over the past few months, our foundation’s team has delivered book donations to various corners of Ukraine. We are truly delighted that these books are finding their readers and becoming part of library collections.

➢ The following institutions have already received books:
— Library of the Ohiivskyi Lyceum
— Library of the Zaporizhzhia City Public Library System
— Baliasne Village Library Branch
— Berezoluky Village Library
— Family Reading Library No. 27, Kharkiv
— Filiopil Village Library Branch (part of the Khmilnyk Public Library system)
— Borshchiv Centralized Library System
— Velyka Rudka Village Library
— Vodiana Balka Village Library Branch
— Olzhych Gymnasium No. 22 (Khmelnytskyi City Council)
— Dykanka Public Library and its branches
— Zankivka Branch of the Vertiivka Village Public Library
— Semenivka Public Library
— Losynivka Children’s Library
— Nadiia Village Library Branch
— Ordanivka Village Library Branch
— Poltava Village Library Branch (part of the Lozova Territorial Community Public Library system)
— Rohan Library Branch No. 1 (Kharkiv District)
— Katiushezhanka Village Library (a branch of the “Kraina Mrii” [Land of Dreams] Cultural Center, Dymer Settlement Council)
— Central Public Library of Kamianets settlement, Kirovohrad Oblast — Secondary General Education School (Levels I–II) No. 132, Kyiv
— Vovnyanska Library (Branch)
— Voronizka Library (Branch)
— Shostka Library (Branch 1)
— Shostka Central City Library
— Katerynivka Village Library (Lozova Community)
— Ternopil Educational Center at the Ternopil Regional Children’s Hospital
— School in the village of Kosivka
Books were also received by the Kyiv Regional Organization of the Trade Union of Education and Science Workers of Ukraine and the Bila Tserkva Trade Union of Education Workers, who subsequently distributed them to their local chapters and readers.

We are sincerely grateful for your kind words, support, and wonderful photo reports. Together, we are building the future of Ukraine!

➢ The following will also receive their book sets:
— Library at Kostopil Gymnasium No. 2
— Scientific and Technical Library of the Donetsk National Technical University
— Malobudyshcha Library (Opishnia Community, Poltava Region)
— Yenkivka Library (Branch) — Khorol Central Public Library, Lubny District, Poltava Region
— ​​Public Library of the village of Nemyliv
— Stepanhorod Public-School Library
— “Centralized Library System” Municipal Cultural Institution (Starokostiantyniv City Council)
— Vyhoda Community (Ivano-Frankivsk Region)
— Library (Branch) in the village of… Kolochava – Mereshor
— Library of the State Educational Institution “Zhashkiv Agrarian-Technological Vocational Lyceum”
— Seredniakivka Village Library, Myrhorod District
— Kremenchuk City Public Library, Branch No. 5 named after Mykhailo Parneta
— Ozeryany Village Library, Ternopil Region
— ​​Korytnyany Branch of the Municipal Center for Culture and Leisure
— Burdiakivtsi Village Library
— Bystrytsia Village Library
— Harkushyntsi Village Library, Myrhorod District, Poltava Region
— ​​School Library of Mlyniv Lyceum No. 1, Rivne Region
— ​​Stetsieva Village Library Branch
— Pidlisne Village Library
— Zaizd Village Library
— Ponykva Village Library (Brody Centralized Library System)
— Berestivka Public-School Library Branch (Dubrovytsia City Council Centralized Library System)
— Municipal Institution “Liubotyn Public Library of the Liubotyn City Council, Kharkiv Region”
— TAL “Pleiada 19”
— Library of Berdiansk State Pedagogical University
— School Library of the Municipal Institution “Novooleksandrivka Lyceum” (Sakhnovshchyna Settlement Council)

Please note:
We are no longer accepting new requests for books due to a limited number of copies available.

Please keep an eye on our page for updates. If the opportunity to resume accepting requests arises, we will be sure to announce it.

Global Teacher Prize Ukraine 2026: Top 50 semi-finalist teachers announced

Global Teacher Prize Ukraine 2026: Top 50 semi-finalist teachers announced

04 August 2026 

Friends, on August 3, the Global Teacher Prize Ukraine announced the top 50 teachers in the country. Osvitoria has published the list of semi-finalists—educators who are actively implementing innovative approaches within the educational process. Further results of the competition will be revealed in early September, when the names of the 10 finalists will be announced. Then, in early October, the country will learn the names of the winners.

The team at the Educational Initiatives Foundation congratulates all participants and wishes them success in the upcoming stages.

We would like to remind you that this year, three participants in the STEM specialization category will also receive valuable prizes from our Foundation.

You can view the top 50 list at the following link: https://surl.li/xosone

The award is organized by Osvitoria with the support of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine.
General Media Partner: 1+1 media. Media support provided by: Kyivstar TV, Suspilne Movlennya, hromadske.ua, Ukrainska Pravda, ShoTam?, and Vikno Vidnovlennya.

Unbroken Education: Laptops for Velykodolynske Gymnasium

Unbroken Education: Laptops for Velykodolynske Gymnasium

23 July 2026 

 

On July 21, as part of the “Unbreakable Education” project—an initiative of our charitable organization, the Educational Initiatives Foundation—refurbished computer equipment was delivered to students and teachers at the Velyka Dolyna Gymnasium (a branch of Zelenodolsk Lyceum No. 2 in the Kryvyi Rih district, Dnipropetrovsk region).

Velyka Dolyna was one of the first settlements to find itself on the front line during the defense of the Kryvyi Rih sector.
It was from here that the Ukrainian military launched a counteroffensive in the Kherson region.
Since then, education for the children has taken place exclusively remotely. For many younger students, a classroom, a school bell, or sitting at a desk for a lesson remain nothing more than a dream—they have never attended school in person.
That is why these laptops are more than just hardware; they represent an opportunity to pursue a full education, even amidst the difficult conditions of war.

This charitable initiative was made possible, in part, through the effective collaboration between our Foundation and the Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine—led by Serhii Byzov—under a Memorandum signed on July 10, 2026.

In addition to the computer equipment, the school received a large donation of Ukrainian-language fiction and historical literature for its library, provided by our Foundation through the “UA Energy: From the History to the Future of Ukraine” project.
It is worth noting that the “Unbreakable Education” project was launched by the Educational Initiatives Foundation in 2022. Within just one year, the initiative secured the patronage of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and expanded its cooperation with international donors. During this period, we have delivered over 5,000 digital devices to educational institutions across Ukraine.

Specifically, between May and July 2026 alone, the following recipients received this valuable support from the Foundation and Reusing IT as part of the “Unbroken Education” project:
➢ The Digital Academy, based at the Academy of Labour, Social Relations and Tourism in Kyiv
➢ Educational institutions in Mykolaiv and the Mykolaiv region, through collaboration with the Center for Economic-Entrepreneurial and Humanitarian-Infrastructure Initiatives
➢ The Velykodolynska Gymnasium—a branch of Zelenodolsk Lyceum No. 2 in the Kryvyi Rih district of the Dnipropetrovsk region

We are sharing some photos from this major and significant project undertaken in recent months. We continue our work to ensure the continuity of education for Ukrainian children amidst the challenging conditions of war.

Side by side toward Victory!