Catch-up Classes and Supporting Children During the War: “Responsible Citizens” Experience at the National Forum

The Coordinator of Educational Projects at the NGO “Responsible Citizens,” Olena Bieloliptseva, took part in the III Annual Strategic Forum on Addressing Learning Losses, organized by “Teach For Ukraine” with the support of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine.

For three years now, our organization has been developing educational programs for children and adults, focusing on overcoming learning gaps caused by the war. That is why partnerships with state institutions, communities, and civil society organizations are essential for creating sustainable solutions in the field of education.

This year’s Forum focused on addressing learning loss, supporting adolescents in emergency situations, strengthening mental health, and expanding professional support for educators. Participants paid particular attention to identifying effective cooperation models between the state, local communities, and the civil sector.

During the event, Olena Bieloliptseva became one of the key speakers and presented practical solutions that the “Responsible Citizens” team successfully implements in schools located in frontline communities. She shared the experience of introducing catch-up classes in the Dnipropetrovsk region, where subject teachers work together with speech therapists. This approach allows students to simultaneously close academic gaps and strengthen speech competence.

“We have created a methodology that combines academic recovery with speech development,” said Olena Bieloliptseva. “Its results exceeded expectations, so today we have scaled this approach to other communities, adapting it to the specific needs of each school.”

Participation in the Forum became an important opportunity to present our developments and contribute to shaping solutions that help children continue their education despite the challenges of war.