Ukrainian School in Poland Wins Prestigious World's Best School Prize for Overcoming Adversity

The first Ukrainian school in Poland has won the ‘Overcoming Adversity’ nomination in the annual World's Best School Prizes 2024. This is reported on the award website.

‘Everything you have done is just incredible,’ said Vikas Pota, the founder of the award.

Foundation President Victoria Osadcha admitted that the award is a ‘dream come true’.

‘When we started, many things seemed unattainable. But we knew why we were doing it. For the children. For the future. For Ukraine. And now I am standing here, overwhelmed with pride, with tears in my eyes. Tears of happiness, joy and pride. This is not just about the school. It's about each of us,’ said Viktoriia.

The first Ukrainian school in Poland was founded as a charitable institution shortly after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in March 2022. Currently, specialists in the educational space teach 1500 Ukrainian displaced children in Warsaw, Krakow and Wroclaw.

According to the organisers of the award, the First Ukrainian School in Poland not only provides its students with knowledge, but also offers individual education and emotional support to develop resilience and integrate into Polish society.

‘It (the school - ed.) implements a curriculum that emphasises creativity, critical thinking and decision-making, which is vital for students who may one day return to rebuild Ukraine,’ the organisers of the award say.

The students of the First Ukrainian School attend cultural exchange festivals and museums, which facilitates integration into the new society and strengthens mutual understanding and cooperation between Ukrainians and Poles.

The Indestructible Ukraine Foundation noted that in the 2024 academic year, more than 150 out of 160 graduates entered Polish universities. According to their estimates, every year up to 50% of students go on to study in Polish schools.

In total, five schools from around the world received awards in various categories this year. In addition to the First Ukrainian School, the award was given to

In the Community Cooperation category, the Maria de Guadalupe College in Argentina;

‘Environmental Action - Ryan International School in India;

‘Innovation - CM RISE School Vinoba in India;

‘Supporting a Healthy Lifestyle - Galileo Costa Scarambone Institute in Italy.

The People's Choice Award went to Kalvi International Public School in India.

The World's Best School Prizes 2024 is an award organised by the global community of educators T4 Education.

The best educational institutions are evaluated comprehensively based on the criteria for each category. Participants undergo a rigorous three-stage selection process consisting of an initial review of the application, a detailed analysis of the activities by the commission and the final evaluation by the jury.

In early October, the winners of the annual Global Teacher Prize Ukraine were announced in Ukraine. This year's first prize went to Lesia Pavliuk, a primary school teacher from Ivano-Frankivsk.