Theirworld laptops help Ukrainian students rebuild their future

Before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Ivan went to school every day without fear. Now he’s forced to study in a makeshift underground shelter near the frontline, with the constant threat of attack.

The 11th-grade student is preparing to take the National Multi-Subject Test (NMT) – a mandatory entrance exam for anyone who wants to go on to university. But thousands of young Ukrainians are unable to tackle the digital test because they don’t have access to laptops.

In response, Theirworld is delivering 500 laptops to schools that urgently need updated technology. That will enable more than 21,000 students like Ivan to learn the skills they need to sit the test.

“My education has changed a lot,” said Ivan, who studies underground at Zaporizhzhia Lyceum, a school which doubles as a testing centre.

“Before the war, I went to school every day – but now I study here and prepare for the NMT. Access to this laptop allows me to prepare for the test every day in a safe environment.”

As Ukraine marks three years today since the full-scale invasion, millions of children continue to face severe disruption to their education. Thousands of schools have been damaged or destroyed during the conflict.

Theirworld had previously delivered over 70,000 laptops to displaced Ukrainian children and teachers in partnership with Ukraine’s Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry for Digital Transformation and the Olena Zelenska Foundation.

The additional 500 laptops will go to different parts of Ukraine, including at frontline schools and sheltered learning facilities.

Each will help an average of more than 40 students continue their studies and sit their NMTs – ensuring support for over 21,600 senior students.

Theirworld Chair Sarah Brown said: “Theirworld’s laptop initiative is not just about providing technology, it’s about equipping Ukraine’s next generation with the skills they need to rebuild their country.”

For many, these laptops are not just tools – they are a lifeline to education, opportunity and hope. Theirworld visited Zaporizhzhia Lyceum in southeast Ukraine to see the emotional moment when students received the new devices just days ago.

One of them was Oleksiy, another 11th-grade student, who said: “Learning during the war has changed significantly.”

Oleksiy, who plans to work in IT, explained: “At home, I work on touchpads. When I use a tablet, I encounter some difficulties. Having access to a laptop is essential for me to take the National Multi-Subject Test.”

Anna, an 11th-grade homeroom and history teacher at the school, said: “When the war began, I faced several challenges, primarily safety concerns. The shelter enables us to prepare [for the test] without delaying lessons.

“It is essential to practise using the same technology. This provides peace of mind for students and teachers and helps them get familiar with the technology before the exam, which is crucial.”

Nina Horbachova, Director of the Olena Zelenska Foundation, said that ensuring Ukrainian children’s access to education during the war is one of its key objectives.

She added: “With our partners, we transfer devices to those forced to learn online due to the constant shelling threats. This initiative helps students take essential steps – from graduation from school to university admission.

“We thank our partners for such a significant contribution to preserving the future of Ukrainian children through education.”

Justin van Fleet, President of Theirworld, said: “There is power in partnerships. This work builds on long-standing relationships between government, local providers and the private sector to demonstrate how mobilising resources and expertise can make a real, lasting difference for children, young people, their families and communities during times of crisis.”