In times of peace, something as simple as a laptop is easy to take for granted. But when war damages schools, displaces families from their homes and makes going outside dangerous, it can become a young person’s only connection to education — and the difference between staying in school or being left behind.
In Ukraine, young people have had their education disrupted by war. Many students are learning remotely, studying underground during air raids and trying to continue lessons after being displaced from their communities. But without reliable devices, many struggle to access online learning or prepare for important digital exams that could shape their future.
Since the full-scale invasion, thousands of schools and education facilities across Ukraine have been damaged or destroyed. Millions of children and young people have experienced interrupted learning, making access to technology essential to keeping education going during the conflict. And for children displaced by crisis, the consequences can last far beyond the immediate emergency. A child who is out of school for more than a year is unlikely to return, showing how quickly temporary disruption can become a permanent loss of opportunity.
We were able to take goodwill from business and turn that into really meaningful change in the lives of people during one of the hardest moments of their life.Justin van Fleet, President of Theirworld
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Theirworld, working with HP and Microsoft, brought together governments, international organisations, local nonprofits and schools to deliver more than 70,000 laptops and devices to displaced students, teachers and refugee families.
Anna, 16
When Russia’s full-scale invasion began, 16-year-old Anna and her family fled their home near the Donetsk region with just one small suitcase, leaving everything else behind. Unable to attend school in person, Anna initially tried to continue learning using only a mobile phone.
Her mother, Lyudmyla, said: “There was no possibility of Anna going to school. But now the laptop lets her keep in constant contact with her teachers and achieve her educational goals.”
Anya, 16 with her mother Lyudmila
Despite ongoing air raids and the “constant fear of what tomorrow will bring”, Anna continues to study every day. She said: “I do all my homework for all subjects on my laptop, five days a week. I believe that every child should have them.”
Partnerships between businesses and nonprofits can make a meaningful difference when young people’s futures are at risk of being lost to conflict and emergencies. By working together, organisations like HP and Theirworld have helped thousands of children continue learning during war in Ukraine. To explore how your organisation could support children’s education through partnership, visit Theirworld Corporate Partnerships.
