Statement

01.03.2022

STAND WITH UKRAINE

Being a British International School, BISU was set up in Ukraine 25 years ago and BISU continues to stand with Ukraine.

Since Russia began a full-scale war throughout the country on 24th February, we had been remaining in Ukraine to make sure our children could obtain a high-quality education.

Despite tremendous challenges, on 1st September, our schools in Kyiv and Dnipro reopened their doors to welcome students to the new academic year 2022-2023. We continue delivering learning and teaching, both remotely and in the classroom (whenever possible), in compliance with the highest standards of the British and Ukrainian Curricula.

BISU’S APPEAL TO THE GLOBAL COMMUNTIY

Every day brings sad news of the ongoing violence in Ukraine. Our hearts are filled with deep pain and sorrow for every person going through this all over the country. Whether they take up arms to defend their homeland, serve on the home front or flee to safety with their families – all of them need our support.

Children and innocent people are suffering inhumane conditions the war has put them in – especially now. With temperatures dropping below freezing, millions of Ukrainians are left without power due to Russian missile strikes on energy infrastructure.

Among them are our dear students, teachers, parents, colleagues, friends and relatives. We are grateful to all sponsors and families who have welcomed people from Ukraine into their homes across the globe.

However, with a tragic humanitarian crisis expanding each hour all over Ukraine, we ask you to join us in providing crucial assistance to children, people in need, and brave Ukrainians. They RISK THEIR LIVES to protect not only our independence and territory but the whole world and human values we all believe in – Freedom and Democracy.

What can you do to support Ukraine and Ukrainians?

Most important:
— Learn about the Ukrainian nation and its resilience, and share the truth about the war in Ukraine: We Are Ukraine

Donate to help children and civilians:
— UNICEF;
— National Bank of Ukraine (Fundraising Account for Humanitarian Assistance to Ukrainians Affected by Russia’s Aggression);
— Razom for Ukraine and Nova Ukraine (US-based emergency appeals);
— PLAST (Ukrainian scouts association).

Provide humanitarian aid:
— United24 (the initiative of the President of Ukraine)
— With Ukraine (a special fund to provide humanitarian assistance to Ukraine’s civilian population established by the Embassy of Ukraine in the UK);
— Nova Poshta (delivering aid throughout Ukraine for free).

Provide medical assistance:
— Leleka (critical medical supplies and protective gear to Ukraine’s defenders and civilians);
— United with Ukraine (physical or cash donation available);
— Ukraine Charity humanitarian appeal (raising funds to procure medicine and medical equipment).

More options:
— Support Ukraine NOW (a worldwide network with resources for donating, protesting, and volunteering);
— UkraineNow (a global effort to coordinate help: evacuations, medical and food supplies, information, and cash on the ground).

BISU’S CONTRIBUTION

Education opportunities for our children

We express our deepest appreciation and gratitude for the tremendous support and generous assistance our partners — international schools, educational organisations, digital companies and individuals — provided and continue providing to BISU in these unprecedented times.
— MP Liz Saville-Roberts
— Lord Sharpe of Epsom
— Colin Bell, CEO at COBIS

Their lobbying of the government helped lead directly to the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

— Council of British International Schools (COBIS)
— Liz Free, CEO and Director at International School Rheintal
— Stephen Priest, Principal of the British International School of Tbilisi and Chair of Black Sea Schools Group
— The Black Sea Schools Group (COBIS)
— The British International School of Tbilisi
— Ratcliffe College
— King’s Worcester
— Byron College
— John Bunyan Primary
— Osbaston Primary
— Discovery Education
— Pobble
— Times Tables Rock Stars
— Big Cat Reading
— Book Creator
— City of London Freemen’s School
— Oxford Education Online
— King’s InterHigh Leading Online School
— Pamoja Education
— Kognity
— White Rose Maths
— Firefly
— CenturyTech
— PeopleHR
— iSAMS
— Microsoft
— And many others.

With their support, many Ukrainians relocated in the UK and beyond. With their help, we introduced a new modular approach to learning, enhanced our online programmes and gave our students access to a wider network and greater choice of top-notch educational platforms, student-teacher-parent portals as well as subjects and lessons in keeping with the international school’s high-quality provision.

What we did and keep doing to help BISU and a wider community:

We opened school facilities at the start of the invasion to provide food and shelter to members of the BISU community;

We arranged and provided transport to help staff and families evacuate;

Some of our colleagues and alumni joined the Ukrainian Armed Forces. We made sure they had safety equipment and IT hardware;

We contributed to Ukrainian humanitarian organisations and took part in some charity projects to provide assistance to the Dnipro Center for Internally Displaced Women and Children and to the Dnipro Territorial Defence Forces;

We set up safe and comfortable shelters in our schools that are fully equipped with all necessary facilities;

We helped arrange and assisted in pet evacuations and raised funds for local animal charities;

Our staff members regularly support humanitarian causes in Ukraine. They volunteer and invest their time, money and other resources to help the war effort;

Our music teacher performed for the Ukrainian military troops;

Some of our international academics launched their private humanitarian initiatives. They help deliver supplies and transport refugees to the border and to the west from the east as well as help Ukrainian refugees find accommodation, primarily in the UK, but in Europe too: We UKrainians;
We launched a series of BISU’s psychologist’s professional tips for parents and children;

We launched the unparalleled Ukrainian Story Project. This free online book consists of five classic Ukrainian folk tales, which have been translated into seven languages — English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Polish and Korean;

Despite all challenges, we successfully finished the Academic Year 2021-2022 and held two online IB Graduation and Ukrainian Secondary Education Award ceremonies;

Our participation in Global Social Leaders (GSL) programme/competition will involve our team in focusing on good causes to support Ukraine.

While the war rages on in Ukraine, we find it crucial that our school stays there to keep providing children with British-based world class education offered by BISU’s highly qualified international teachers. Our students will be the next generation to help the nation rebuild and prosper in the future.

BISU has stayed in Ukraine throughout the war. If you want to support BISU in ensuring learning and teaching continues here in Ukraine, please contact us at MarketingMaterials@britishschool.ua

Join us in supporting Ukraine. To know we are not forgotten is hugely important for morale and lifting the spirit. Every single thought, prayer, message of support and action matters – Whilst each of us may only whisper, together we can make a mighty roar! This is how we will cause the tyrant to fall.

Read relevant stories:

#StandWithUkraine

Categories: Statement

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