Footprints Project
Since 2005, travelers like you have helped us change the world through micro-donations.
-
A total of
25
Travelers
-
donated
$190.95
(0% funded) -
to help improve
Education
-
impacting
8000
people -
in
Ukraine
Project Background
Since the escalation of conflict in early 2022, countless Ukrainian children have been forced to flee their homes, facing immense disruptions to their daily lives and education. In response, Library for All has actively participated in the Ukraine Education Cluster to ensure that displaced children continue to have access to learning opportunities, no matter where they find safety.
To support this initiative, we have developed a digital library comprising nearly 300 books, all available for free through the Library for All app. This resource allows Ukrainian children, wherever they are in the world, to maintain a connection with their language and culture.
The collection includes original works from Ukrainian authors and books licensed from local publishers, providing support to the Ukrainian publishing industry during these turbulent times. This effort not only helps preserve cultural heritage but also provides young readers with relatable content that reflects their experiences and resilience.
However, we recognize that some children may not have access to digital devices. To address this, we are committed to expanding our support by distributing printed books and magazines, ensuring that all children can benefit from our resources and continue their educational journey.
Project Overview
This project is designed to print and distribute books, with the goal of improving educational opportunities for children through resources that reflect their cultural background and linguistic needs.
Why Printed Books?
Printed books remain a crucial educational tool for several reasons:
- Engagement: Children engage more effectively with physical books, particularly when the content excites and interests them.
- Diversity and Relevance: Our collection includes a variety of stories, from early level phonics-based texts to dynamic, informative materials for upper primary learners. This diversity ensures that children can see their own experiences reflected in the stories they read while learning about the wider world.
- Adaptability: Books are selected to connect with readers at home or in the classroom, providing the right balance of challenge, confidence building, and practice. This approach supports a ‘reading runway’ that allows children to progress at their own pace or under educator guidance, catering to individual literacy needs and interests regardless of age or class level.
Books in Action:
- Community Learning: Utilizing books written by Ukrainian authors in the Ukrainian language, facilitators can conduct group reading sessions that not only promote literacy but also serve as a stimulus for discussion. For example, our Social Emotional Learning collection can initiate conversations about emotions, while environmental books can inspire discussions on actionable steps children can take at home.
- Individual Learning: With a vast selection available, children have the freedom to explore various topics and reading levels, helping them discover books that capture their interest and meet their learning needs. This flexibility is vital for fostering literacy in both English and Ukrainian.
- At-Home Learning: Magazines, designed to be lightweight and complementary to center-based learning, provide an excellent resource for at-home education. They allow children to share stories with their siblings and parents, thereby creating a family-centered learning environment. This is particularly important in contexts where children experience regular disruptions and violence – these engaging home activities are essential for maintaining educational continuity and emotional well-being.
Printed Books and Reading Tools: While digital resources effectively overcome many barriers to learning, the tangible benefits of physical books, particularly in educational settings, are irreplaceable. To address the unique challenges faced by Ukrainian children, this project focuses on providing printed books and supplementary reading materials.
Key Outcomes
- Enhanced Access to Educational Resources: By distributing printed books and complementary resources such as large-format books, story cards, and low-cost publications, we aim to supplement physical libraries in public schools, public libraries, and other educational spaces globally that serve large numbers of Ukrainian students.
- Support for Displaced and Affected Students: The project targets the establishment and equipping of libraries and educational spaces specifically for Ukrainian children, including those in refugee hubs, and the provision of resources to schools and other institutions affected by the conflict, such as hospitals and orphanages.
- Cultural and Psychosocial Support: Through carefully selected collections, such as the Psychosocial Support series, the project also aims to raise awareness of specific themes, support ongoing educational engagement during school breaks, and celebrate significant cultural events, such as Ukrainian Independence Day, with themed collections that highlight important aspects of Ukrainian culture.
Measurement of Outcomes:
- Distribution Metrics: We will track the number of books and materials distributed across various locations and institutions, ensuring that they reach the intended beneficiaries.
- Engagement and Usage: We will gather feedback from educators, librarians, and community leaders to assess the utility and impact of the resources provided.
Overall, the outcomes of this project are aimed at not only improving access to educational materials but also at supporting the broader educational and emotional needs of Ukrainian children during a critical period of their development.
Number of Project Beneficiaries
The number of children benefiting from Library for All's books varies by location. On average, each site serves approximately 200 children. We distribute books in packs of 50 to each site. With plans to expand our reach to 40 sites, we anticipate our books could impact up to 8,000 children affected by crises.
Costs covered
Printing $22,250
Program logistics $2,000
Distribution $1000
Partner and Community Involvement
Library For All is deeply committed to fostering partnerships that enhance our project's reach and impact. In Kiev, our dedicated local staff play a pivotal role in the project's execution by collaborating directly with key community institutions. These partners include local schools, libraries, hospitals, and orphanages, each critical to the distribution and utilization of the educational resources we provide.
By involving local partners, we ensure that our initiatives are culturally relevant and directly contribute to the educational growth and well-being of the children we aim to support.
How does this project fit into a larger strategy?
This project is a vital component of Library for All's 2024 strategic vision, which is focused on expanding our global impact by providing culturally relevant, accessible books to underserved children across the globe. Literacy is not only a foundational skill but also a powerful tool that empowers children, supports their long-term educational outcomes, and helps build resilient communities.
By specifically targeting regions like Ukraine, which are experiencing significant socio-economic challenges exacerbated by ongoing conflict and humanitarian crises, this project aims to address critical gaps in educational access..
Our efforts in Ukraine are seamlessly integrated into our broader strategy of creating and distributing inclusive educational content that is adaptable to diverse cultural contexts and needs. Through these initiatives, we ensure that all children, regardless of their circumstances, have the opportunity to learn, grow, and envision a hopeful future. This approach not only strengthens our global outreach but also reinforces our commitment to educational equity and community resilience.
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