Pylyp Orlyk Foundation Won the “Bridges of Solidarity with Ukraine” Competition
The “Roots and Wings: History That Unites” project by the Pylyp Orlyk Foundation has become one of 14 winners of the all-Ukrainian competition “Bridges of Solidarity with Ukraine,” implemented by the “Social Capital” program of the International Renaissance Foundation. The competition aims at institutional strengthening of Ukrainian educational and civic hubs in Northern Europe and the Baltic states. A total of 180 applications were submitted.
Motivation
Russia’s full-scale invasion caused the largest wave of forced migration of Ukrainians in modern history, with thousands of Ukrainian children growing up and studying outside their homeland.
Despite integration into the educational systems of host countries, Ukrainian families increasingly face the challenge of preserving the Ukrainian language, culture, and historical memory.
About the Project
The “Roots and Wings: History That Unites” project will scale up the model that the team implemented in 2025–2026 in the Czech Republic, Denmark, and Sweden — forming a network of educators, introducing educational courses, and reaching over 250 Ukrainian children. As we previously reported, the program has already proven its effectiveness in the diaspora environment.
The next phase involves expanding the project’s geography to Northern Europe and the Baltic states, as well as strengthening the capacity of Ukrainian civic and educational organizations to work systematically and in the long term.
Within the project, 12 Ukrainian educational and civic hubs in the region will be selected. Twenty-four representatives of these organizations will undergo a comprehensive training and mentoring program, including three in-person training sessions in Copenhagen, a series of online meetings with specialists, and access to modern educational and methodological materials.
The key instrument of the program will be the original methodology “Memories in Boxes,” developed by Natalia Omelchuk, coordinator of educational projects at the Pylyp Orlyk Foundation. It helps children study the history of Ukraine through interactive practices, working with objects, personal stories, and cultural heritage.
Participants will receive not only knowledge and methodologies, but also the opportunity to exchange experiences, jointly develop new projects, and support each other after the grant funding ends.
“Today, Ukrainian children abroad need not only knowledge about Ukraine, but also a sense of belonging to it. Our task is to help communities create an environment where the history of Ukraine becomes a child’s personal experience, rather than just a school subject. This is why we are developing the ‘Memories in Boxes’ methodology and building a network of educational hubs that will work together even after the project ends,” says Natalia Omelchuk.
As a result of the project, at least 220 Ukrainian children aged 9–12 living in Northern Europe and the Baltic states will gain access to adapted courses on the history of Ukraine and educational materials created specifically for the diaspora environment. The project will be implemented in partnership with the Danish organization Hjælp Ukrainske Børn, which supports Ukrainian children, families, and educational initiatives in Denmark, and the Embassy of Ukraine in the Kingdom of Denmark.
Background
The “Bridges of Solidarity with Ukraine” competition was launched by the International Renaissance Foundation to support Ukrainian communities that formed abroad after the start of the full-scale invasion. Media can download photos here.
