How Supporting Educators Helps Children: Visit of the Danish Delegation

On April 21, 2026, representatives of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Denmark in Ukraine visited the Educators’ Support Center at the Odesa Professional Pedagogical College. The Government of Denmark is one of the donors of the project “Strengthening Teaching and Learning Processes in the Southern Regions of Ukraine,” implemented by the NGO “Progressive and Strong” with the support of UNICEF.

The Center at the Odesa Professional Pedagogical College is one of eight such spaces established in the Kherson, Mykolaiv, and Odesa regions. They are designed to support educators working in challenging conditions and, at the same time, help children catch up on learning losses.

The Center was visited by Jakob Torrild Hansen, Head of the Embassy of Denmark Office in Mykolaiv; Ida-Marie Ulbæk, Head of the Development department; as well as Cooperation Advisors Serhii Babkin, Artem Vasalatyi, and Mariia Kupris. Representatives of UNICEF also joined the visit, including Audrey Lecomte, Chief Field Odesa Office; Anatolii Ihnatovych, UNICEF Education Project Coordinator for Southern Ukraine; and Veronika Nikitina, Communication Officer.

Anatolii Ihnatovych introduced the Center’s team and spoke about the project’s implementation. The participants of the visit learned about how the space is organized and how training sessions for educators are conducted.

Liudmila Kornuta, Project Manager from the NGO “Progressive and Strong,” presented the results of the study “Educators of Southern Ukraine: Needs, Challenges, and Support Priorities.” This research became the basis for developing professional development programs. The study revealed a high level of burnout among educators, making the Centers important “points of support” in communities, where teachers can receive not only professional knowledge but also psychosocial support.

Olha Bieliak, the Center Coordinator, shared the team’s experience, spoke about the training program, and presented feedback from educators who have already participated in the sessions.

Supporting educators in such conditions has a direct impact on children – it helps them better absorb learning material, feel safe, and rediscover their interest in learning.

The team of the Center and the NGO “Progressive and Strong” expresses gratitude to partners for supporting this initiative, which helps overcome educational losses and supports all participants in the educational process.