World ORT helps Ukrainian teens enjoy summer school abroad

World ORT, a global education network driven by Jewish values and innovation, has helped three Ukrainian teens participate in a summer school in Bulgaria by facilitating their departure from the war-torn country. 

The three students, Natan, 15, from Bila Tserkva in the Kyiv region, Ihor, 15, from an ORT school in Kyiv and Polina, 16, from the ORT school in Zaporizhzhia, traveled thousands of kilometres across the border to Poland, and then flew to Sofia in Bulgaria to attend the two-week program.

The program deepens ORT students’ experience in photography, video and audio production taught by professionals. Ihor chose to focus on photography skills, Natan studied video editing, and Polina took an audio production course.

Anna Chumakova, an ORT Ukraine staff member based in Kyiv, joined the the three teenagers, saying they were “so excited to take part.”

“Combining the opportunity to have a distraction from life at home and the constant air raids with the chance to learn so much and have this priceless experience, was really an amazing thing,” Chumakova added.

Polina said the summer school was an opportunity for her to distract herself from “the reality of life in Ukraine – and to gain a lot of new knowledge to help build my future career. We worked so enthusiastically on our projects and attained a really high level.”

“The camp had an atmosphere of peace, mutual support and friendship. It was a place where dreams could come true. I had always dreamed of recording a song in a professional studio – I was so pleased we recorded a Ukrainian song, it was very important for me. I have a lot of precious memories from this summer school,” she added.

Ihor expressed his gratitude to his new friends and teachers, saying: “The memories will stay in my heart.”

Throughout the 18-month-long war in Ukraine, World ORT staff and supporters across ORT’s global education network have worked to support the thousands of ORT Ukraine students, teachers, staff and their families affected by the violence.

“Natan, Ihor and Polina have had a life-changing opportunity – gaining valuable digital skills that will give them a head-start as they look to build their careers in digital industries,” Dan Green, World ORT Director General and CEO, said.

“This is at the heart of what ORT has done for more than 140 years. Adapting to ensure we continue this provision during a time of conflict is something that brings me and our professional team enormous pride,” he added.