The Future of Ukraine's Children Parliamentary Breakfast
On 2nd September, the Coalition hosted a breakfast roundtable discussion on the future of Ukraine's children with Joe Powell MP (the Member for Kensington & Bayswater) in collaboration with St Mary’s Ukrainian School. The discussion explored how identity, trauma and rebuilding are key elements to the lived experience of young Ukrainians both residing in the UK and in Ukraine.
The discussion opened with remarks on the current tone among young Ukrainians, attendees were able to reflect on the experiences of both Ukrainians that have been displaced to the UK and Ukrainians still living amongst the war. Representatives from St Mary’s Ukrainian school were able to note that trauma informed practices should be a priority when educating refugees, ensuring that all children displaced by war can receive a comprehensive education. There was consensus in the room that through collaborative exercises such as cultural exchange programmes, there is much to be learned from Ukrainian and British children alike. An expiration of the two cultures allows for young Ukrainians to remain steadfast in their national identity whilst also reconciling a fractured education due to Putin's aggression. The participants also suggested that much can also be learned in terms of transferable skills about how to embed this type of training and practices in British schools to help domestic children deal with trauma.
The discussion then shifted in focus to the 100 Year Partnership Agreement (which was underpinned by a visit from the Prime Minister to Ukraine in January) and how this commitment will shape the educational and cultural ties between the UK and Ukraine. A vital element of the 100 Year Partnership Agreement between the UK and Ukraine is the UK-Ukraine School Partnerships Programme, an initiative which promotes strengthened connections between schools and encourages learning and acceptance of other cultures among young people. This element of conversation explored how we can take learnings from nearby nations such as Ireland and France on the way they have supported both educators and pupils re-entering education following displacement.
The conversation concluded with the ambitious next steps that include reinstating the Ukrainian GCSE and the establishing of a permanent Ukrainian School in the UK. All attendees agreed that a strengthened partnership between the two countries is not only valuable to the lived experiences of Ukrainian children but deeply within our strategic national interest.
