Israeli philanthropies expand educational centers for injured children in Ukraine

An initiative to establish educational centers for children within Ukrainian hospitals is underway, a collaborative effort between the Center for Jewish Impact, the SASA Setton organization, Israel's Foreign Ministry, and the Israeli Embassy in Ukraine. These centers are designed to offer injured children a continued space for learning, creativity, play, and crucial emotional support throughout their hospitalizations.

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to ensure that hospitalization is not a barrier to the societal and educational advancement of children.

The educational hubs will be situated in children's hospitals in Chernivtsi and Bila Tserkva. They will feature classrooms, technology and robotics facilities, libraries, games, and art spaces. The design will cater to the specific educational, emotional, and medical needs of hospitalized children. Furthermore, the initiative includes professional training and ongoing guidance for local staff.

Israel's Barzilai Medical Center in Ashkelon will provide professional support to the Chernivtsi facility, sharing expertise gained from its work with hospitalized children in Israel. Organizers are also exploring the possibility of expanding this initiative to other regions within Ukraine, building on the success of a similar center already established in Odesa.

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Israel attaches great importance to assisting Ukraine, not only in responding to the immediate challenges of the war, but also in strengthening the resilience of the younger generation. The establishment of educational centers for hospitalized children reflects Israel’s ability to share the knowledge and experience it has accumulated and turn them into tangible assistance on the ground.

Israeli Ambassador to Ukraine Michael Brodsky emphasized Israel's commitment to assisting Ukraine beyond immediate war challenges, focusing on strengthening the resilience of the younger generation. He noted that the educational centers demonstrate Israel's capacity to share its accumulated knowledge and translate it into tangible aid on the ground. Robert Singer, chairman of the Center for Jewish Impact and SASA Setton, added that the initiative reflects a commitment to partnership, offering Ukrainian children not just an educational environment but also hope and a sense of normalcy during a difficult period.

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This initiative reflects our commitment to partnership with the Ukrainian people. Through the knowledge and experience accumulated in Israel in the field of education for hospitalized children, we are bringing the children of Ukraine not only a learning environment, but also hope, resilience, and a sense of childhood during a complex period.