12 School Lutsk

NGO “12”
6 Hetmana Sahaidachnoho St.
Lutsk, Volyn Region, 43020
Ukraine

Nataliia Bokhonko - Head of the Board

Non-governmental organization “TWELVE”

+380506754165

Dear friends and colleagues,

We are writing to you from Ukraine with openness, hope, and a sincere wish for connection.

The Public Organization “TWELVE” was founded in November 2015 with the purpose of developing and spreading Waldorf education in Ukraine. For over six years, our work has grown into a living educational community that brings together children, teachers, and families around the values of holistic, humane, and developmentally appropriate education.

Today, our organization runs two main projects: a Waldorf school and a kindergarten.

Our school currently brings together 47 children aged 7 to 13, supported by 12 dedicated teachers and a small administrative team. We strive to create an environment where children not only learn academic subjects such as languages, mathematics, history, and geography, but also grow creatively, socially, and emotionally — in respect of each child’s individuality.

Among our students are children from large families, children of military service members, a child of a fallen defender of Ukraine, and a child with special needs. For us, inclusion and care are not abstract values, but daily practice.

Our journey has not been easy. Like many in Ukraine, we have faced significant challenges over the past years. The COVID-19 pandemic tested our resilience at the very beginning of our school’s life. Soon after, the full-scale war forced many of our families to leave their homes — at one point, half of one class and an entire second class relocated abroad, and our kindergarten temporarily stopped operating.

In 2025, due to repeated missile strikes in the industrial area where we were previously located, our school building was left without heating and electricity for over a month. During this time, we continued teaching wherever we could — in libraries, in teachers’ homes, and in the homes of parents. These experiences deeply shaped us, strengthening both our community and our commitment.

Safety has become one of our highest priorities. Therefore, in October 2025, we moved into a new, larger space where we can continue our work more securely. The building offers classrooms, a hall, and shared spaces for children and teachers. It also includes a shelter, which still requires renovation and proper equipment to ensure it meets safety standards.

At the same time, we face ongoing challenges:

– a shortage of qualified Waldorf teachers

– a relatively small number of students (5–12 children per class)

– limited financial resources, most costs are covered by parental contributions

Despite this, we continue to grow and develop.

Our strengths give us confidence:

– an experienced and deeply committed team of teachers

– six years of pedagogical experience and developed teaching materials

– a new educational space with potential for expansion

– an active kindergarten (“Dyvo Sad”), which currently takes care of 30 children and is financially sustainable

– open lectures and educational events for parents and the wider community

– active work in raising awareness about Waldorf education through social initiatives

We are also continuously working to build connections: we cooperate with educational institutions, involve students in practice, participate in professional associations, and seek new ways to strengthen our foundation.

Looking forward, we dream of creating a full Waldorf school (grades 1–12) in a purpose-built space with organic architecture and a natural environment for children to grow and learn.

We believe that in today’s world, especially in times of crisis, Waldorf education plays an essential role in nurturing resilient, creative, and socially responsible human beings.

We are open to cooperation and exchange in many forms:

– sharing pedagogical experience

– teacher visits and hosting colleagues

– joint projects and initiatives

– supporting the development and visibility of Waldorf education in Ukraine

All the work that has been done through all these years was mostly done by devoted pedagogues who are very interested in the expansion of the Waldorf education in order to raise free and creative Personalities.

We would be deeply grateful for any form of support — financial, professional, or human — that would help us continue and strengthen our work.

Thank you for your attention, your openness, and your willingness to connect.

We are committed to building trust through transparency and are prepared to provide our monthly or annual financial reports. We would also welcome a dialogue on exploring new opportunities — how we might support and further develop our shared work together.

Your support is not only an investment in education, but also in the future of children growing up in the realities of war.

With hope and respect,

Nataliia Bokhonko

Head of the Board

Non-governmental organization “TWELVE”

go.12@ukr.net

https://www.instagram.com/waldorf_lutsk?igsh=b2hqNWxoMjlsMjh6

https://www.instagram.com/dyvosad?igsh=MTNoY29hcWZnZjBvYw==