Borysfen School Kiev

PUBLIC ORGANISATION
“WALDORF INITIATIVE “BORYSFEN”
тел. +380 97 021 9783, e-mail: borysfenwaldorf@gmail.com

 https://waldorfborysfen.org/

Dear friends,

Greetings from the teachers and students of the “Borysfen” Waldorf School in Kyiv. Let us tell you a little about ourselves. “Borysfen,” founded in 2014, is one of the few Waldorf schools in Ukraine with a social focus. This year, there are 67 students enrolled in the school. We also have a kindergarten with 15 children. The school employs 23 teachers, 2 kindergarten teachers, and 14 administrative and technical staff members. Our school is funded exclusively through voluntary contributions from parents. Since the school’s founding, one of the cornerstones of its work has been the principle of living learning and interaction. This principle has not changed even during the hardships of war. All our students attend school and study in person. We do not offer online learning. This year has been particularly difficult for all of Ukraine and for our school. You have been following the news and are likely aware of all our hardships: the lack of electricity, and how entire cities froze this winter without heat, water, or light. Getting through all of this was very difficult. But we have “Borysfen.” Every morning, sometimes even despite air raid alerts, grateful parents brought their children from cold homes to school, because it’s warmer here, cozier, and smells of delicious food. But to make this possible, we have to make tremendous efforts. Our teachers sacrifice their low salaries, their well-being, and their emotional exhaustion, yet they do their utmost to cushion the effects of the war for the children.

Before the war, the school had a fairly balanced budget, but in 2022, that balance was disrupted. In many families within our school community, parents have joined the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine; some families have experienced occupation or damage to their property; and many families have seen their financial situation significantly worsen. Under these circumstances, we have received financial support from European donors.

But this support is not permanent and does not cover all expenses. The significant budget deficit that has developed this year puts the school at risk of closure. Therefore, every gesture of support is very important to us, because we cannot cope with such problems on our own. Thank you for your willingness to lend us a helping hand.

You can learn more about us here: https://www.facebook.com/BorysfenSchool

https://www.waldorfborysfen.org/

On behalf of the teaching staff of the “Borysfen” Waldorf School

Andriy Yashchyshyn

School Year 26-27 Update from the school

Three main goals/aspirations of school for next year

1. To ensure the school’s uninterrupted and safe operation during wartime and to maintain children’s access to a high-quality Waldorf education. 2. Balance the budget. 3. Raise teachers' salaries to at least the national average (currently, due to a funding shortfall, they are much lower).

Your school’s three greatest/most immediate need(s) (brief)

Build a shelter to protect against rocket attacks - $300,000 (we already have a plot of land for this)

Construction of additional emergency evacuation stairwells attached to the school building for use in emergencies, and installation of bulletproof film on the school’s windows – $20,000

 Installation of a solar power plant to ensure energy independence - $25,000

Anything else important to know about you, your school, or your students?

“Borysfen” is a Waldorf educational initiative with a strong therapeutic and restorative focus, which is particularly important for children living and studying in a war zone. In addition to the core educational program, the school provides a range of supplementary support services for the children. This includes trauma-informed education, activities in the sensory room, massage, therapeutic eurythmy, and oil-dispersion baths based on Dr. Walter Junge’s method. These efforts are aimed at supporting the children’s physical and emotional well-being, reducing the effects of stress, and creating a safe environment for their development.The school strives to keep education accessible to families while ensuring decent working conditions for teachers, the physical safety of the children, and the financial stability of the institution.