Kyiv Hosts Fifth First Ladies and Gentlemen Summit Focusing on Global Education and Peacebuilding

Titled Education That Shapes the World, this year’s event brought together representatives from over ten countries, leading scholars, educators, activists, and cultural figures to discuss the role of education in building resilience, fostering a culture of peace, and preparing future generations.

Opening the summit, First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska emphasized that even during war, Ukraine remains at the center of global dialogue:

“Today you are helping us, Ukrainians, to feel that life in its normal sense continues. We are not only defending our right to exist but also proving that we can remain at the heart of global events,” she said.

Zelenska stressed that education is always about the future and serves as proof of belief in progress and victory:

“If we do not believe, do not dream, do not expect, then why should we talk about education? Education is proof of our common belief in life, development, and victory.”

She recalled an African proverb popularized by US First Lady Hillary Clinton: “It takes a village to raise a child.” Zelenska added: “For these two days, we will become such a village that together nurtures a happy child for the future.”

The summit opened with the presentation of the International Educational Study “Education as a Tool for Building Personal Resilience, National Social Capital, and a Culture of Peace.” The research covered students aged 15–17, as well as their parents and teachers, focusing on social and emotional skills, the role of digital technologies, and the development of a culture of peace.

Speakers included Nataliia Dmytrenko, Head of the Analytics and Monitoring Service of the Office of the President of Ukraine; Andreas Schleicher, OECD Director for Education and Skills; and Yevhen Kudriavtsev, First Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine, who presented Ukraine’s national results.

Among the honored guests were the First Ladies of Austria, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Lithuania, and Serbia, as well as the First Gentleman of Denmark. Over the course of two days, more than 19 events will take place, including lectures, panel discussions, interactive sessions, and visits to Ukrainian educational and cultural institutions.

Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine Oksen Lisovyi, speaking at the opening, highlighted that education during wartime becomes a fundamental pillar for society:

“Education is not a privilege. It is a fundamental right that cannot be revoked under any circumstances. In times of war, education becomes a force: it helps children and young people not to lose their orientation, it sustains communities, and it builds values and tools for self-realization and for rebuilding the country after destruction.”

Lisovyi stressed that knowledge and critical thinking are the only antidote to propaganda and disinformation:

“No army in the world is capable of countering inhumane narratives or increasingly sophisticated propaganda. Only education, only knowledge, only the ability to analyze and think critically can achieve this.”

Concluding his remarks, the Minister said that future generations must become a firm guarantee of peace and security:

“Education gives hope and faith in tomorrow, the confidence that the future will exist—and that it will be prosperous. I am convinced that this Summit will help us find common answers to ensure that education remains an unshakable right and a key to the development of our countries and the world.”

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