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How the World is Donating to Bring Light Back To Ukrainian Children

How the World is Donating to Bring Light Back To Ukrainian Children

Russia’s war has deprived children of safe learning. Frequent blackouts left them learning in the dark and without heating during the harsh winter months. Thanks to global donations through the Bring Light Back campaign, generators will be delivered to schools, giving them a brighter and warmer education.

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Jessica_daly
Jess Daly
Author

Russia’s war on energy persists, but thanks to worldwide donors as part of the Bring Light Back campaign, 112 schools with more than 30,000 students across seven regions in Ukraine can continue their education, even during power outages and blackouts. In just two months, donors raised more than $1,122 million—or around 47 million Ukrainian hryvnias—for generators for Ukrainian schools.

Children in school as part of the Bring Light Back campaign (Source: UNITED24 Media)
Children in school as part of the Bring Light Back campaign (Source: UNITED24 Media)

Since the full-scale invasion, Russia has caused severe damage to Ukraine’s electricity grid leading to hours of blackouts. Throughout the winter, their classrooms become cold, children wear outdoor clothes to stay warm and hide in shelters and basements during air raids. 

Powercuts and forced school breaks in dark bomb shelters are now an unavoidable part of the educational process in Ukrainian schools. Generators won't solve the power outages entirely, but they could provide enough for children to study in warm and lighted spaces.

In 2024, on average, there were almost 2000 hours worth of power outages in Ukraine, 22.2% of the year was left without power, according to a generalized data report. Many areas are affected worse than others.

We do our homework when there is no electricity, we turn on flashlights. It is not good.

Kornii (7 years old)

Lyceum number 157, Kyiv

Children in school as part of the Bring Light Back campaign (Source: UNITED24 Media)
Children in school as part of the Bring Light Back campaign (Source: UNITED24 Media)

Russian attacks on education centers doubled in 2024. A total of 576 education facilities in Ukraine—including schools, kindergartens, and universities—were damaged or destroyed compared to 256 in 2023, a report released on the eve of International Day of Education on January 23, 2025, stated. 

Ukraine still faces many critical causes that require sufficient funding. There have been suggestions that support for Ukraine has decreased globally due to “war fatigue”. However, vital contributions from donors flooded in from all over the world. Ordinary people and organizations, both large and small, are still giving. These contributions highlight the immense support for Ukrainian children who need it most.

The UNITED24 fundraising platform launched the Bring Light Back campaign in December 2024 together with the following ambassadors.

I like going to school because I have friends there.

Maksym (8 years old)

Lyceum number 157, Kyiv

The Ukrainian developer GSC Game World, the author of one of the most popular games S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, together with the platform organized a raffle in support of the Bring Light Back campaign. Thanks to the game's fans, the campaign raised more than $120,000 in a month, which will be used to purchase about 16 generators.

Richard Branson, an entrepreneur, and UNITED24 ambassador, supported Bring Light Back. Virgin Unite, the non-profit foundation of the Virgin Group and the Branson family, donated £20,000.

Children in school as part of the Bring Light Back campaign (Source: UNITED24 Media)
Children in school as part of the Bring Light Back campaign (Source: UNITED24 Media)

The platform's regular partner and official BMW importer in Ukraine, AWT Bavaria, transferred $65,000 to generators in the Odesa region. The non-profit organization Help Ukraine Now donated $182,000 for generators for schools in the Poltava region. Pipedraw - Estonian CRM company, made the largest contribution, $236,000.  

Ukraine's Education and Science Ministry's allocation and procurement process is still to be completed. Adoption of the resolution and transfer of funds to communities are underway, generators will soon be allocated and delivered. Bring Light Back campaign states that each stage is guaranteed transparency and efficiency so that the aid reaches where it is needed most. 

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