FOUR years on from Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, pupils at Slemish College in Ballymena are strengthening friendships with Ukrainian classmates through the UK-Ukraine Schools Partnership programme.
The school is one of 130 across the UK and Ukraine participating in the programme, delivered by the British Council and funded by the UK Government.
Year 10 pupils are collaborating with Pokotylivka Lyceum No. 2 in the city of Kharkiv. Together, they are taking part in shared reading, online lessons and creative projects designed to develop empathy, resilience and global awareness.
Kathy Bennett, Head of English at Slemish College, leads the project, and her interest grew in the programme from working closely with Ukrainian students already at the school.
She said: “One of our core values is kindness and community. We’ve been fortunate to welcome pupils from many different countries, including Ukrainian students and in the past four years, around ten Ukrainian students have joined our school. Having taught and worked with some of these students over the last few years, I felt that whenever this opportunity came up, that it was a great way to celebrate our own students and to increase awareness of what’s happening in Ukraine. While there’s lots of information in the news, it often gets lost amid all the other noise they hear.
“And as an English teacher and coordinator of the school library with our fantastic librarian, I also saw that the programme’s reading focus provided a positive way for the pupils to engage with the project.”
In January, Kathy travelled to Poland to meet her partner teacher from the Ukrainian school for the first time.
She said: “I’ve been paired with a fabulous teacher called Olga, and she's been fantastic. We connected immediately, and it made planning the project so much easier. Meeting in person gave me a much better understanding of how to structure the activities for our pupils back in Ballymena.”
The Ukrainian partner school, Pokotylivka Lyceum No. 2, is based close to Ukraine’s eastern border. Due to ongoing conflict in the area, all pupils are currently learning online, with lessons conducted remotely. While some schools attempt limited face-to-face classes, safety concerns mean that most secondary students in the area continue their education virtually.
Kathy said: “All of their secondary students are now learning entirely online, which brings its own challenges. Some primary schools in the region are still able to offer limited face-to-face lessons, but even then, children often have to take shelter in basements for hours during air raid alerts before returning to class. Hearing about this firsthand was a real eye-opener for me.
“There’s still ongoing conflict in the area, and many of the staff have husbands, brothers, or sons involved in the fighting. The danger is very real and part of daily life for everyone there. Understanding this has made our own pupils really appreciate the resilience of their Ukrainian peers and the importance of the connection we are building through this project.”
he project features live-streamed workshops, discussions, and creative activities. In the short time they have been working together, a particular highlight was an online session with Onjali Rauf, the acclaimed British children’s author and human rights advocate, whose book A Boy at the Back of the Class tells the story of a refugee boy. Pupils from both schools asked questions, shared experiences, and explored themes of resilience, empathy, and global awareness. The project will continue with further live sessions and cultural exchanges, giving pupils the chance to share stories, traditions, and experiences from their respective countries.
Kathy said: “Our Year 10 pupils have really embraced the project so far. The live session with Onjali was a fantastic opportunity for them to explore important themes like empathy, belonging and global responsibility. We’re also looking forward to sharing more about life in Northern Ireland and learning from our Ukrainian peers through future sessions and cultural exchanges.
“The Ukrainian pupils at Slemish have also been very excited to be involved, and it’s been wonderful to see the buzz in the classroom as they share their experiences and make connections with other students. They’ve been exploring where each other lives and reflecting on what home means to them, while our other pupils feel proud to support these links. I hope these connections develop into a lasting partnership.”
She added: “This project is about more than lessons. It’s about creating meaningful links between young people, helping them understand perspectives beyond their own, and encouraging values such as compassion, solidarity and respect.”
Since January 2025, the programme has involved 130 schools across the UK and Ukraine, supporting approximately 23,400 young people. It is now expanding to reach a further 300 schools, with an estimated 54,000 pupils expected to benefit.
Colm McGivern, Director of British Council Northern Ireland, who previously served as Director of the British Council Ukraine, said: “Through the UK-Ukraine Schools Partnership programme, the British Council is proud to support schools in building sustained and meaningful international relationships. Having seen the impact of this scheme in both Ukraine and here in Northern Ireland, it’s clear that the benefits are mutual. Pupils here broaden their perspectives through direct collaboration, while students in Ukraine continue to participate in shared learning, cultural exchange, and international dialogue despite the disruption they are experiencing.
“These partnerships are built on genuine exchange rather than one-way support, ensuring that both schools contribute, learn and grow together. Education is one of the most powerful ways to foster understanding, peace and security, and the British Council is proud to support schools in building these meaningful international connections.”
Schools and teachers in Northern Ireland interested in joining the programme can apply before the deadline on 2 March. For more information, visit:
https://www.britishcouncil.org/school-resources/uk-ukraine-partnerships
https://www.britishcouncil.org/school-resources/uk-ukraine-partnerships