Exciting Updates from the Ukrainian Refugee School Project in Budapest

From: Viktoria Vita Griessmüller <griessmuller@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Aug 15, 2024 at 7:21 AM
Subject: Exciting Updates from the Ukrainian Refugee School Project in Budapest
 
Dear Rotarians and Friends,

Greetings from sunny Budapest!

I hope this message finds you well.

First and foremost, I want to share some powerful stories from the kids of the Ukrainian School we’re supporting in Budapest. The heartbreaking experiences of these children, whose lives have been profoundly impacted by the ongoing war, remind us why this project has been our focus for the past two years.

Thanks to your support, we’ve already made a meaningful impact on the lives of 200 children, bringing hope and delivering quality education to 130 Ukrainian refugee students (grades 5 to 11) and 60 enthusiast pre-schoolers.

The attached photos and video were taken during the end-of-year ceremony at our “small” Ukrainian School in Budapest:

https://youtu.be/8xCJ_uFAST0?si=GOYQH9tlWy6H1MUf

During the 2023/2024 academic year, every one of these students passed their exams and tests, earning their Ukrainian certificates. Here are the key highlights:

  • Student Well-being: Our students are happy, motivated, and most importantly, they feel safe.
  • Academic Success: All students passed their exams, showing remarkable progress despite the challenges they face. Notably, four students finished the year with excellent grades, and many achieved outstanding results in academic competitions.
  • Improved Language Skills: The children have made significant strides in both Hungarian and English.
  • Collaborative Environment: A strong sense of community has developed among students and teachers, with teams working together towards shared goals.

Additionally, I’m delighted to announce that the documents for establishing the large Hungarian-Ukrainian Bilingual Primary and Secondary School have been accepted by Hungarian authorities. We’ve received the official registration number, and our new, larger school will be located at 1211 Budapest, II. Rákóczi Ferenc út 121-123.

Our Ukrainian school project has grown significantly over the past two years. From a modest initial budget of just $300, it now requires daily coordination and is expected to surpass a total budget of $500,000. To continue this work and truly capture the Magic of Rotary, we need your support.

I’m counting on your help and support to change lives of 700 Ukrainian refugee kids together. Please yes to this project and help us to make the large Ukrainian School a reality.

Enjoy Rotary!

 

Best regards,
Viktoria