We’re delighted to announce an exciting new initiative at Svitlo School. At the start of our 2025/26 school year, we are launching The Language & Leadership Programme, funded by the international charitable foundation, Nova Ukraine.
The Language & Leadership Programme will benefit 75 older students and more than 1,000 younger students. Older students will be trained to lead online classes, delivering interactive lessons in English to small groups of younger students. Older students will develop valuable teaching and mentoring skills, whilst younger students improve their English comprehension, gain confidence speaking in English and meet new friends and role models.
Nova Ukraine is an international charitable foundation dedicated to providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine, and supporting educational, cultural, and civil society projects that help Ukraine build a strong and flourishing future. For more information on their vital work, you can visit Nova Ukraine’s website.
75 of our senior students (aged 16+) will take on the challenge of becoming class leaders and peer mentors, in either Reading Buddies or First Steps in English classes.
They will:
More than 1,000 younger Svitlo students (aged 10–13) will join new classes led by their senior student peers.
Through participating in either Reading Buddies or First Steps in English classes, they will:
We really like Reading Buddy lessons! Classes are held in small groups, so each child gets a lot of attention.
There is live communication and practicing really necessary skills. The most important thing is to find your Buddy, then the lesson turns into a friendly meeting.
My child looks forward to each lesson!
Elena Tolchinska
Mum of Sofia (10 years old)
I’m really happy that Christina is part of the Reading Buddy project.
Reading with younger children helps her develop the skills I’m sure she will need in the future. Since she wants to continue teaching English, this experience is very valuable — it gives her patience, confidence, and the ability to explain things in a simple and clear way.
I can already see how much it benefits her.
Natalie Kravchenko
Mum of Christie (16 years old)
The Reading Buddies training has been designed by two retired teachers and university lecturers from the UK - Alison and Philippa. The First Steps in English training has been designed by another existing volunteer Gianfranco, who has extensive experience in delivering English lessons to Svitlo students.
Our volunteers will train older students in delivering weekly classes, as well as provide ongoing lesson observation, supervision, feedback and coaching to support their development.
Alison Kelly
Philippa Hunt
Gianfranco Catanzaro
Current Svitlo students aged 16-18 can apply to lead Reading Buddies classes, First Steps in English classes, or both. The time commitment is a minimum of 3 sessions per week, for at least 3 school terms across 2025/26.
Current students aged 10-13 can join Reading Buddies classes during the Shopping Week of each new term, by attending any taster session and completing a google form, here.
The First Steps in English classes are open to both current Svitlo students and non-Svitlo students. If your child is interested in enrolling at Svitlo School but does not yet have the English proficiency to pass the application process, they can apply to join the First Steps in English classes by completing a google form, here.
