World Changed in an Instant
On February 24, 2022, the full-scale war didn't ask if we were ready; it simply arrived at our doorstep. Like millions of Ukrainians, I woke up in a different reality — one filled with fear, uncertainty, and pain. My psyche switched to survival mode, but I managed to stay afloat thanks to the structured work I was familiar with and my responsibility to my family and our partners, as the DVV International Ukraine office in Kyiv continued to operate without interruption. My mind refused to engage with what had once helped me relax—music, movies, or books. My entire informational and psychological landscape was shaped by news feeds in Telegram groups, endless updates, and monitoring of the situation. In this chaos, finding any support or sense of stability was hard.
Salvation in Knowledge: How Learning Became My Anchor
Once the initial shock of the war had subsided a little, I started looking for ways to maintain some semblance of normality in my life. The first thing that came to mind was seeking some form of psychological support. Fortunately, in 2022, there were many online courses and support groups, often free or available for a small fee. I enrolled in a course on psychological self-support. Over time, I noticed that structured learning with a teacher and in a group helped me emotionally and provided a much-needed distraction. During the first year of the war, I completed several psychology and art therapy courses, and in the second year, I studied the history of Ukrainian literature and took up pencil drawing. Some of these lessons I had to attend in bomb shelters, hiding in corridors or bathrooms during shelling and air raids. This became a form of "medicine" for me: learning something new gave me a sense of control over my life and the opportunity to grow and plan for the future, even amid chaos.
Not Just Me: Why Ukrainians Turned to Learning During War
In the first few months of the full-scale war, it became clear that I wasn't the only one using learning to cope with the new reality. My colleagues and friends also sought support through knowledge — many enrolled in online psychological support groups offered by our partner adult learning and education centers. Over time, they returned to language studies, acquiring other professional skills and developing their hobbies. This provided a distraction and allowed them to feel productive and maintain some structure in their everyday lives.
The support of education became apparent at the societal level as well. Ukrainians signed up for free online courses and used educational platforms that had opened access to their resources. The demand for knowledge increased sharply, further confirming what I had noticed within myself: education is not just about acquiring new skills; it's a way to maintain psychological balance in times of crisis.
Education Without Borders: How Adult Learning and Education Centers Withstand the War
Despite the full-scale war, DVV International partner organizations in Ukraine continued their activities and significantly expanded them. The demand for learning did not decrease — courses quickly filled up, and sometimes, there was even competition for places.
Programs offering psychological support, first aid courses, and professional retraining became especially popular. Equally important were personal development, the arts, civic education, and language studies courses. They provided people with the opportunity not only to gain new competencies but also to feel the support of like-minded individuals and to find a community that helped them cope with the challenges of war.
These positive changes in the perception of knowledge are confirmed by real-life stories of those who found strength in learning despite difficult circumstances. These examples demonstrate that education has become a proper lifeline, even in the most challenging times. Dmytro Kutsenko, a veteran who studied at the Adult Education Center in Nikopol, won a business grant and revived his family's cherry orchard. After taking psychology courses in CE Network of Education Centers in Lviv, Halyna Bilous started applying her knowledge developing her business. Nataliia Maltseva, an internally displaced person, studied at the Adult Education Center of Poltava Region and won a grant to launch a business producing dietary sweets. Olena Smereka, an online course participant in Adult Education Center ‘First’ from Zaporizhzhia, uncovered her inner resources. She now conducts workshops and training sessions and helps others. There are dozens of such stories at every adult learning and education center, partner of DVV international Ukraine.
Lesson from War: Why Learning Is More Than Just Knowledge
Learning is not a universal method for overcoming all the difficulties of war, and it may not be an effective tool for everyone. However, for many people, including myself, it has become an important anchor to regain control over one's life, restore balance, and see new perspectives.
And now, I am back to studying. I must complete my homework for the communication course I started last week by Monday. Because even in the dark and terrifying times of war, life continues, and knowledge is what helps us move forward.