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Soldiers of Learning

Sponsored Project

  • Sean Burch, Director/Producer
  • Chris Mead, Producer
An elementary school classroom in Ukraine lies in ruins following a Russian bombing attack. The windows have been shattered, with glass littering the floor. Shards of glass are scattered across the children's furniture, creating a hazardous environment. In the foreground, a children's playhouse has also been destroyed, highlighting the extent of the devastation.

About the Project

Russia's continued systematic bombing and destruction of schools in Ukraine, sometimes while civilians shelter inside, is an intentional tactic aimed at harming Ukraine's future by depriving children of an education.

We shadow the teachers’, students’, and parents’ day-to-day activities to reveal how they live in a warzone and through extraordinary circumstances. We learn the toll it’s taking on the children trying to obtain an education without safe spaces to learn. We follow and learn more about Ukrainian child psychologists who are dealing with children with severe PTSD on a daily basis in the war zone cities currently being bombed. We head to the frontlines to see first-hand the destruction and brutality of war at the hands of Russia. We discover how students and teachers use intriguing forms of expression to cope emotionally and raise money for their soldiers.

We will culminate our journey by summiting Mt. Hoverla, the highest peak in Ukraine, alongside members of the National Organization of the Scouts of Ukraine. This ascent represents the essential unity we seek in today’s world, connecting people and nations in our enduring pursuit of freedom.