Creative Partnerships for the Schools in Donbas (Ukraine) Preparatory stage

The aim of the measure was to implement a pilot project in the schools of Donbass region (Ukraine, the zone of the Anti-Terrorist Operation) based on the experience of the Lithuanian Creative Partnerships programme. The project serves as a basis for further cooperation between Lithuanian and Ukrainian partners in developing a wider joint programme for Ukrainian schools in the nearest future. In the autumn of 2015, the project was implemented in 3 schools in the district of Stanytsia Luhanska. The volunteers of ‘Novyj Donbass’ were trained by the Lithuanian experts of the Creative Partnership programme. Through a set of practical activities they could experience what it was like to be involved in engaging and creative process of learning and how to design such processes. Volunteers who were artists explored how to use their creative skills for work at school, how to collaborate with other volunteers. To match the needs of ‘Novij Donbass’ and the experience of Creative Partnerships, several methodical tools where developed to make the work of volunteers engaging, creative and relevant for schoolchildren. Two visits to the schools of Stanytsia Luhanska were arranged. The volunteers of ‘Novij Donbass’ were students and young professionals in the field of film making, music, theatre, visual arts, etc. The teachers supported the idea of bringing artists and other creative professionals to schools and letting them share their experience and skills with children and teachers. The teachers are faced with such issues as how to motivate children to learn, how to help children get interested in reading and discovering new things, how to develop their critical thinking, communication, conflict resolution skills. The project is based on the shared beliefs of the project partners that creative activities and collaboration based on trust and openness can transform communities, develop their confidence and enable them to create their own visions of the future with strong civil societies, once peace is established.