POVIR: When Educational Hope Becomes Reality
A year ago, a platform with a name that sounds like a promise emerged in Ukraine — POVIR. A platform created not just for children, but because of them. Born out of urgency — sharp, painful, and ever-present: how do we help students who are not just falling behind in school, but losing faith that learning even matters? How do we catch them at the moment the ground disappears beneath their feet — due to war, displacement, trauma, and educational gaps?
The idea of POVIR was born as an answer. And now, with the first pilot year behind us, it's time to share not only statistics — but something deeper: how POVIR became a space of trust, warmth, motivation, and breakthrough.
Where it all began
Creating something new is always a leap of faith. That was the case here too. POVIR became Ukraine's first genuine example of public-civic partnership in education. Behind it stands collaboration between the Parliamentary Committee on Education, EdCamp Ukraine, dozens of educators, psychologists, analysts, and tech professionals — and donors who didn’t wait for budget funding. They simply believed.
Because POVIR isn’t about trendy EdTech. It’s about Ukrainian children who needed support — right here and now.
The learning vehicle that keeps moving
In one of his presentations, Serhiy Koleboshyn called POVIR a vehicle. And he was right. The platform runs on four wheels: sprints (short consultations with teachers), marathons (deep dives into key topics), one-on-one emotional support, and gamification (challenges, badges, virtual currency, merch).
Inside this vehicle — are the children. From Kharkiv, Dnipro, Lithuania, and Germany. Those living under occupation and those searching for a new school abroad. They're different. But they share one thing: they chose POVIR. They chose the marathons — hard work on difficult topics. They chose teachers who made mistakes feel safe. They chose missions, badges, and the joy of earning virtual coins to spend on prizes or donate to good causes.
What a year revealed
The children truly wanted to learn. One out of every two students applied for a marathon. And nearly everyone who started — finished. Because when the decision comes from within, motivation sticks.
And achievements? 15,000 badges were awarded. Yes, digital ones — but they felt more meaningful than grades. A 7th-grader from Khmelnytskyi earned 205 badges — and a well-deserved gift from the platform.
And the knowledge? Yes, growth was clear: on average, a 19% increase in performance on focus topics. But beyond the numbers lies something deeper — the children began believing in themselves. POVIR measured this, too — through the development of social-emotional skills. The average score reached 3.49 out of 4, showing real growth in confidence, goal-setting, and emotional resilience.
A community that holds
One of POVIR’s biggest triumphs is the teacher community. These were not just instructors — they were co-creators of a new kind of education. They met regularly, supported each other, reflected deeply, and admitted, “Working on POVIR changed how I see my students — and myself.”
That’s POVIR: a platform where everyone grows — students, teachers, coordinators. Even observers begin to ask themselves new questions. That’s the mark of living, breathing education.
What comes next?
The future has already begun. Next school year, POVIR plans to reach 10,000 students. This summer, a special wave will include a music camp, in partnership with the U.S.-based initiative Music Camp International. New subjects, volunteer involvement, a mobile app, deeper analytics — the platform is expanding. Not out of obligation, but because the demand is real. From students. From parents. From teachers.
And the best evaluation? Not in scores, but in gestures. When teachers raise fingers in the room to show their “mood star.” When children leave heartfelt messages. When someone comments online: “Thank you — this saved me from feeling alone.”
POVIR is not just about school. It’s about proving that even in times of uncertainty, darkness, and loss — we can build something that supports. That changes lives. That gives wings.
Just believe.
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