Ukraine

Schoolbus for Ukraine: restoring access to education

For children in Ukraine, the simple act of going to school is dangerous. In towns near the front line, winter, damaged infrastructure, and limited transport make journeys difficult. In Krolevets, around 50 kilometres from the front, the school with bomb shelters has become the safest place to continue education - but reaching it can be a struggle.

When our local partner LifeLine Ukraine reached out with this need, People for People Foundation and its partner network responded. Through our network, we arranged a school bus via Pouw Vervoer, ensuring children could travel to school.

Before departure, volunteers and partners gathered to load the bus with hundreds of backpacks and supplies from children in the Netherlands – a small gesture with a big impact, all made possible through collaboration across our partner network.

After arriving in Kyiv, the bus was handed over at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ukraine, where it was transferred to the LifeLine Ukraine team. From there, volunteers drove it to Krolevets, where it now helps children travel to school every day.

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Jeroen Ketting, founder of Lifeline Ukraine

Jeroen Ketting - Founder LifeLine Ukraine

“The most important thing is that the children were incredibly pleased. They’ve been struggling for four years. Yet there was hope, joy and curiosity in their eyes.”

Results

Together, we’ve delivered school transport and support to children in Ukraine

1 schoolbus for transport

Provided through Pouw Vervoer, enabling hundreds of children to reach school and participate in social and sports activities.

600+ backpacks & emergency supplies

Filled with notebooks, hardware, school supplies, hygiene items, and personal messages from children in the Netherlands, offering both practical support and emotional encouragement.

3 schools & 1,800 children reached

Through drawings and cards from Dutch schools, students across borders connected, supporting 1,800 children in Ukraine.

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Jeroen Ketting - Founder LifeLine Ukraine

“The drawings and cards from their peers had a profound effect on them. The idea that they have friends in the Netherlands who are thinking of them made a noticeable impression.”

Partnerships that make impact possible

This project demonstrates how partnerships turn commitment into action.

LifeLine Ukraine identified the need, and through our network, we mobilised resources and corporate partners to make it happen. Pouw Vervoer provided the bus, while partners such as Clean the World and Atabix, together with local schools and volunteers, contributed supplies and support.

By connecting local NGOs, corporate partners, and community volunteers, we were able to deliver practical aid quickly and efficiently – supporting children to continue their education with the supplies and encouragement they needed.

Human connection

The project also created a meaningful connection between children in the Netherlands and students in Ukraine.

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Martijn Beenen - Partnerships Manager at People for People Foundation

“There is a Ukrainian child at my son’s school. It made such an impression on him that he and his classmates wanted to do something for children in Ukraine. Their teacher turned it into part of the English lesson. In this way, the impact goes both ways.”

How to support Ukraine

Projects like this are only possible thanks to the support of partners and volunteers.

By working with trusted local partners like LifeLine Ukraine and mobilising our network in the corporate sector, People for People Foundation can deliver targeted humanitarian support where it is needed most.

Your support helps us continue to connect partners, mobilise resources, and deliver practical aid to communities affected by crises.

Take action

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Marcella Simons - Director People for People Foundation

“When companies, communities, and humanitarian organisations work together, we can create solutions that truly make a difference for people facing crisis situations.”

People for People in the press

NOS News, from 10:25 (television broadcast)
RTV Utrecht, from 35:00 (radio)
RTV Utrecht, from 07:20 (radio)

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