Social Outreach: From Sokal to Lviv and Vynnyky — Rounding out the Playing Field
Following the inspirational meeting with the teenagers of Tomorrow by Together (TBT), a Caritas affiliated youth non-profit initiative in Sokal, the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia headed south with Mr. Fernando Ramirez, founder of NGO Bridges 2030 International, to Lviv and neighboring Vynnyky.
In the spirit of the TEEEM | Bridges 2030 Ukraine Initiative of cultivating empathy and compassion in U.S. students of all ages, educators and communities, the playing field was rounded out by visiting the Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU) and the Vynnykivskyi Scientific Lyceum.
On the morning of August 27, 2025, a fruitful meeting was held with Fr. Andrii Shestak, Director of School of Journalism and Communication at UCU and Halyna Protsyk, UCU’s Deputy Vice Rector for Outreach and Social Engagement (Global Outreach and Internationalization). After realizing a mutual connection with Lehigh University in Pennsylvania and sharing the moving experience in Sokal, discussion of a potential collaboration between UCU, Bridges 2030 and TBT ensued. Two proposals were put on the table to pursue:
- Engage Fr. Andrii’s journalism students to write an article on the partnership between TBT and Bridges/TEEEM.
- Conduct a webinar for educators in the U.S. highlighting observations and perspectives of professors at UCU on the impact of the war on university students in Ukraine.
In the afternoon of August 27, we visited the Vynnykivskyi Scientific Lyceum where we met with Liliia Svystovych, Director of the lyceum, Olena Glickman, volunteer at the lyceum and founder of Umbrella for Ukrainian Hope, and Olha Kotovska, Program Manager/Senior Education Expert and Associate Professor at Lviv Polytechnic National University. The Vynnykivskyi Scientific Lyceum is one of two former sanitorium schools that were turned into scientific lyceums with the help of Lviv Polytechnic National University.
In one-on-one interviews with Mr. Ramirez which will be featured in a series of short vignettes to be used as educational tools in US schools, all shared compelling insights into the effects of the war on students and their abilities as educators to fulfill their responsibilities.
But the pies de resistance was engaging with the middle school students, having them share their daily routines, their hopes and dreams and their desire to connect with their peers in America.
