Lviv, 23 December – Children from the frontline town of Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast have enjoyed a memorable trip to Lviv in western Ukraine ahead of the winter holidays – their prize for coming amongst the top in the All-Ukrainian Media Literacy Lesson.

The nationwide lesson for students from across the country was held on 7 November, with over 2,700 classes completing the test. The lesson was organized by the "Filter" National Media Literacy Project of the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine, along with public broadcaster Suspilne Media. 

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine provided support for the event, and funding came from the Government of Japan.

The winning group of children, chosen randomly from the classes that achieved the maximum score of 16 on the test, was a combined class from the Podolyansky Lyceum of Kurylivka Village Council in the Kupiansk district of Kharkiv Oblast.

Eighteen children from the frontline town spent three unforgettable days in Lviv, including a visit to the Academy of Suspilne Media, where, in a real TV studio, they tried their hand at being television hosts. The students also got a chance to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of television production, getting a behind-the-scenes look at how programmes are made.

During the visit, they learned about the basics of journalism and discussed why critical thinking is an essential part of modern media consumption. Suspilne Media hosts explained the importance of verifying information, citing primary sources, and understanding the news creation process before it reaches the air – which helps foster conscious and responsible media consumption.

The children also received practical tips on improving diction, presenting themselves confidently in front of the camera, and influencing audiences through different vocal delivery styles.

Manager of the Children's Academy of Suspilne Media Vladyslava Misna highlighted the importance of teaching critical thinking to children from a young age: “This meeting not only gave us an opportunity to introduce children to the magic of television and show them how the news is created, but also a chance to engage with them, learn about their interests, and understand the content they consume. This will help us make our educational programmes even more effective and engaging in the future. Media literacy during wartime takes on special importance, as it is crucial to teach children to think critically, recognize fakes, and be informed consumers of information. We’re proud to contribute to this vital process.”

In addition, the children visited the interactive Science Museum, attended a Christmas performance, learned more about Lviv during a city tour, and even visited Saint Nicholas, with whom they made Christmas ornaments.

Oleksandr Shapovalov, the principal of Podolyansky Lyceum, described some of the difficult conditions faced by the school’s students: “Our students are going through challenging times,” Shapovalov said. “Due to the ongoing hostilities in our region, they had to evacuate from Kupiansk to Kharkiv. However, even in Kharkiv classes are held online due to constant danger and regular shelling. This trip to Lviv brought the children joy and warmth – it was a chance for them to reunite in person after a long time apart. The trip was a true New Year’s fairytale for them, and we’re sincerely grateful to the organizers for giving them this opportunity.”

On the third day of their visit to Lviv, the children visited the Clementii Sheptytskyi Museum of Folk Architecture and Rural Life, and the Mykhailo Hrushevskyi Memorial Museum of Art, where they learned more about Ukrainian history, culture, and prominent figures, enjoying an engaging and educational experience.

Head of the “Filter” National Media Literacy Project Olha Kravchenko praised the resilience of the winning students. “We’re delighted that the winners of the All-Ukrainian Media Literacy Lesson were children from frontline Kupiansk,” Kravchenko said. “We were deeply moved that, despite constant shelling and numerous challenges, they joined our initiative – and nearly every class from this school participated in the lesson. This trip is not only about joy and giving a gift to the children, but also about building bridges between different parts of our country. It’s an opportunity to learn more about one another and understand that our strength lies in unity.”

Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP in Ukraine Christophoros Politis emphasized the importance of teaching critical thinking and fostering media literacy from an early age: “For the second year in a row, UNDP has supported the All-Ukrainian Media Literacy Lesson, which helps children develop critical thinking and teaches the basics of media literacy. We highly value our collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine and the ‘Filter’ National Media Literacy Project in implementing such nationwide initiatives. During wartime, it’s especially important to enhance media literacy and the skills to counter disinformation.”

Background:
UNDP in Ukraine has supported the All-Ukrainian Media Literacy Lesson for two consecutive years. In 2023, over 70,000 users watched the lesson on YouTube, and more than 30,000 watched it on television. It was the first television lesson in Ukraine dedicated to media literacy.

Media enquiries:
Yuliia Samus, Head of Communications, UNDP in Ukraine, yuliia.samus@undp.org