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On April 7, the Ukrainian Language Education Centre (ULEC) hosted a powerful webinar titled “Unbreakable and Resilient: Stories of Ukrainian Teachers’ Strength and Vulnerability,” featuring Dr. Oksana Zabolotna, a professor at the Uman Pavlo Tychyna State Pedagogical University, president of the Ukrainian Educational Research Association, and researcher with the War Child Alliance.

Drawing on her expertise in teacher development and resilience in crisis contexts, Dr. Zabolotna offered a compelling exploration of how Ukrainian educators have continued to teach, lead, and support students amid the ongoing war. She emphasized that resilience is often born from struggle and uncertainty, and that truth-telling—through research, art, and personal stories—is essential in the face of widespread misinformation.

Throughout the session, Dr. Zabolotna shared findings from a survey of 653 Ukrainian teachers, noting that while many demonstrate high or moderate levels of resilience, these results may be shaped by social pressures to appear strong. She highlighted that teachers often prioritize their students and communities over their own needs, with 68% reporting they rarely seek social support and 88% seldom accessing professional psychological help. Despite this, many have turned to mindfulness, hobbies, and creative expression as ways to cope and maintain balance.

The webinar also explored the role of art and poetry in processing trauma and sustaining hope. Dr. Zabolotna shared photographs from Irpin, illustrating the contrasting ways in which people respond to war—ranging from destruction to resilience. She also reflected on how Ukrainian public expression has evolved—from raw emotion to symbolic acts of resistance through poetry, songs, and community solidarity.

For those who were unable to attend the webinar live, a full recording is available on ULEC’s YouTube channel (https://youtu.be/9gOX88N41pY).