Klats Education, supported by Teach for Ukraine and the Youth Council under the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, held an important advocacy event on mentorship for school students — “StudMentor: Support, Teach, Inspire!”
The NGO “Teach for Ukraine,” which works to ensure that every child in Ukraine has the opportunity to realize their potential regardless of where they were born or live — especially in times of war — has launched the “StudMentor” program. This is an intellectual youth volunteering initiative for those who want to gain work experience, work with children, and help students from frontline regions improve their knowledge in school subjects. The program includes certified training in mentoring and teaching a selected subject in small online groups over the course of 8 weeks.
On March 1, 2025, an open online lecture-discussion was held on Zoom, dedicated to the topics of educational equity, mentorship, and student initiatives. The event brought together partners, representatives of the civic sector, and youth councils who shared their experiences and visions for change in the education field.
Inna Rakhmistryuk, Head of the Educational Equity Program at “Teach for Ukraine,” spoke about the organization’s evolution: from the original “Teach” program that supported teachers in small communities to the development of new directions that address the challenges of the full-scale war. One such new direction aims to minimize learning losses, motivate students to study, and provide them not just with teachers, but with true mentors who continue supporting them even after the online lessons end.
Taras Yatsunskyi, Co-chair of the Youth Council under the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, spoke next. He began by describing the work of the Youth Council, emphasizing the importance of communication skills and discussing the Council’s efforts in promoting youth initiatives.
Mykhailo Marunchak, Coordinator of the Medical Education Division of the Youth Council under the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, addressed the participants with a welcome speech. He shared his personal mentorship story and expressed pride in his mentee — Daria Stolyar, the event’s keynote speaker. He also discussed the Council’s activities and the focus of his department’s work, encouraging students to not be afraid to voice their opinions.
The event’s moderator, Maksym Dubovyi, thanked the guests for their valuable insights, inspiration, and experience. He introduced Daria Stolyar — a participant in the “StudMentor” program who led the main part of the lecture.
Daria began her talk with an icebreaker — a method she uses with students to create an informal atmosphere and engage the audience in discussion. She shared her journey in the program and how she was influenced by the example of her own mentor — Mykhailo Marunchak.
After the introduction, Daria moved on to the topic of mentorship, highlighting the importance of a “safe adult” in children’s lives. She noted that the concept of mentorship is widely used in many countries and is implemented by various organizations.
“The best way to learn something is to teach it to someone else.”
— Daria Stolyar
Together with Inna Rakhmistryuk, Daria spoke about the international context of the program and the uniqueness of this Ukrainian initiative:
“StudMentor is a unique initiative with no equivalent in any European country. It’s not just an educational program, but a true movement that unites students around a meaningful mission.”
— Inna Rakhmistryuk
Following this, Daria and Maksym discussed the scale of educational losses in Ukraine — over 500,000 students began the 2024 academic year in remote learning. During this time, the StudMentor program has already supported more than 17,000 students, assisted by volunteer university students.
Daria explained the structure of the program and key steps in preparing for mentorship.
She also shared her vision for the future of the initiative in medicine:
“To build a healthy medical community where everyone is open to learning, communication, collaboration, and growth. And this program is a way to teach the next generation of medical applicants that there is a different path in medicine — one where learning is engaging, practical, and truly effective.”
— Daria Stolyar
Maksym supported this vision, adding:
“If every student, having received support from a more experienced colleague, later passes on their knowledge to others, we can build a system where everyone helps each other. This isn’t just about education — this is a true medical culture, where doctors don’t compete but collaborate toward a common goal. Building a community of medical mentors is the foundation of quality healthcare.”
— Maksym Dubovyi
In addition to discussing core concepts, the lecture also covered practical aspects of the program. Daria explained:
- how to join StudMentor without prior teaching experience;- how to combine participation with university studies;- and what happens after submitting an application.
Participants had the opportunity to ask questions during the final Q&A session — both live and in advance.
At the end, Daria shared advice for those still hesitating, emphasizing the strong support system available to program participants.
To close the event, Daria and Maksym thanked the audience:
“Thank you to everyone who joined us today, asked questions, and participated in the discussion. Each of you has the power to be part of change — to support kids, help them access quality education, and expand their opportunities.”
Don’t forget to share your impressions and spread the word about this project. Together, we can do even more!
More details on how to join the program are available here: https://teachforukraine.org/programa-studmentor/
Video on YouTube