The First Lady of Ukraine Presented in Norway the Initiatives of the Olena Zelenska Foundation Aimed to Support Access to Education Under Conditions of War
October 23, 2025
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The First Lady of Ukraine and the Olena Zelenska Foundation team made the first joint visit to Norway to present the Foundation’s work and launch cooperation with Norwegian businesses on joint humanitarian and educational initiatives.
This was an important step in building a partnership between the Foundation and the Norwegian businesses to jointly support education and the sustainable recovery of Ukraine.
The First Lady of Ukraine presented the work of the Olena Zelenska Foundation during a panel discussion in Oslo. The meeting brought together representatives of leading companies and business associations in Norway. The main focus was on ensuring Ukrainian children’s access to education, which remains one of the Foundation’s key priorities.
With the beginning of the full-scale invasion, education in Ukraine faced a new challenge—safety. It became a prerequisite for offline learning to be possible. The Olena Zelenska Foundation responded to this reality with its initiative to restore and equip shelters in schools and kindergartens. This enables children to study offline in safer conditions, despite the ongoing threat of missile attacks. The Foundation has already equipped 30 shelters in schools and kindergartens across seven regions of Ukraine; now, more than 13,000 children use them daily.
“Today, access to education for Ukraine is not just about learning but also about survival. During times when children are forced to learn amid sirens, education has become part of our resilience—something that helps us feel connected, supported, and maintains a sense of normalcy. That is why my Foundation’s team and I work to ensure every child has the opportunity to learn in a safe environment—whether at school, kindergarten, or hospital. Because if we preserve education, we preserve childhood and the future,” Olena Zelenska, First Lady of Ukraine and founder of the Foundation, noted.
The Olena Zelenska Foundation adopts a systemic approach to providing access to education and development. In addition to equipping shelters in schools and kindergartens, it provides students and teachers with educational devices and establishes the “School of Superheroes” centers in children’s hospitals.
“The Foundation does not have joint projects with Norwegian partners yet, but we see great potential for cooperation. A common understanding that supporting children and education is about shaping the future joins us. We believe that together we can create even more opportunities for children to learn and grow, even under the most challenging conditions,” Nina Horbachova, Director of the Olena Zelenska Foundation, said.
The event was organized by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad). Jorun Sigrid Nossum, Director for the Nansen Support Programme for Ukraine, moderated the event. The event brought together representatives from Norwegian government institutions, humanitarian and development organizations, academic institutions, and the private sector.
