#55 Distance Learning as a Lifeline for Ukrainian Students with Yuliya Kosko

Why Distance Learning?

In this episode of Why Distance Learning, Seth Fleischauer, Allyson Mitchell, and Tami Moehring welcome Yuliya Kosko, founder of Svitlo Education, to explore how live virtual learning becomes a lifeline in the darkest of times. They discuss the founding of Svitlo School during the Russian invasion of Ukraine and how distance learning has supported nearly 2,000 Ukrainian students with free, high-quality instruction amidst trauma, displacement, and daily threats to safety. Yuliya shares how her all-volunteer team, spanning multiple continents, builds meaningful community and resilience through online education—even when students are logging in from bomb shelters.

This powerful conversation makes the case that when done intentionally, virtual learning can create stability, connection, and even joy in crisis.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Founding an online school during wartime and scaling it to serve thousands.
• The role of distance learning in supporting displaced, traumatized, and underserved students.
• Building emotional safety and student engagement in a virtual community.
• Supporting volunteer teachers and maintaining a strong international team.
• Why culture, structure, and creativity matter even more in crisis.
• The importance of equipping students not just with knowledge, but with hope and vision for the future of Ukraine.

Guest Bio:
Yuliya Kosko is the founder and director of Svitlo Education, a free online school for Ukrainian children affected by war. A former primary school teacher in London and co-founder of EducAd Consulting, Yuliya has used her deep experience in international education to create a thriving virtual community that supports both academic growth and emotional healing. Svitlo means “light” in Ukrainian—a name given by one of her first students, and a mission Yuliya embodies every day.

Episode Links:

• Learn more or get involved: svitloschool.com
• Connect with Yuliya on LinkedIn: Yuliya Kosko
• See https://cilc.org/podcast for more episodes

Host Links:

1. Discover more virtual learning opportunities and resources at CILC.org with Tami Moehring and Allyson Mitchell.
2. Seth Fleischauer’s Banyan Global Learning provides meaningful global learning experiences that prepare students across the globe for success in an interconnected world.