School Partnership | Hugs From Friends

School Partnership Program

Hugs From Friends provides U.S. schools with an opportunity to support Ukrainian students through art, education, and cultural exchange. Schools can participate at various levels, allowing students to engage in creative projects, explore Ukrainian culture and history, and build student-to-student connections. When possible, members of the Ukrainian community and Hugs From Friends representatives visit schools to share personal stories and insights into Ukrainian history, culture, and customs. Additionally, we provide educators and students with age-appropriate resources, including information, articles, and videos, to deepen their understanding of the war in Ukraine.

Here are the ways your school can get involved:

Tier 1: FRIEND SCHOOL- Artwork Exchange

The school agrees that their students will create a minimum of 25 pieces of art for students in Ukraine on a semi-annual or annual basis. There is no maximum number of pieces the students can make.
The school is encouraged to share photos of the students making the artwork with Hugs From Friends to share with the school that receives the artwork in Ukraine.
Hugs From Friends agrees to tell the school where they send their artwork in Ukraine and to share any photos/videos they receive back from kids in Ukraine with their artwork.

Tier 2: SUPPORT SCHOOL- Art Exchange + Deeper Student to Student Integration

Hugs From Friends will match the U.S. school with a partner school in Ukraine to exchange artwork and facilitate deeper student to student exchange
The school agrees that their students will create a minimum of 25 pieces of art for students at their matched school in Ukraine on a semi-annual or annual basis. There is no maximum number of pieces the students can make.
The school agrees to assign a lead teacher that will coordinate the student to student exchange with Hugs From Friends and the school in Ukraine
Hugs From Friends will ship all artwork from the school to their partner school in Ukraine
Hugs From Friends will facilitate an introductory Google Meet call at the beginning of the program between teachers of the U.S. and Ukrainian schools
The school and their partner Ukrainian school will be responsible for organizing an exchange program that meets their individual circumstances

Tier 3: SPONSOR SCHOOL- Art Exchange + Deeper Student to Student Integration + Fundraising Event for Ukrainian School

All commitments in Tier 2
The school commits to hosting at least one annual public event to raise awareness of the school’s exchange program and funds for their partner Ukrainian school.
Hugs From Friends will help provide generate awareness and media attention for the event

Signup Form

We look forward to sharing the Hugs From Friends program with your students!
To get started, please complete the School Partnership: School Sign-Up Form.
If you have any questions, contact us at info@hugsfromfriends.org or call 479-222-0877.

Hugs From Friends Partnership
with the Arkansas Arts Academy

To mark the one year anniversary of the re-invasion of Ukraine, Hugs From Friends collaborated with Arkansas Arts Academy (AAA) to host a free community wide event aimed at raising awareness about the war in Ukraine and highlighting organizations providing humanitarian aid. The event featured a partnership with savED, a Chernihiv, Ukrainian organization dedicated to rebuilding schools destroyed in the war.

In the months leading up to the event, AAA students immersed themselves in Ukrainian culture, art, and history, creating performances and projects that showcased their solidarity with Ukraine. Artwork created by AAA students was sent to children in Ukraine through Hugs From Friends, emphasizing the power of art to convey messages of hope and solidarity.

Highlights from the event included: Bandura performance, AAA Dancers and choir, Hey Hey Rise Up song by savED and AAA students, Fayetteville International Folk Dancers, and Yuliia Tymochko, Runner Up for The Voice Ukraine.