100×100: Bridges of Education

“100×100: Bridges of Education” is an initiative of the National Congress of Ukrainian Associations in Italy (CNAUI) aimed at creating lasting partnerships between Ukrainian and Italian schools and at developing municipal ties between towns and cities.

The project aims to build a network of long-term cooperation, support and dialogue between schools in the two countries.

More than 400 Ukrainian schools are now registered on the Congress’s platform.

“100×100: Bridges of Education” (launched on 31 August 2025) is a large-scale volunteer initiative building long-term cooperation between hundreds of Ukrainian and Italian schools. Its main aim is to integrate Ukrainian education into the European space through cultural exchanges, joint lessons and activities for children’s mental rehabilitation. The programme includes virtual introductions, themed seminars on resilience and Christmas marathons that bring young people from both countries closer together. An important aspect is supporting the national identity of Ukrainians abroad and involving educators as mediators to coordinate the international dialogue. What makes the initiative unique is that it is run entirely by volunteers and has been officially recognised by European institutions. In the future, this experience will lay the foundation for new projects under the European Erasmus+ programme.

On 3 March 2026 the Senate of the Italian Republic announced the registration of our Petition No. 1667, which provides for the creation of a National Programme of School Partnerships between Italy and Ukraine, inspired by the experience of the “100×100: Bridges of Education” project already under way, which has made it possible to establish more than a hundred partnerships between schools in the two countries.
Official registration in the Italian Senate of a petition proposing the creation of a state programme for school partnerships between Italy and Ukraine.

The initiative builds on the success of earlier projects and aims to turn scattered educational links into a stable system of cooperation. The document provides for giving schools the methodological tools and institutional support they need to carry out international exchanges. The programme’s main goals are the integration of Ukrainian children into the Italian environment and the mutual cultural enrichment of both countries. Thanks to this programme, Italian and Ukrainian schools will be able to strengthen their strategic partnership in the scientific and humanitarian spheres.

The initiative has received official approval from the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, as confirmed by the corresponding official letter No. 1/2684‑26. The Ministry regards the project as an effective mechanism for developing educational diplomacy and strengthening international ties. It actively encourages Ukrainian schools to establish partnerships with Italian schools in order to share experience. Particular attention is paid to involving Ukrainian children currently living abroad in joint learning programmes. The main aim of the document is to lay the foundation for lasting cooperation between schools in both countries. State support guarantees the project institutional backing and helps to build a sustainable network of academic contacts.

The initiative is actively supported by the European Parliament Office in Rome. Together with the National Congress of Ukrainian Associations, two joint events have already been held, at which the project was presented and the participating schools were able to join online.
On 19 November the forum “Protect the Children – Protect the Future” took place, at which the project was officially presented, with Ukrainian schools taking part online.
Then, at the event marking the 4th anniversary of the full-scale invasion on 24 February 2026, organised by the European Parliament Office in Rome together with Linkiesta and the National Congress, Ukrainian schools joined the institutional event and were able to follow live the plenary session of the European Parliament attended by the President of Ukraine.
At the invitation of the European Parliament Office, on 8 May three Ukrainian schools will take part in a meeting with the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola.

The project brings together educational, cultural and spiritual elements:

• it supports Ukrainian children and teenagers living through the war with educational and creative programmes;
• it promotes intercultural exchange and familiarity with Italian traditions;
• it involves Ukrainian mediators living in Italy in coordinating the partnerships;
• it has a spiritual dimension and offers children moral support.

The project envisages a long-term network of schools, joint online and offline activities, cultural and artistic events, and initiatives such as “Christmas Together / Natale Insieme” and “Pysanka of Unity”, which help children find friends and emotional support abroad.

Project details

• Main goals

The project’s mission comprises three main goals:
To give Ukrainian children the opportunity to communicate and work with their Italian peers through cultural exchanges, educational activities and programmes of moral and social rehabilitation, helping them recover from the horrors of war.

To foster cooperation between schools and municipalities in both countries, laying solid foundations for future partnerships and for school and municipal “twinnings”.

To involve Ukrainian citizens living in Italy as cultural mediators in schools, giving them the opportunity to integrate into Italy’s educational environment and, in the future, to become links and cooperation managers between the public administrations of Italy and Ukraine.

A small step for a great network

The “100×100: Bridges of Education” project is long-term and designed to grow step by step.
Taking part today means joining a constantly growing European educational network, which makes it possible to build long-term relationships, lay the groundwork for future exchanges and give pupils unique opportunities to learn and develop.

The project’s initial aim was to bring together 100 Italian schools and 100 Ukrainian schools, encouraging the exchange of experience, knowledge, cultures and values.

However, owing to the strong interest from Ukrainian schools, more than 240 Ukrainian schools are now taking part, confirming the high demand for cultural and educational partnerships.

The project seeks to create a dynamic and inclusive educational network, able to adapt to the needs and possibilities of schools in both countries and to seize every opportunity for exchange, cooperation and shared development.

Project diary

100×100: Bridges of Education

2026

“100×100: Bridges of Education” in the media

2025

Current Month

thu06nov00:00First partnership meeting

Event Details

6 November 2025 — the first partnership meeting, at which 100 Ukrainian schools and partnership coordinators discussed planning events for 2025. More than 270 schools have already joined the initiative,

More than 270 schools have already joined the initiative, exceeding the original goal (100 pairs of schools).

The first formal partnerships: for example, Lyceum No. 3 of Nova Kakhovka City Council is working with Liceo Marconi in Colleferro, Italy.

thu06nov00:00Working meeting

The project “100×100: Bridges of Education” began as an initiative in educational and intercultural diplomacy, run by the National Congress of Ukrainian Associations in Italy APS together with its Department of Education, Department of International Cooperation and Department of Culture, with the support of public bodies, universities and associations in Italy and Ukraine.

The project aims to build lasting links between Ukrainian and Italian schools.

A meeting was held on 6 November 2025, and we can see the project taking real shape.

Of the 246 schools registered on the Congress’s platform, 70 already have their own mediators — representatives who coordinate the cooperation and help the schools join a single network.

Learn More

wed19nov10:00wed14:00PROTECT THE CHILDREN – PROTECT THE FUTURERome

The European Parliament Office in Italy and the National Congress of Ukrainian Associations in Italy invite you to take part in the International Interactive Forum: “PROTECT THE CHILDREN – PROTECT THE

Invite you to take part in the International Interactive Forum:

“PROTECT THE CHILDREN – PROTECT THE FUTURE”

on the occasion of World Children’s Day

thu20nov00:00International Day for the Rights of Children and Adolescents

Preparation of the “Christmas Together / Natale Insieme” project, starting in December 2025 — a series of cultural, language and artistic activities for Ukrainian and Italian partner schools.

Related Events

International Day for the Rights of Children and Adolescents

22 november, 2025 00:00

20 november, 2025 00:00

20 november, 2025 00:00

20 november, 2025 00:00

thu20nov00:00International Day for the Rights of Children and AdolescentsBucchianico

Bucchianico Comprehensive School, Italy. To mark the World Day of the Rights of Children and Adolescents, today our school, with class 1A in Bucchianico, joined online an event organised by Ukrainian associations in Italy. 303 schools, mostly from Ukraine, are taking part, united by the slogan: SAVE THE CHILDREN TO SAVE THE FUTURE.

thu20nov00:00International Day for the Rights of Children and AdolescentsZaporizhzhia – Bari

20 November — International Day for the Rights of Children and Adolescents Lower secondary school To mark this date in a truly heartfelt way, pupils of class 3-C of the “Tommaso Fiore” school took

To mark this date in a truly heartfelt way, pupils of class 3-C of the “Tommaso Fiore” school took part in a meeting with a school from Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine.

This extraordinarily moving event was made possible by an agreement with the association “Uniti per l’Ucraina”, under the guidance of Professor Palmisano and with language support from the mother of one of the pupils, who comes from that land and is now going through hard times.

The videoconference between our library and their shelter classroom showed the emotions on the faces of the children as they exchanged thoughts on the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The greetings at the beginning and the farewells at the end marked the start of an acquaintance that will bring knowledge and an exchange of experience between two realities so far apart, yet united by a shared longing for peace and calm for all children.

thu20nov00:00International Day for the Rights of Children and AdolescentsBorshchiv – Agropoli Event Organized By: Oksana Bilomazur

On the occasion of the World Day of the Rights of Children and Adolescents, pupils of the Gino Rossi Vairo Comprehensive School (Agropoli) were able to establish twinning ties with the hub school of Borshchiv (Ukraine).

Read the article on the website or watch the report on YouTube.

thu20nov(nov 20)00:00fri21(nov 21)23:50Where There Is Listening, Peace Is Born

Campaign: “Where There Is Listening, Peace Is Born” – protecting children Aim: to raise international awareness of the deportation of Ukrainian children by the Russian Federation, to promote the protection of children’s rights and

Campaign: “Where There Is Listening, Peace Is Born” – protecting children

Aim: to raise international awareness of the deportation of Ukrainian children by the Russian Federation, to promote the protection of children’s rights and to create a space for dialogue between adults and children, between Ukraine and Italy.

sat22nov00:00International Day for the Rights of Children and AdolescentsLubny – Galatina Event Organized By: Anna Baranova

💙🤍💛 International Day for the Rights of Children and Adolescents 💛🤍💙 On Thursday 20 November, on the occasion of the International Day for the Rights of Children and Adolescents, celebrated since 1989

💙🤍💛 International Day for the Rights of Children and Adolescents 💛🤍💙

On Thursday 20 November, on the occasion of the International Day for the Rights of Children and Adolescents, celebrated since 1989 on the initiative of the UN, the Istituto Comprensivo Polo 1 began its activities within the “100×100: Bridges of Education” project — an initiative of the National Congress of Ukrainian Associations in Italy, officially presented on 19 November at the European Parliament Office in Italy and streamed live online.

In particular, class 1C of the lower secondary school took part in a joint lesson with peers from Ukraine — from Lubny, Poltava Oblast.

Speaking English, the pupils first briefly introduced themselves and then talked to one another, asking questions about games, sports, favourite foods and school subjects.

Each pupil also worked on one of the rights of the child (the right to play, to health, to education and so on), presenting it as a drawing in English.

The Ukrainian pupils responded with great enthusiasm and joy, feeling the warmth and friendship of their Italian peers.

This deeply symbolic moment officially launched the “Christmas Together” project, part of an educational and intercultural journey devoted to dialogue, creativity and the exchange of traditions, which will involve other classes of our Polo 1 in December.

For the Ukrainian pupils, feeling the closeness of their Italian peers is a gesture of great humanity, and our participation is a concrete sign of solidarity and hope.

Special thanks go to Anna Baranova, the Ukrainian cultural mediator who supports this initiative in our town, giving young people the chance to make peace and dialogue, starting today, the foundation of relations between the citizens of the Europe of yesterday and tomorrow.

sun30nov00:00First steps for the projectColleferro

The head of Lyceum No. 3 of Nova Kakhovka City Council, Iryna Dubas, and her deputy for teaching and pastoral work, Kateryna Bondar, visited Colleferro (Italy) as part of the cooperation programme between Ukrainian and Italian schools.

During the visit they met the President of Colleferro City Council, Emanuele Girolami, and the project moderator, President of the National Congress of Ukrainian Associations in Italy (APS), Lara Levchun.

thu18dec00:00Protecting the Children of Ukraine: Diplomacy, Law, Justice

International solidarity for the future: the outcome of the summit in Brussels The large-scale International Summit “Protecting the Children of Ukraine: Diplomacy, Law, Justice” was held in Brussels, becoming a key platform for discussing

International solidarity for the future: the outcome of the summit in Brussels

The large-scale International Summit “Protecting the Children of Ukraine: Diplomacy, Law, Justice” was held in Brussels, becoming a key platform for discussing the return of illegally deported Ukrainian children. The event took place at the premises of its General Partner — the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) — and brought together more than 50 speakers from 20 countries.

sat27dec(dec 27)00:00sun28(dec 28)23:50Christmas Together Event Organized By: Olha Vakulich

Ukrainian and Italian schools taking part in the “100×100: Bridges of Education” project joined the “Christmas Together” project. Project curator Olha Vakulich, Department of Culture

Project curator Olha Vakulich, Department of Culture of the National Congress of Ukrainian Associations in Italy (CNAUI).

The “Christmas Together” project aims to revive, pass on and preserve Christmas traditions, combining learning, research and creativity to preserve Ukrainian identity in a globalised world.

Around 1,000 participants joined the project, namely:

• schools
• lyceums
• houses of culture

• pupils and teachers, artists and associations.

The project included 4 themed workshops with folk craftspeople, ethnomusicologists, and Ukrainian and Italian researchers of traditions and scholars, who introduced participants to the festivals and musical traditions of Ukrainians and Italians.

Participants learned to make Christmas decorations and together studied carols (koliadky and shchedrivky) and vertep nativity plays from different parts of Ukraine and Italy.

The children took an active part in the practical work, asked questions and showed great interest.

Participants received valuable thematic information that is hard for the general public to come by. This workshop format has considerable cultural and educational value and is well worth introducing in schools in the run-up to Christmas. Besides taking part in the workshops, everyone had the chance to join the greetings by choosing from Ukraine’s folklore archives (“Polyphony”, “Digital Folklore Archive of Slobozhanshchyna and Kharkiv Region”) an example of calendar and ritual material from their own region, learning it and performing it on video. In all, more than 60 videos were received, featuring koliadky, shchedrivky, elements of the “goat” folk ritual, vertep performances, instrumental traditions, carols for soldiers and modern interpretations. The videos were recorded in schools, shelters, museums, houses of culture and studios. The project demonstrated the children’s great creative potential, their resilience and their readiness to preserve and promote traditions even in today’s circumstances.

wed11feb00:00Manfredonia – VinnytsiaManfredonia – Vinnytsia Event Organized By: Liubov Shynkarchuk

Partnership curator Liubov Shynkarchuk On 11 February 2026, as part of the “100×100: Bridges of Education” project promoted by the National Congress of Ukrainian Associations in Italy, the comprehensive

Partnership curator Liubov Shynkarchuk

On 11 February 2026, as part of the “100×100: Bridges of Education” project promoted by the National Congress of Ukrainian Associations in Italy, the “San Giovanni Bosco – Giordani” comprehensive school held an online meeting with Lyceum No. 12 in Vinnytsia, Ukraine.

A bridge between two schools and two countries, a partnership between Ukrainian and Italian schools in a spirit of cooperation, exchange, growth, friendship and mutual enrichment.

A festive morning in which music, smiles, stories, photos and hands joining to draw hearts made it possible to convey — despite the physical distance and despite the difficulties — vivid and deeply moving emotions, lessons in gratitude that we teachers and our children will not forget for a long time.

More than just a link-up — even through a temporary power cut, when the meeting at the Vinnytsia school today was possible only thanks to a generator — the young people let their souls speak, and in spite of everything they spoke of the future, of peace, solidarity, respect, friendship and beauty.

Grateful, truly grateful for this experience, full of signs that will stay forever in the hearts of each of us! Special thanks to our head teacher, to the head of the Ukrainian school and to Liubov Shynkarchuk, the project coordinator at our Institute.

fri13feb(feb 13)00:00mon23(feb 23)23:50Ukrainian children will visit Italy

The Municipality of Manfredonia, “as part of its solidarity and international cultural exchange initiatives, and in order to support the ‘100×100: Bridges of Education’ project, is organising the reception of a delegation of pupils from Ukraine invited to take part in our town’s traditional annual carnival”, says a statement from Mayor Domenico La Marca.

“The delegation will consist of 46 children aged 11 to 16, accompanied by their teachers.”

“The stay is planned from 13 to 23 February. During this time the young guests will take part in the Carnival events and in integration activities with their Italian peers.”

A group of teenagers aged 13 to 17 is coming from Haisyn (Ukraine), from a single school, to take part in the Manfredonia Carnival as an independent group, accompanied by their teachers.

fri20feb00:00Lesson of Resilience

The first online meetings marking the fourth anniversary of the full-scale invasion have taken place. The aim of the event is to reflect on the meaning of this date through its human dimension, to support Ukrainian children and to deepen the partnership between

The aim of the event is to reflect on the meaning of this date through its human dimension, to support Ukrainian children and to deepen the partnership between schools in Ukraine and Italy.

Dialogue. Solidarity. The future.

tue24feb09:00tue13:00Ukraine and the Defence of Europe

On 24 February 2026, to mark the fourth anniversary of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the institutional event “Ukraine and the Defence of Europe” will take place at the Esperienza Europa – David Sassoli centre (Piazza Venezia 6C, Rome), organised by the European Parliament Office in Rome in cooperation with the European Commission Representation in Italy, Linkiesta and the National Congress of Ukrainian Associations in Italy.

tue24feb20:00Ukraine and the Defence of EuropeRome

On 24 February 2026, at the “Esperienza Europa – David Sassoli” venue in Rome, the institutional event “Ukraine and the Defence of Europe” took place, organised by the Ufficio del Parlamento Europeo a Roma in cooperation with the Rappresentanza della Commissione europea in Italia, Linkiesta and the Congresso Nazionale delle associazioni ucraine in Italia APS.

The event was devoted to discussing Ukraine’s role in defending European values, security and democratic principles in the face of today’s challenges. Particular attention was paid to the importance of solidarity among the Member States of the European Union and to supporting Ukraine as an integral part of Europe’s community of values.

sun01mar00:00Pysanka of Unity

The international project “Pysanka of Unity” is launching! The National Congress of Ukrainian Associations in Italy announces the launch of a new cultural and educational project, “Pysanka of Unity” — part of the large international

The international project “Pysanka of Unity” is launching!

The National Congress of Ukrainian Associations in Italy announces the launch of a new cultural and educational project, “Pysanka of Unity” — part of the large international initiative “100×100: Bridges of Education”.

The project brings Ukrainian children around the world together around the tradition of pysanka-making — a symbol of light, spiritual rebirth and our identity.

Through international three-way partnerships, “Pysanka of Unity” creates a unique model of cooperation between:
– a Ukrainian school in Ukraine,
– a Ukrainian Saturday/Sunday school in Italy,
– a Ukrainian school or educational centre in another country.

This format meets the requirements of the Creative Europe and Erasmus+ programmes.

An Easter Lesson of Spiritual Resurrection

Each partner group will hold its own lesson — a space for creativity, spirituality, traditions and support for children.

Clergy from Ukrainian church communities are joining the lessons.

Final international meeting

A large online meeting of all participating schools will take place between 1 and 10 April.

Teachers, children, clergy, public figures and institutional partners are invited to take part.

Become our partner!

Organisations and institutions can:
– join as official partners,
– join the Organising Committee,
– provide their logo for the project materials,
– take part in the final meeting.

Together we are creating a space of unity, culture and spiritual strength for Ukrainian children around the world.

wed11mar00:00Resilience Day: an online meeting between pupils from Italy and UkraineBari – Vyshhorod

On 11 March 2026, as part of the “100×100: Bridges of Education” project, an online meeting took place between pupils of class 3A of the Scuola Secondaria di primo grado Dante Alighieri (Sammichele di Bari, Italy) and the 9th grade of the “Suzirʼia” Lyceum of Vyshhorod City Council, Kyiv Oblast.

sun15mar00:00From Manfredonia to Vinnytsia: a story of support and friendshipManfredonia – Vinnytsia

During the first online meeting within the “100×100: Bridges of Education” project, pupils of the Giordani school (Manfredonia, Italy) learned that pupils of Vinnytsia Lyceum No. 12 were collecting plastic bottle caps as part of a charity initiative.

The Italian pupils were so inspired by the idea that they decided to join the collection. Together with their teachers, they organised a bottle-cap collection at their school to support their Ukrainian peers and their initiative.