For children in Ukraine, a smartphone isn’t just a gadget; it’s a lifeline to education, friends, and the world while they navigate the daily realities of war. But with that connection comes a weight of responsibility that no child should have to carry alone.
We see the worry in parents’ eyes and the questions teachers face. They want to protect their little ones, but finding the right words to explain digital safety in a way that doesn’t add to their fear can be overwhelming.
During the last academic year in the Kharkiv region, only 4 of 577 schools operated in person, while 165 used a mixed format and 408 were online only. Consequently, children now spend most of their time online due to the war.
“Cybersecurity for Children,” a six-month educational initiative by the Maidan Monitoring Information Center, is more than just a training program; it is a warm, living conversation held within the protective environment of our underground schools in the Kharkiv region. Developed in 2026 with the vital support of the SUNFLOWER F.U.N.D., this project provides a dedicated space where children aged 6–12 can share their digital experiences and find the support they need to navigate the complexities of a life spent increasingly online due to the ongoing war.
The program is structured to directly impact 300 children through 20 in-person training sessions delivered during 10 field visits across the city and region. Beyond immediate outreach, it focuses on long-term sustainability by preparing 15 specialized trainers and equipping them with trainer kits to ensure that child-centered cyber safety education continues well beyond the initial grant period. These mentors work in pairs to maintain a calm, secure atmosphere, meeting children exactly where they are—whether that is through play for younger participants (ages 6–9) or supportive community discussions for older children (ages 10–12).
At the heart of this educational journey is the “Bunny’s Rules: Basics of Your Cyber Safety” workbook. This story-based tool addresses concrete risks such as unsafe location sharing, unknown callers, and interacting with strangers in online games. By using gentle fairy tales and matching tasks, Bunny helps children transform digital fear into confidence, teaching them to trust their instincts and maintain healthy boundaries. This circle of care extends to empowering teachers and parents, ensuring that every child in the Kharkiv region can reclaim their right to use technology as a source of connection and growth without fear.
Through gentle fairy tales and playful drawings, Bunny helps children navigate their digital world. They learn to trust their instincts when a stranger calls, recognize when an ad feels “wrong,” and find a healthy balance that keeps them present in their real lives. It’s about turning fear into confidence.
Our trainers are mentors who truly care. They work in pairs, bringing a sense of calm and safety to every session, ensuring that every child feels seen, heard, and protected.
We meet children exactly where they are. Younger ones discover safety through the magic of play, while older children find a supportive community to discuss the real-world digital situations they face every day.
By empowering teachers, librarians, and volunteers, we are building a circle of care around our youth. These mentors become the steady voices that continue the conversation, ensuring that no child is left to figure out the digital world on their own.
Every child in the Kharkiv region has the right not to be afraid of their phone, just like they have the right to be afraid of explosions outside their window. By supporting this project, you give children a sense of control: “I know what to do when something goes wrong online.”
Your kindness reaches far beyond the classroom. It lives in the proud drawings children take home to their parents and the new safety rules they share with their friends. You are helping families find peace of mind.
This program is a hand reached out in solidarity. It’s our way of saying to these children: “We see you, you matter, and we are here to make your world a little brighter and much safer.”
The tools we leave behind—the training boxes and the spirit of Bunny—continue to grow within the community. Together, we are fostering a culture where technology is a source of connection and growth, anchored in the safety of a community that cares.
How to support us – follow this link.
Photos by Valeriia Gontar, Yevhen Tytarenko, Serhii Petrov
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