The war between Russia and Ukraine has waged on for nearly three years, frequenting devastation in various facets of everyday life. One of the hardest-hit sectors is education, as Ukrainian students face relentless bombardments, forcing many schools to either close or operate under constant threat.
Humanitarian help has long focused on aid, but education remains a desperate need, one that Anna Rekeda, a high schooler from New Jersey, took upon herself to address.
Anna Rekeda has been actively involved in Unity for Freedom, a nonprofit organization founded by her father, Alexander Rekeda, in 2022. The organization continues to play a crucial role in sending humanitarian aid to Ukraine and supporting civilians affected by the ongoing aggression.
While working alongside her father to raise donations and coordinate relief efforts, Anna felt compelled to take the initiative to make a difference. After multiple attempts to find a way to help directly, she began offering free English tutoring to high school students in Ukraine.
Her tutoring efforts initially involved three kids—two from Kyiv and one from a small town called Obukhov. Through her outreach, she connected with PS #22 in Sumy, a city just 30 miles from the Russian border and under frequent shelling.
An English teacher there sent her a list of students interested in an opportunity like this, and she started tutoring English to a couple of them two times a week. Eventually, Anna began to rope in some of her friends from New Jersey, and they formed Tutors Without Borders. This student-led initiative now provides English lessons to nearly twenty Ukrainian high school students.
But it’s not just education that’s at stake. For many of the Ukrainian students, the lessons provide psychological relief. Anna was shocked when her students asked if they should keep having their English class during a bombing session; they moved to a cellar and used the hour as a distraction from what was going on around them. Over time, the tutoring evolved into more than just language instruction. It became a connection to a world beyond war, providing a sense of normalcy and hope.
Anna’s dedication has not gone unnoticed. The mayor of Sumy awarded her a medal for volunteering, honoring her selfless commitment to supporting Ukrainian students amid the turmoil. Her work with Tutors without Borders continues to grow, with more students joining the initiative and additional volunteers stepping up to help.
Beyond her charitable work, Anna is an exceptional student. She speaks five languages: Ukrainian, Spanish, Russian, French, and Italian—and is a member of the National Honor Society. She also balances her academic commitments with competitive fencing.
Anna Rekeda’s story represents all we believe in when we talk about the impact young people can make, even through small acts. With education as her vehicle and students from Ukraine as her cause, she has shown us how a little bit of care backed by some action can go a long way—one lesson at a time.