EDUCATION IN EMERGENCIES

The paper summarizes unique experience of «People’s Ukrainian Academy»gained over the years of a full-scale invasion. A small private education institutionsituated in Kharkiv, heavily affected by military operations, has never stoppedworking, supported its students and staff, and provided a high-quality training toeducation seekers. The paper explains what pre-requisites helped the universityto withstand at the beginning of the war and looks into a PUA’s complex strategyemployed in wartime. Several lines of effort are outlined in the article.Firstly, the paper highlights the importance of the course content quality andreliability of the platform that hosts online courses and ensures Teacher-Studentinteraction. Secondly, it is shown how a teacher’s role has changed in the contextof war. New communication styles established within academic communities areexplicated. Special attention in the article is paid to the concept of individual andinstitutional resilience and factors boosting it. Finally, the paper explains the wayhow volunteering initiatives prove to be more than just serving the public in timesof trouble. Volunteering is seen as a powerful tool for bringing people together byencouraging community dialogue, fostering solidarity and a shared sense ofpurpose. In conclusion, the author emphasizes that continuing formal educationin wartime manifests the ability of human spirit to thrive against the odds, therefore,fuels hope and strength people need to endure trials.Key words: resilience, adaptability, communication, positive reinforcement,human-centred approach, volunteering initiatives.