The project “Ukraine Digital: Ensuring Academic Success in Times of Crisis,” funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, provided scholarships to students to support the continuity of their online education. Among these students, we want to highlight the story of Apollinariia and share her experience.
Apollinariia is a highly communicative individual with a deep passion for learning. She is an enthusiastic reader, occasional short story writer, and enjoys drawing and creating handcrafted items. Her openness to the world around her is striking.
After February 24, 2022, her education underwent significant changes. Her university shifted to remote learning due to the ongoing crisis. The faculty demonstrated remarkable adaptability, continuing to provide detailed explanations of their subjects, even during wartime conditions.
However, the reality of living in a war zone, with her hometown frequently under shelling, profoundly disrupted the emotional foundation necessary for effective studying. Despite the instructors’ best efforts to ensure quality education, the learning process lost its usual rhythm due to instability and additional stressors.
Moreover, frequent power outages and communication disruptions made attending remote classes nearly impossible. Navigating technical challenges alongside the emotional toll of the country’s situation reshaped her approach to learning after that date.
During the occupation of the Kherson region, Apollinariia remained within its territory. The presence of Russian military personnel with automatic weapons on her street posed a significant psychological strain. It tested her emotional resilience to the limits. Compounded by constant power outages, she had to bike 6-7 kilometers daily from her home to an abandoned house on the village outskirts. This was the only spot with mobile network coverage, allowing her to participate in remote classes. This lifestyle demanded unwavering dedication to her studies. Yet, the most trying moments were the shelling incidents. The unpredictability of rocket impacts and the constant fear, even in shelters, tested her inner strength and resilience.
Participating in the program offered Apollinariia a range of opportunities. Beyond continuing her education, the program significantly supported her family during the occupation. The funds received helped them navigate challenging times. “I am immensely grateful for being selected for this program; without it, my life could be entirely different,” remarks Apollinariia. According to her, the scholarship significantly improved her life. With the financial support, she sustained her studies in both “Public Administration and Administration” and “Agronomy,” ensuring her well-being during a critical period.
During the occupation, she pondered how to achieve agricultural efficiency in the Kherson region despite the presence of mines rendering a significant portion of fields unusable. This contemplation inspired her concept of “green pillars” and she developed a preliminary plan for their implementation. In the fall of 2022, after her village and Kherson were liberated by Ukrainian forces, she learned about “hydroponic towers”, a similar technology. She constructed three towers to test their viability, focusing on strawberries. The experiment yielded remarkable results, affirming the concept’s effectiveness. The success was made possible by the received funds, motivating her to earnestly pursue this idea in the future.
Apollinariia expresses immense gratitude to CAU, the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, DAAD, and the entire German population for their invaluable assistance and support during trying times.
