Kids2IT: How did Kharkiv’s underground and metro schools become centers of innovation?
IT ClusterKharkiv has always been a city of opportunities, innovation, and education. While the war has altered circumstances, it hasn’t changed the essence of our city or the aspirations of its residents for growth. The Kids2IT project, initiated by the Kharkiv IT Cluster, helps children discover the world of IT professions from a fresh perspective, uncover new skills, and even feel like creators of the future.
IT is more than just coding. Designers, analysts, project managers, testers—the list goes on. Through Kids2IT, we introduce students to the diverse opportunities in IT in an accessible and engaging way. We even go a step further by allowing them to try on these roles themselves.
IT Professions: Easy and Exciting!
The goal of Kids2IT is not only to introduce students to the prospects of IT careers but also to help them return to live communication and offline learning. For many children in Kharkiv, who are studying in metro schools or other safe spaces due to the war, participating in our events has been a breath of fresh air.
«This is a great event that gives us the chance to be together again, in person. I’m so happy to see my friends face-to-face,» shares Oleksandr, a student from Kharkiv Lyceum No. 46.
Students don’t just listen to explanations about professions—they become part of the process: generating ideas, solving challenges, and creating mini-projects, experiencing what it means to be part of a real IT team.
How Kharkiv’s Underground Schools Became Hubs of Innovation
The educational process in Kharkiv faced challenges that seemed insurmountable. Metro schools, shelters, and safe spaces became the new reality for thousands of children. Yet, these conditions sparked the creation of unique educational solutions.
Kharkiv IT Cluster turned this difficult situation into an opportunity. Kids2IT introduced a new learning format that combines career guidance, creativity, and hands-on experience.
- Metro Schools
In schools at metro stations, children tried themselves in the roles of designers, managers and developers. Each team not only generating ideas but also created concepts that could become the basis of real projects. - Lyceum №173
In the underground lyceum, students from three different schools joined forces to create their IT project — from ideation to design and technical solutions. They experienced what it means to work as part of a real IT team. - CodeIT4Life Space in Bezruki Village
In a safe space, 20 schoolchildren gained unique experience working on their first IT projects. Here, they learned that in the technological world, no detail is too small — every team member plays an important role in creating the final product.
The Result: Over 478 Engaged Schoolchildren
Thanks to partnerships with the Department of Digital Transformation and the Department of Education of the Kharkiv City Council, Kids2IT reached children from all corners of the city and nearby communities. Collaborations with universities — the People’s Ukrainian Academy, NTU «Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute», and American University Kyiv — allowed children to feel like true students and made the learning process even more exciting.
«I enjoy this. I’ve missed experiences like this in recent years when we were learning online,» shares Veronika, a 10th-grade student.
Girl Power Ukraine: IT Is for Everyone!
An important focus of our work is supporting girls in tech. As part of the Girl Power Ukraine initiative in cooperation with the organization «Ukrainian Antiquity», we conducted career-oriented workshops in Lyubotyn, Merefa, Bohodukhiv, and Kolomak. Over 60 girls discovered the world of IT and learned that success in this field depends on ideas and determination, not gender.
LOL-2024: Teamwork Shapes the Future
A standout event of the year was our participation in the LOL-2024 hackathon, where we conducted workshops for over 130 participants of the Q-bit School of Mathematics and Computer Science across three locations — Rivne, Wrocław (Poland), and online. It was a true marathon of ideas, innovation, and teamwork.
How We Prepare Mentors Who Inspire Future IT Leaders
To provide children with a high-quality experience and unlock their potential in the world of IT, we need individuals who will become their guides — and mentors. But is being professional enough to work with children? Kids2IT decided that it’s not: one must also know how to pass on knowledge, provide support, and spark interest.
On November 15, we organized a special offline training session for volunteer mentors. The participants included 10 professionals: educators from V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, the Kharkiv College of Information Technology of Zhukovsky National Aerospace University «KhAI», as well as a student from NTU «Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute».
During the training, we:
- Discussed how to adapt complex technical topics for schoolchildren;
- Simulated different approaches to teamwork;
- Developed communication skills to better engage children in interactive activities.
Thanks to the support of Cloud Works and the IT-univer school, which provided a space for the training, we created a comfortable learning environment.
This training brought together professionals from various fields united by a common goal — to help the new generation find their path in IT. Now, these mentors are prepared not only to share their knowledge but also to inspire children to achieve great things.
Meet the IT Professionals: Bridging the Gap to Careers
Kids2IT isn’t just about workshops and training. We’ve organized a series of meetings with real IT professionals to give students direct access to industry experts.
Over 10 sessions with representatives of the Department of Digital Transformation and the Department of Education of the Kharkiv City Council, as well as a special meeting for students from IT Step School, allowed children to learn about the daily work of IT specialists and get answers to their career-related questions.
Kids2IT: Building Ukraine’s Future Together with Talented Students
Children need support to find their path in a rapidly changing world. For parents and teachers, this is an opportunity to help students uncover their talents, find genuine motivation, and believe in their potential.
For businesses, this is more than corporate social responsibility — it’s an investment in shaping the next generation of specialists who will transform the country. Your support is an investment in a future where Ukrainian professionals remain among the best in the world.
For the students themselves, Kids2IT is a key to a world without limits, where dreams can be realized, and IT careers open up boundless opportunities. It’s the first step toward a future where they can create, innovate, and achieve.
🔗 Want to learn more about the project? You can watch the video about Kids2IT in 2024 on YouTube.
Join the initiative with the Kharkiv IT Cluster. Together, we’re creating opportunities that open new horizons for the entire country!
