Peremoha is the Ukrainian word for Victory.
The Peremoha Mini-Grants program was launched in the summer of 2022 in response to the Russian military invasion of Ukraine. Returned Peace Corps Volunteers can apply together with a Ukrainian partner. Funding priorities for the program include humanitarian aid to Ukrainian communities, psychosocial support and training, and projects aligned with sectors previously implemented by Peace Corps Ukraine: community development, youth development, education, and HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment. We are proud to share with you the stories of the Alliance’s Peremoha grantees.
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RPCV: Heather Caturia, Teaching English as a Foreign Language, 2008-2010
Ukrainian Partner: Natalia, lead instructor at Kryve Ozero Lyceum
Region: Mikolayivska Oblast
United 24 Media states that as of June 2024, “children living in Ukraine’s frontlines have endured between 3,000 and 5,000 hours, equivalent to 4 to 7 months, seeking shelter in basements or metro stations due to incessant air raid sirens over the past two years.” UNICEF added to this statistic stating that half of 13 to 15 year olds have trouble sleeping, and 1 in 5 have intrusive thoughts and flashbacks—a typical symptom of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. “The continued shelling leaves little opportunity for Ukraine’s children to recover from the distress and trauma associated with attacks. Every siren and explosion brings further anxiety. Education is a pillar of hope, opportunity, and stability in children’s lives, but it continues to be disrupted or out of reach for millions of Ukraine’s children,” said UNICEF Executive Director, Catherine Russell. 
Heather Caturia (TEFL instructor, 2008-2010) and Natalia, a lead instructor at Kryve Ozero Lyceum in Mikolayivska Oblast, used their Peremoha Mini-Grant to maintain her school’s basement-turned-bomb shelter and make it a more comfortable area to take shelter. The grant funded four long benches and tables ($1,000), materials to patch cracks in the basement walls ($300), and drinking water to disperse to people in need when hiding from Russia’s bombs ($200).
“This project has been instrumental in providing a safe and functional environment for both the students and the wider community.”
—Heather, RPCV
Outside of being a space to keep people physically safe, the school’s basement is used to provide psychosocial support and mental health services to the 710 students and 30 teachers and staff. By creating a safe and conducive environment for learning within the bomb shelter, the project ensures the continuity of educational programs and training, fostering resilience and psychological well-being in the face of ongoing threats. 
The centrally located shelter is also used for the community of 8,000 people. These people are free to use the shelter after school hours. The multifunctional tables, chairs, and improved infrastructure transformed it into a dynamic space that people can use for many reasons. “This project has been instrumental in providing a safe and functional environment for both the students and the wider community,” Heather wrote of the town-lead project. The grant-funded project goes beyond the immediate educational needs of the lyceum and extends to the larger community.
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Peremoha Mini-Grants like this one are made possible by your charitable contributions to our Grants Fund, and by proceeds from sales of Babusya’s Kitchen cookbook. Thank you for your support.