UPDATE: ROBIN’S DIARY OF HIS HUMANITARIAN VISIT TO UKRAINE
Former Mayor of Richmond and RAF pilot Robin Jowit, aged 87 of Teddington has spent fifteen days visiting schools in war-torn Ukraine as part of his mission to raise funds to support education.
Working closely with Kew Gardens Rotary Club he has helped raise over £120k to purchase water filters, laptops and 3D printers to support STEM students, who he believes will be the ‘engineers of the future’ who rebuild the devastated country. He also met many officials in different cities to assess their requirements.
He kept notes and took photos of his latest mission and kindly shared them with Teddington Town.
VISIT TO UKRAINE –2 December 2025
Meeting with Deputy Governor, YEVHEN IVANOV
We were well received and I took the liberty, without authority, of extending the thoughts and best wishes from our Madam Mayor of Richmond. In response to my words of thanks the Deputy Governor made three comments:
I agreed to feed this request back to our 2 MP’s Sarah Olney and Munira Wilson and our Mayor, Cllr Penny Frost. After an exchange of gifts we left to a siren alert.
WE THEN VISITED 4 LOCATIONS.
1 SCHOOL ON OUTSKIRTS OF KHARKIV
The school for 700 cannot operate because there is insufficient bunker space. All teaching is online except for 20 per day who can use a limited bunker facility. We donated a 3D Printer, laptop and plastic. They have a competent STEM teacher.
En route we passed a Nursery school, blown up recently whilst the children were in the bunker. Luckily none were killed or injured but there are reports of some of them suffering traumas,
2 MUSICAL LYCEUM
Incredible school devoted to music, where they were donated 9 Steinway grand pianos. We donated a 3D Printer, laptop and plastic and during a tour of the lyceum were then treated to three performances by students, singing, playing the flute and piano. There are 3 similar lyceums in Ukraine. This one has excellent bunker facilities with pianos but most tuition is online, less than 50 attending each day.
They have direct links with the Yehudi Menuhin school in Surrey,
3 YELLOW HELP CHARITY
This small charity, supported by Rotary, Buffett for laptops and other charities, used to assist displaced families with accommodation. Sadly, due to lack of funds this has been discontinued. However they still provide support for children, especially those with needs. To assist STEM skills we donated a 3D Printer, laptop and filament. They were so delighted and the children sang to me.
4 DERHACHI SCHOOL
They have operating difficulties due to the war and were deserving recipients of a 3D Printer, laptop and plastic filament,
5 SAFE EDUCATION PLACE
Another charity operating from restricted facilities, helping to educate 120 children suffering from restricted education due to the shortage of bunker space. They already have a 3D Printer, laptop and filament. We donated more filament and a 3D scanner. It is a very small vibrant charity supported by an NGO in the USA . Mark and his colleague, both from the USA are regular visitors, helping to find financial support. 
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DECEMBER 3rd
1 LYCEUM 10
Because of restricted bunker space, the school for 500 teaches 120 per day, the remainder online. We visited the school to view a water filter facility, donated by Rotary in 2025 with sufficient filters for 2 years at a cost of £125.
Agreed to investigate assisting the purchase of a presentation board.
2 SPECIAL EDUCATION FACIILITY –LIUBOTYN
This very modern school, damaged in 2022, has new quality bunkers enabling it to operate underground with 150 students and many online. The regular missile alerts, regular electricity cuts and its rural location are the main reasons there are so few students. It specialises on STEM and Art with students completing for places, via an entrance exam. In addition:
- It maintains close contact with the Army and when there, I met a Colonel who was collecting St Nicholas gifts for the soldiers
- The Principal lost her brother and, in his memory, she arranged with local financial support (Alex) published a book containing the names of ex-students killed in the latest war. It is now out of date and a follow up edition is planned,
- We visited the graves to the fallen – 1000 from WW2, 6 in Afghanistan and in the latest war, 100 dead, 6 prisoners and 20 missing. This is a lot from a small village with 7,500 population,
- Later, Alex an ex army Colonel and nuclear specialist, is a local businessman who treated us to refreshments in his hotel café.
Because of the enthusiasm of the staff and desire for a 3 D Printer we agreed to provide one.
We then attended a dinner with 7 local Rotarians, the area vice Governor and myself. During various speeches I presented the President of Rotary D2232 Club with a banner from the Rotary Club of Kew Gardens and they presented me with a certificate of appreciation plus one for RC of KG in gratitude for their support.
4TH DECEMBER –ZAPHORIZA
After a four and half drive from Kharkiv, we arrived in Zaporhiza at 10.30, there were alarms throughout the day but we continued our programme to schools, in their bunkers and at charities that do not have bunkers but are allowed to operate.
1 COSSACK LYCEUM
One 17 year old student and her friend from another school acted as interpreters – Vitalina and Darina. We met the Principal who provided a tour of the secondary school, previously with weekly boarders. Due to the nearby hostilities 330 secondary students now work in a very modern spacious bunker facility donated by the EU. They also provide online learning for students, focusing on those requiring mental and physical assistance. We were impressed by the enthusiasm of the Principal and agreed to consider providing a 3D Printer and Laser Scanner plus filament.
2 KHORTYSIA
The charity school for displaced children, struggles to survive and clearly the staff are devoted, helping the children. It was noted that they need medical equipment – to be investigated.
3 ROTARY KIDS HUB
Heavily supported by Rotary, Dirk Lustig from Switzer land but living in Ukraine, was handing St Nicholas presents to about 50 displaced children. The presents were donated by Rotary and the atmosphere amongst the children and parents, was uplifting.
4 CHILDREN CENTRE
Supported by minimal government funds and local charities, including Rotary, they look after 65 children aged 2 to 18 with serious mental and physical disabilities, mainly from childbirth. Sadly,the children will require lifetime care and it is difficult to comprehend how the parents are managing. Even after a ceasefire, the future for these children appears bleak. In addition, the local government tries to help them find charity supporters. We will investigate the possibility of a donation from our funds.
5 LUNCH
This part of Ukraine, including Kharkiv and Zaphoriza, retains strong Cossack traditions, I funded a lunch for 8 Rotarians, with many Cossack toasts.
6 BABY BRAIN
Funded by Rotary, some Government, parental support, staff volunteers and donations, they look after 40 children with medical and physical movement issues. There is professional support from experts assisting 40, aged 2 to 15, twice a week.
With 3 hours wait Olek Paryka kindly stayed with me, awaiting the overnight train to KYIV where. at 6.00am, Natalia met me at the station and drove me to the hotel. I made the most of my 4 hours stay, with breakfast, paying the full night rate.
FRIDAY 4th DECEMBER
1 LYCEUM PERSPEKTYPA in Boryspil
This school, with 900 students and repaired bunker, operates on 2 shifts. During my 2024 visit, investigating STEM opportunities, Serhii Zavadsky and I decided to select this school to be the one for generous support to achieve OUTSTANDING results in STEM supported with traditional engineering equipment. The purpose of our visit was to check on the progress of our £22.000 commitment and review modifications.
Our commitment to this school, training engineers to rebuild Ukraine, was confirmed. They are negotiating an agreement with a local firm (www.[rogresstech.ua/en) who plan to invest £110,000 in STEM/Engineering facilities to train and provide future engineers for them and Ukraine. They have partners and focus on the aircraft industry with Ukraine’s main airport nearby.
As part of our investment, with modifications to our current commitment, I supported Serhii Z to find funds for 25 laptops, some 3D pens and miscellaneous STEM items.
2 HARRY BLAKISTON
A 29 years old, completing a Phd at Cambridge, has designed a simple plastic window product. His company is now the 4th largest in Ukraine for replacing windows. We briefed him on the investor in Boryspil concluding that Sergii and his Rotary club should maintain contact.
Serhii kindly remained with me, assisting me to catch the late night train (12 hours) to Warsaw, concluding a very tiring but useful visit.
IN SUMMARY: WITH MY OPPORTUNITY TO MEET ORDDINARY WORKING PEOPLE, THE TV AND PRESS DO NOT CONVEY THE PROBLEMS FACING THOSE IN UKRAINE, ESPECIALLY NEARER THE FIGHTING.
I AM SURE I HAVE MISSED SOME – Thank you for reading
Robin SIGNING OFF ON HIS VISIT TO ABOUT 25 SCHOOLS & CHARITIES
WWW.HELPSCHOOLSINUKRAINE.COM