Oschadbank Became the Co-Developer of “Language of Dignity,” the First Lesson for Schoolchildren

The 2026–2027 academic year across all schools in Ukraine for grades 1–11 will begin with the nationwide lesson “Language of Dignity: Seeing the Person Behind the Words.”

Oschadbank has become a co-developer of the modular framework for the nationwide “Language of Dignity” lesson for students in grades 5–9. The lesson itself is structured as a modular framework, offering flexibility for teaching. Teachers are free to select from the available exercises those that best appeal to their students, given their age, the time frame, and the context.

The lesson aims to foster a culture of respect and dignity, exploring how words can either open doors or erect barriers. The material is presented through quizzes, quests, and reflection exercises.

The “Language of Dignity” lesson plan for grades 5–9 was developed as part of the First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska’s “Barrier-Free” initiative, coordinated by Tetiana Lomakina, Presidential Commissioner for Barrier-Free Environment, and supported by Oschadbank. Methodological and resource support for the lesson’s development was provided by the Center for Social Change and Behavioral Economics in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine.

“For Oschadbank, barrier-free environment is not just about the accessibility of financial services. We are systematically striving to remove barriers to interaction across society as a whole. That is why we aim to promote a culture of barrier-free environment through education and the development of new models of interaction starting as early as school age. Oschadbank is grateful to all partners and experts involved in this project, which was implemented as part of First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska’s “Barrier-Free” initiative. Together, we’ve managed to create a truly unique “Language of Dignity” lesson. We want children to learn to see the person first and foremost and to understand what barriers may arise in their interaction with the environment. As an industry leader, we are pleased to share our experience, since change in society is only possible with joint effort,” said Anton Tiutiun, Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of Oschadbank.

He noted that values are instilled, worldviews and character are formed early in childhood. Therefore, when developing the lesson, Oschadbank, together with its partners, assembled a group of professional experts to engage in a conversation with teenagers about the language of dignity, which is based on respect for human individuality and needs.

The content of the “Language of Dignity” lesson is designed to help students learn what accessibility means and why it is important. They will explore the barriers to communication and interaction that may arise from negative stereotypes, prejudices, and a lack of understanding of diverse life experiences. Students will learn to choose appropriate words when communicating with various people and to analyze how empathy, attentiveness, and respect form the foundation of accessibility.

The author of the “Language of Dignity” lesson plan for grades 5–9 is Lidiia Povorozniuk, a teacher of Ukrainian language and literature, a media literacy specialist, a finalist for the Global Teacher Prize Ukraine 2021, and an educational trainer. Lesson experts: Svitlana Roiz – a child and family psychologist, author of books and educational projects on child psychology for parents and educators; Olena Pshenychna – a writer, founder of the NGO “Vydymi,” and advocate for barrier-free language; Serhii Shcherban – head of the “Inclusion Without Borders” division at the NGO “Chernivtsi Association ‘ZAKHYST.’”

The lesson plan is available at the following link

https://ed-era.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/vseukrayinskyj-urok-mova-gidnosti-1.pdf

This nationwide lesson for grades 1–11 is being implemented as part of the National Accessibility Strategy, initiated by First Lady Olena Zelenska, in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and UNICEF, with the support of Tetiana Lomakina, Presidential Commissioner for Barrier-Free Environment, and Daria Herasymchuk, Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights and Child Rehabilitation. The teaching materials were prepared by EdEra, the Center for Social Change and Behavioral Economics, and Oschadbank.

Official statement by the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine regarding the nationwide lesson “The Language of Dignity: Seeing the Person Behind the Words” is available at https://mon.gov.ua/news/1-veresnia-v-shkolakh-po-vsii-ukraini-provedut-vseukrainskyi-urok-mova-hidnosti-bachyty-liudynu-za-slovamy .