Last December, something extraordinary happened in the halls of Toronto’s Josyf Cardinal Slipyj Catholic School. Grade 5 students led the initiative to create a fundraiser to bring Ukrainian children stolen by Russia back home—and raised $13,550 for the Canada-Ukraine Foundation and Save Ukraine.
For over two weeks, JCS students transformed their school into a fundraising powerhouse. Paper gingerbread men decorated by donors filled the hallways. Student-made posters lined the walls. The momentum built toward their Christmas concert, complete with silent auction and bake sale, with every cent going to rescue efforts.
This wasn’t just their first attempt at helping Ukraine’s children—it was their third major fundraiser since the war began, demonstrating the school’s sustained commitment to the cause.
These efforts did more than raise funds—they became a powerful learning experience. Through empathy and action, students connected with the Ukrainian culture, understood the realities of war, and embraced what it means to be part of a global community.
Watch teachers and administrators reflect on how this initiative brought joy, unity and purpose to the school.
These Grade 5 students understood that Ukrainian children like Dayana and Denys aren’t distant statistics—they’re peers who deserve freedom. Their fundraiser embodied the Ukrainian spirit: when one of us suffers, we all respond.
As our Every Child Deserves a Future campaign approaches its June 23 deadline, these students challenge us all. If children can organize and sustain three years of fundraising for their stolen peers in Ukraine, surely we can rise to the occasion too.
About us
Canada-Ukraine Foundation (CUF) – founded in 1995, CUF has a strong track record of providing humanitarian assistance to Ukraine in the areas of healthcare, education and civil society. CUF collaborates with aid providers in Ukraine, Canada, and beyond to maximize impact and cost-effectiveness of your support.