Infosys, a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, recently announced a significant milestone in its three-year collaboration with Street Child, one of the world’s fastest-growing international children’s charities, by developing seven Digital Learning Centers (DLCs) to address the educational challenges faced by children in Ukraine’s crisis-affected areas.
This collaboration addresses the profound disruption to Ukraine’s education system caused by the ongoing conflict, which has affected over 3,700 educational institutions and destroyed 365 schools, as reported by Save the Children. The conflict has forced roughly 1.9 million children – nearly half of Ukraine’s school-aged population – to rely on partial or fully remote learning solutions. Recognizing this critical need, Infosys joined hands with Street Child in 2024 to launch two impactful initiatives: creating DLCs–secured physical spaces equipped for online learning and a Digital Transformation programme, leveraging Infosys Springboard, the company’s flagship digital learning platform, to provide tailored courses for students and teachers.
Initially focused on building and reestablishing five DLCs in Dnipropetrovsk, an Oblast in Eastern Ukraine that receives less international aid due to its proximity to the fighting lines, the collaboration delivered seven within a year of the engagement. Notably, one institution was refurbished entirely by female contractors because of conscription restrictions on male labour.
Speaking about the development, Tom Dannatt, CEO & Co-founder of Street Child, said:
At Street Child, we’re working to create a world where every child is safe in school and learning. Unfortunately, the reality for Ukrainian children is that many cannot attend a physical classroom, so we’re focusing on where we can make the most significant difference. In this case, that means making the most of digital education. Although we’re still in the early stages, we’re proud to have worked with Infosys to support over 1,000 children amid this terrible conflict. The early success of this scheme demonstrates the transformative potential to deliver quality education in many crisis-affected regions worldwide.
These centres launched in September 2024 and have already served over 1,000 children in their first three months of operation. Each centre has been equipped with laptop computers, high-speed internet, multimedia projectors, educational materials, security systems, wheelchair ramps and customized restrooms. Furthermore, specific places for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) assist young students.
Thirumala Arohi, Executive Vice President, Head – Education, Training and Assessment, Infosys, stated:
The collaboration between Infosys and Street Child is crucial as it directly addresses the devastating impact of the conflict on Ukraine’s education system. With hundreds of schools destroyed and millions of children displaced or relying on remote learning, access to quality education has become critical. Infosys brings to this collaboration its technological expertise and a deep commitment to social impact.
Arohi added:
Together with Street Child, we provide tangible solutions by establishing seven Digital Learning Centers offering secure physical spaces with the necessary technology. We leverage Infosys Springboard to enable a digital transformation programme and deliver tailored courses for effective online learning.
The Digital Transformation program focuses on preserving Ukraine’s cultural identity by offering courses in Ukrainian Language and Geography for Grades 5 and 6. Specially developed courses address topics such as Cybersecurity and Anti-Corruption for teachers, aligning seamlessly with Ukraine’s national educational platform, All Ukrainian Online. Together, these initiatives are helping build a robust and resilient educational foundation for students and teachers.
Street Child, founded in 2008, seeks to ensure children’s safety in school and learning, even in low-resource areas and during catastrophes. The charity collaborates with a growing network of local organizations, and an emphasis on the power and purpose of inspiring local-level organizations is central to everything they do—and has been since the initial relationship in Sierra Leone in 2008. It operates in over 25 countries throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
