Tech For Refugees and UNICEF USA have joined forces to provide crucial educational support to children impacted by the war in Ukraine. A grant from Tech For Refugees will bolster educational programmes for young people in regions devastated by humanitarian disasters.
Yuri Milner and his wife Julia established Tech For Refugees in 2022 to support the world’s refugees through technology-led initiatives. The couple has also co-founded the Breakthrough Prize and several other philanthropic initiatives since signing the Giving Pledge in 2012.
Supporting Education for Ukrainian Children
Educational challenges in various parts of Ukraine have reached concerning levels. Approximately one in five children in the country are internally displaced. Plus, since the beginning of the conflict in February 2022, the war has destroyed or damaged more than 3,000 educational institutions.
In response to these challenges, UNICEF is working alongside local communities and authorities throughout Ukraine. The organisation is creating safe, accessible learning opportunities for children.
UNICEF USA’s Chief Philanthropy Officer V. Renée Cutting has expressed immense gratitude for the partnership with Tech For Refugees. She explained that the collaboration will empower UNICEF to ensure that the children whose education has been disrupted by the war “don’t fall further behind.”
Founded in 1946, UNICEF has been operating in Ukraine since 1997. UNICEF plays an invaluable role in safeguarding and significantly improving the lives of children worldwide. Today, the organisation’s reach spans more than 190 countries and territories.
Yuri Milner has acknowledged UNICEF’s invaluable efforts in supporting refugees. He said: “Tech For Refugees will support their programmes, helping to bring vital educational assistance to children affected by the war in Ukraine.”
How Tech For Refugees Supports Its Partners
Since launching last spring, Tech For Refugees has pledged more than $100 million to refugee relief programmes. In addition to UNICEF USA, Tech For Refugees works with charitable agencies like Welcome.US and the International Rescue Committee (IRC).
Tech For Refugees also partners with leading technology companies and organisations, including:
● Spotify.
● Uber.
● Flexport.org.
● Airbnb.org.
● NeedsMap.
Tech For Refugees pledges substantial grants to its partners’ programmes. This financial support allows organisations to extend their services and expertise to refugees around the world.
For instance, Tech For Refugees provided a $6 million grant for Flexport.org humanitarian relief programmes in February 2023. The grant is helping refugees from Pakistan, Ukraine, the Horn of Africa, and other crisis zones.
In May 2023, Tech For Refugees announced a new programme in collaboration with Uber and NeedsMap, a data-matching platform. The programme is addressing the transportation needs of those impacted by the earthquake in Turkey earlier this year. Thanks to the grant, NeedsMap users in the affected regions will be able to access Uber ride credits.
Discover the latest Tech For Refugees news.
About Yuri Milner
Yuri Milner is an entrepreneur and philanthropist with a net worth of approximately $6.8 billion. In 2012, he joined Warren Buffett and Bill and Melinda Gates’ Giving Pledge. By signing the Giving Pledge, Yuri Milner promised to donate the majority of his wealth to charitable causes.
To follow through on his Giving Pledge, the billionaire co-founded the Breakthrough Prize with Mark Zuckerberg and other wealthy individuals. Each year, the Breakthrough Prize hands out millions of dollars in prize money to recognise pioneering scientists’ achievements. Early career researchers in maths and physics also receive prizes ranging from $50,000 to $100,000.
Aside from the Breakthrough Prize, Yuri Milner has also co-founded the Breakthrough Junior Challenge and the Breakthrough Initiatives.