Andrii Matiukha Opens Access to IT Education for Children from Vulnerable Backgrounds
On June 28, the city of Stryi hosted the second educational workshop organized by Andrii Matiukha’s fund in collaboration with GoFriends IT Academy. The event brought together 53 teenagers, including children of internally displaced persons (IDPs), military families, orphans, and young people from communities receiving social support.
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The workshop was a continuation of the "Ticket to IT" initiative, which previously launched in Kyiv. As part of the program, participants were introduced to 12 digital career paths — including programming, software testing, cybersecurity, UI/UX design, and robotics. The format combined hands-on sessions in small groups with live interaction with industry professionals. Some of the sessions were led by advanced students of GoFriends IT Academy — teenagers already experienced in the tech field.
IT Kids: Creating Educational Opportunities for Ukrainian Children — An Initiative Led by Andrii Matiukha
The "Ticket to IT" workshop is part of IT Kids, a charitable educational program run by Andrii Matiukha’s fund since 2023. The initiative provides children across Ukraine with access to foundational digital skills. One of the first milestones was the “New Python” course, developed in partnership with Code Club Ukraine, which was completed by 352 children, including over 150 from military and displaced families.
The program later expanded with a Scratch programming course, involving another 780 students from various regions. In total, over 1,100 children have participated in IT Kids programs to date. All courses are completely free and accessible, regardless of a child's geographic or social background.
“We believe that access to quality education should not depend on where a child lives or the circumstances they face. Our initiatives are focused on creating opportunities for those who often don’t have any.”said Andrii Matiukha.
Following the event, all participants were invited to attend the GoFriends IT Academy Summer Camp — a program where teens continue learning programming, work on their own projects, take assessments, and get the chance to join the Academy’s long-term courses.
Empowering the Next Generation through Technology
Engaging teens in modern tech education is a key focus for Andrii Matiukha. Among the foundation’s earlier initiatives was providing technical equipment to Ukrainian schools, enabling children in war-affected regions to continue learning despite the difficult circumstances.