Letters Across Borders: Special Delivery for Higham Primary School

At Kent With Ukraine, we have always believed that partnerships are most powerful when they are rooted in people and that is why we have invested a significant amount of time into our school twinning programme.

Jordan, Iris, Helen and Derek representing Kent With Ukraine, visited Higham Primary School to deliver a collection of letters and cards — all messages sent by children in Novyi Bilous, Chernihiv region, in response to letters written by students in Kent just a few months ago.

What followed was a moment of connection that was both uplifting and deeply sobering.

Reflecting on the experience, Jordan said:

“Yesterday, we made an important delivery to Higham Primary School of letters and cards from Ukraine. These letters were direct replies to the letters that our students sent to their twin school in Novyi Bilous a few months ago.”

As the letters were read, a powerful contrast emerged—shared childhood experiences set against the stark reality of war.

“Reading through them was both uplifting and deeply sobering. On one hand you see children of the same age, with the same curiosity and hopes as those here in Kent, and on the other, comments that show how children in Ukraine are living through circumstances no child should ever have to endure.”

The words of the Ukrainian students were simple, honest, and profoundly affecting:

“Almost all our lessons are the same as yours apart from we have lessons on defending Ukraine.”

“I was happy to get your letter because, to be honest I’m a little tired of the war in Ukraine and your letter cheered me up.”

These are not abstract accounts of conflict—they are the lived experiences of children whose education and daily lives have been reshaped by war. As Jordan reflected:

“There is a quiet resilience in their words that is hard for us to comprehend.”

One line in particular captures the devastating normalisation of conflict:

“At the beginning of the war it was very scary but after a few months you slowly get used to it — is a sentence no child should ever have to write.”

And yet, even amid destruction and displacement, hope persists:

“Living in Ukraine is interesting because we have a very rich culture and a very brave people. We stay positive and help each other.”

Perhaps most striking of all was this:

“Unfortunately I know what war is. It is very scary. I used to study at school N21 but because of the war this was completely destroyed so I had to change schools.”

This is the reality of stolen childhoods—but it is also a powerful reminder of why school twinning matters.

Jordan has seen firsthand the impact of this partnership, having recently visited Novyi Bilous and taken part in a live exchange between the two schools:

“A few weeks ago I was privileged to be in Novyi Bilous as we did a zoom call back to Higham Primary School, and I can't describe in words just how impactful this was.”

These interactions are not symbolic—they are transformational. They build empathy, understanding, and solidarity in a way that no textbook ever could.

“This friendship reminds children in Ukraine that they are not alone, whilst helping our own students understand, in the most human way possible, the value of resilience, compassion, and international friendship.”

Jordan also paid tribute to those who have made this partnership possible:

“I want to thank the staff and students at both schools for the care and kindness they have shown in making this relationship possible. A special mention must go to Higham Primary School, who have been so proactive in wanting this special relationship to thrive and grow.”

Together with their partner lyceum in Novyi Bilous, Higham Primary is setting a powerful example:

“They are setting a powerful example of how school twinning can make a tangible difference, not only for students in Ukraine, but for young people here in Kent and beyond.”

At its core, this is what true partnership looks like—grounded in people, sustained through compassion, and driven by a shared belief in a better future.

And as Jordan put it:

“This is what true partnership looks like and I could not be prouder that it is happening here in Higham.”