Smart Kids Magazine as a Tool for Shaping Ukrainian Identity Among the Diaspora
18 December 2025
On December 11, the Ukrainian Language Education Centre (ULEC) hosted a webinar titled “The ‘Smart Kids’ Magazine as a Tool for Shaping Ukrainian Identity Among Children of the Ukrainian Diaspora and Its Practical Use in Ukrainian Language, Literature, and Ukrainian Studies Classes.” The session featured Luba Slavatynska – President of the International Organization of Ukrainian Communities Fourth Wave (Canada), President of the Encyclopedia of Ukraine Foundation, Director of the Pavlo Yuzyk Academy, and Editor-in-Chief of the Rozumnyky / Smart Kids magazine. With over 20 years of experience, the speaker has been a leading advocate for Ukrainian education, culture, and youth leadership across the diaspora.
The webinar introduced Smart Kids, a unique Ukrainian-language educational magazine designed for children aged 4-14 living outside Ukraine. The speaker highlighted the magazine’s mission to nurture Ukrainian identity through engaging reading materials, culturally relevant themes, and creative activities tailored to the experiences of diaspora children. Participants learned about the publication’s structure, content-planning process, and strategies for maintaining a balance between educational storytelling and sustainable funding models.
The speaker also discussed effective ways of incorporating Smart Kids into classroom instruction – both as a supplementary resource and as a core tool for teaching language, culture, and history. Examples included articles on early Ukrainian settlers in Canada, profiles of cultural and historical figures, features on sports such as the Paralympic Games, and a variety of logic puzzles and creative tasks. Emphasis was placed on supporting young readers by showcasing their artwork and stories, as well as organizing contests that foster creativity and community engagement.
During the Q&A segment, participants explored topics such as diversity and inclusion, the representation of contemporary Ukrainian immigration, distribution across Canada and beyond, and opportunities for collaboration with Ukrainian schools. The speaker noted that the magazine adapts its materials to different Ukrainian language levels, making it suitable for a wide range of educational programs.
The webinar underscored the broader role of Smart Kids as a cultural bridge connecting children in the diaspora with Ukraine, helping them maintain linguistic skills, cultural awareness, and a sense of belonging to the global Ukrainian community.
For those who were unable to attend, the full webinar recording is available on ULEC’s YouTube channel at the link below.