Calgary earth scientist beams astronomy lessons to students in Ukraine

Every other Monday at 9 a.m., Don Hladiuk joins a Zoom call with a group of 30 to 45 students. They are eager to learn about space and astronomy, which Hladiuk is more than willing to talk about. 

He’ll share lessons on specific constellations, celestial events to watch for or topics the students have requested to learn more about. The session ends with an interactive multiple choice quiz, after which Hladiuk opens the floor for students to discuss whatever is on their minds.

“That's my favourite part of the morning is to just hear about their day, what's happening in their lives,” he said.

For an hour, it doesn’t matter that many of the students don’t speak English fluently, or that they are scattered across various conflict zones in Ukraine. For a short time, the students get to just be students.

Since July, Hladiuk has volunteered with Vchysia — or Learn and teach UA — a non-governmental organization providing education and support for students and teachers who are either in or have been forced out of Ukraine since the war began in 2022. 

Hladiuk — an earth scientist by profession, as well as the Calgary Eyeopener’s starman for the last four decades — said both sets of his grandparents were from Ukraine, and he was looking for a way to support the war effort from Canada.  

When retired teacher and friend Julia Wowkadow mentioned she had been volunteering with Vchysia — giving online English lessons by reading the Harry Potter series — Hladiuk was eager to get involved. 

“I thought this would be an opportunity to share my love of the night sky and try to give these students some normalcy because many of them that join me have no power, no heat … they're in bomb shelters being attacked,” Hladiuk said. 

Both Hladiuk and Wowkadow volunteer with Vchysia’s Ukraine Speaks English program, which provides free English lessons through conversation clubs on a variety of topics. Each class involves a moderator to help with any translation between the students and teacher.

Like Hladiuk, Wowkadow said she has developed deep connections with the students in her classes, and becomes concerned when they are unable to join because of the danger around them.

“I don't know what I would do if something happened to any of these kids,” Wowkadow said.

Despite that fear, however, Wowkadow said being an extra support system for the students is what fuels her and the other volunteer teachers.

“The common thread with the volunteers is that it's the high point of their week doing this activity and they get a lot of enjoyment and emotional affirmation,” she said.

Vchysia has been operating in its current form since 2024. Before that, it worked with Smart Osvita — an NGO focused on training and supporting teachers — before shifting its focus towards students when the war began.