This year marks the graduation of the fourth class of students from “Gravitas Schola” – a general education school for Ukrainian refugee children operating at Mykolas Romeris University (MRU) with 42 graduates receiving their diplomas.
Driven from their homes by the horrors of war in Ukraine, these children found not only safety in Lithuania, but also connection, growth, and hope. They’ve made friends, begun learning the Lithuanian language, integrated into the local culture, all while maintaining their Ukrainian identity. They attend extracurricular activities, plan for university studies, and – most importantly – have found a community built on mutual care.
In Vilnius, a strong and vibrant Ukrainian refugee community has formed – alive not just with memories, but with a hopeful gaze toward the future. For many of these young people, Lithuania – once unknown – has become a second home.
A Quick Response Becomes a Daily Commitment
As soon as the full-scale invasion began, MRU responded immediately: opening its doors to refugees, reallocating space, mobilizing volunteers, and organizing humanitarian aid. In early March 2022, around 50 children and teachers from Kharkiv moved into the university’s dormitory. Within weeks, that number had grown to 500 students from across Ukraine.
Across the street from MRU, one of the largest Ukrainian communities in Lithuania began to take shape. Local residents donated clothing, food, helped find jobs, access education and healthcare. Volunteers taught classes, played with children, and supported the learning process.
Among the newcomers were teachers, psychologists, and social workers – and with their help, “Gravitas Schola” was founded. Today, the school continues to operate in MRU premises and serves nearly 200 high school students.
Each Monday, the Ukrainian national anthem is sung, and the fallen are honored with a moment of silence. The courtyard echoes with laughter, music, and the sounds of sports. In May, as every year, graduates rehearse their final bell waltz.
These children could have been lost – wounded, forgotten, broken. And yet – they are here. Painting, learning, dancing, creating. “When I draw, I forget the war,” said one boy during an art class. Not a metaphor, but a raw and real truth lived in the shadow of conflict.
A University That Unites People and Values
MRU is not just an academic institution – it is a community. As the war continues, the university has not turned away, but deepened its support: offering free Lithuanian language courses, legal and psychological aid, and integrating Ukrainian students and scholars into the academic environment.
When Russian attacks targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, MRU community members were the first in Lithuania to start producing “trench candles” – a grassroots initiative that soon spread nationwide. At MRU, support has become a system, not just a gesture.
“Helping Ukraine is not a temporary initiative – it is a value-based commitment that we uphold not in words, but in action,” emphasizes MRU Rector Prof. Dr. Inga Žalėnienė.
Rebuilding the Everyday – Beyond Measurable Outcomes
“Gravitas Schola” is more than just classrooms. It is a space of emotional safety, where children learn to trust again. In a world upended by war, routine becomes a source of strength: familiar voices, daily structure, the faces of friends.
It is not a return to the past,
but the discovery of a new kind of normal.
School director Agnė Klimčiauskaitė-Janavičienė says: “The most important things are respect, trust, and human connection. This isn’t just about shelter or school – it’s about rebuilding life from broken pieces.”
Educators note that even withdrawn children eventually open up – they draw, create, engage in discussions. Here, the work of teachers, psychologists, and volunteers becomes a bridge from trauma to trust.
Support That Changes Lives
Another MRU initiative, “Lawyers4Ukraine”, brings together legal professionals, business leaders, and volunteers in Lithuania to help war-affected children receive medical care and rehabilitation. This is targeted, needs-based support, focused on tangible impact.
The university also hosts regular discussions with Ukrainian academics, open lectures, and cultural events. Ukrainian students are active participants in academic, cultural, and social life. In 2023, the MRU Senate declared it the Year of Ukrainian Freedom – more than symbolism, it was a clear moral stance.
A University That Becomes a Home
MRU’s model is one of community – where responsibility, empathy, and openness are more than slogans. Here, displaced people meet educators, and from this meeting, a new sense of belonging is born – not based on documents or status, but on shared humanity.
Safety does not begin at the border.
It begins with people – those who choose to welcome, to help, to stand together.
More about MRU’s support for Ukraine: www.mruni.eu/en/support-to-ukraine
