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2021-2026
Young programmers across Ukraine are getting ready to create, compete and show what they can do. The third annual Vladimir’s Programming Challenge Cup is coming this October! Young programmers across Ukraine will create and compete with their own Scratch projects, with winners announced on October 23, Vladimir’s birthday. A growing tradition of learning, creativity, and discovery.
A look inside everyday life at I WILL in 2026: from our youngest learners discovering programming and LEGO to older students building, coding and experimenting with robotics.
I WILL students are learning 3D design and printing, turning digital ideas into real creations. This year, they'll use those new skills to design and 3D-print Vladimir's Programming Challenge Cup themselves.
I WILL TEAM from Mykolaiv became Champions of Ukraine in the FIRST LEGO League Challenge 2025–2026 season. With robotics equipment and competition resources supported by I Will Association, young programmers put their skills in coding, engineering and problem-solving to work, earning first place in Ukraine and the opportunity to represent their country at the FIRST LEGO League World Festival in the United States.
The second wave of I Will Association’s Inner Strength resilience program was completed in 2026, helping parents and caregivers affected by war and displacement build practical skills for managing stress, restoring energy and creating greater stability for their families.
I WILL Mykolaiv upgraded its robotics classroom with new tablets and supporting technology, giving students better tools to program, test and take their robotics skills to the next level.
I WILL Mykolaiv expanded into a larger learning space in 2026, bringing children warmer classrooms, more reliable electricity, additional room for robotics and competition preparation, and a new space celebrating I WILL's history and student achievements.
Warm holiday wishes and New Year greetings from the I Will team — with gratitude for a year of shared impact, resilience, and hope.
In 2025, I Will Association completed a major upgrade of the computer classroom in Yuzhno-Ukrainsk, Ukraine, replacing outdated equipment with 8 new desktop computers and monitors, high-speed Internet and Wi-Fi, video equipment, headphones, mice, and other essential accessories. The renewed classroom gives children a safe and welcoming place to work on school assignments, build computer skills, access online educational resources, and explore digital creativity. More than a technology upgrade, this is a space where children can learn, connect, create, and discover new possibilities.
Vladimir’s Cup is an annual national online competition uniting young students across Ukraine through coding, animation, and digital creativity. Now in its second year, the Cup brings together children from towns and villages nationwide - celebrating imagination, resilience, and achievement.
The I Will Robotics Team, fully supported and funded by the I Will Association, proudly won 2nd place at the First LEGO League Ukraine 2025 in Kyiv!
After last year’s first-place triumph, our young innovators once again proved what teamwork, creativity, and mentorship can achieve — building robots, skills, and dreams one challenge at a time.
In May 2025, the I Will Association, together with Leadership Choices (Germany), completed a powerful Resilience and Leadership Coaching Program for teachers across Ukraine. What began as training became a journey of strength and connection — helping educators stay calm, focused, and hopeful in uncertain times. Through shared stories and expert guidance, teachers rediscovered their confidence and community. The I Will Association continues to stand beside those who inspire the next generation — proving there is strength, hope, and heart in every classroom.
In 2025, the I Will Association launched 7 new LEGO® robotics groups for 56 children aged 7–10, giving them the chance to start coding earlier and continue learning without interruption.
On October 23, the I Will Cup – Vladimir’s Youth Competition 2024 united 106 children from 25 Ukrainian towns in a national coding contest inspired by Vladimir Kotov’s legacy.
Students created animations, games, and stories — and families called the event “magical,” saying it showed their kids they are seen and valued.
On October 23, the I Will Association honoured its founder, Vladimir Kotov, by lighting the annual I Will Candle — a tradition that symbolizes knowledge, hope, and kindness. The celebration also marked annually the I Will Cup – Vladimir’s Youth Competition in programming and technology.
In June 2023, the I Will Association proudly upgraded its first computer class in Yuzhnoukrainsk, Ukraine, giving more children access to modern technology and digital learning. The updated space helps students explore coding and creativity, carrying forward Vladimir Kotov’s legacy of opportunity, education, and hope for every child’s brighter future.
The I Will Association proudly celebrates 20 years of bringing hope, learning, and opportunity to children across Ukraine. Since 2002, our donors and volunteers have helped create classrooms, joyful memories, and brighter futures. Join us in looking back at two decades of impact and happiness.
Meet I Will Code School, an independent space where children learn programming, robotics, and engineering through hands-on lessons, teamwork, and creativity.
