From Classrooms to Communities: How School Safety Contributes to Public Trust in Ukraine
October 08, 2025
When children in Dnipro take their lessons, it’s not always in a regular classroom. Very often, as on the day EUAM experts recently visited one of the city’s schools, lessons take place underground – in a shelter, under the threat of a missile attack. Yet even there, surrounded by drawings and backpacks, pupils listened attentively as police officers from the Educational Security Service (ESS) spoke about safety and trust.
That moment captures something essential about Ukraine today: resilience, trust, and the quiet determination to keep moving forward.
During recent visits to Poltava and Dnipro, EUAM’s Mobile Unit met with ESS officers to learn how the service operates in practice, understand the daily work of officers in schools, and explore how this experience could connect with the Mission’s broader engagement on community safety and trust-building.
ESS officers are integrated into schools not just to maintain security but also to build relationships of trust, prevent conflicts, and provide practical lessons on safety and responsibility. On a regular basis, they lead interactive sessions on bullying prevention, traffic rules, cyber security, substance abuse, and personal safety. They are recognised by pupils, parents, and teachers as approachable figures who combine authority with empathy – the kind of people a child feels comfortable turning to for advice.
When EUAM staff joined one of the lessons in Dnipro, they saw how natural that bond is. Even in a shelter, the children raised their hands eagerly to answer questions. Their laughter cut through the tension in the air. It was a moment that reminded everyone present that trust in law enforcement begins not with uniforms, but with human connection.
ESS officers are proving that community policing can start from the youngest age. Their presence in schools helps detect problems early, prevent conflicts, and open dialogue with families. By giving children, parents, and teachers a voice in shaping their own security environment, ESS is helping to build a culture of trust that extends far beyond the classroom.
EUAM sees strong potential in linking this experience with its broader Community Safety Dialogue (CSD) platform – ensuring that what happens in schools feeds directly into local safety strategies and strengthens the trust between citizens and law enforcement.
