“Children undergoing cancer treatment face challenges that extend beyond the physical illness,” says Professor Sergey Sharikov, who heads the “We Teach/They Learn” hospital schools project. The project’s vision is to inspire and bring joy to those who need it the most – children undergoing cancer treatment. According to its guiding philosophy, learning is more than a pathway to knowledge, it is a cornerstone of children’s psychological resilience in the face of a life-threatening disease.
“For children who live with the disease in hospitals, education can show that life does not end with a diagnosis,” says Sergey. “Through personalized lessons and the support of dedicated teachers, children in the programme have been able to pursue their interests, from art to science, during treatment, and to set goals for life after recovery.”
First launched in 2011 at the Rogachev National Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Immunology in the Russian Federation, this initiative has since grown to include schools in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. These countries have adapted the educational programming to their local contexts, creating hospital schools that reflect the needs of their communities.
“We need to show the light”
Childhood cancer survival rates have rapidly improved over the past decades in the WHO European Region, but not all children have equal access to diagnostic tools and quality treatment. While it is possible to cure more than 80% of childhood cancers, the annual death rate for children diagnosed with cancer ranges from 9% to 57% across different countries. Overall, 20% of children diagnosed with cancer in the Region still die from the disease.
Having personally faced cancer, Sergey speaks candidly about its emotional toll: “I got cancer when I was an adult, not a child. But I have this experience. And it is obvious for me that when we talk about cancer, we need to show the light. Any cancer journey holds much darkness, which is why we need to remember there is a bright side as well. Inspiration has the power to heal, and that’s what we try to bring to our schools.”
Sergey quotes Stepan Khotovitsky, a 19th-century Russian physician and one of the founding fathers of paediatrics in the country: “Children are not reduced-in-size adults.” That is especially true for children living with cancer. To get through the treatments and overcome the mental pressure, they need different approaches that are centred on their specific needs.
Hospital stays can be lengthy, and treatments are physically and mentally draining. The lack of routine and separation from friends and classmates can leave children feeling disconnected from normal life. “For many of these children, education becomes the thread connecting them to the world they used to know. So, in that sense, our goal is to give the children comfort through our lessons, to safeguard this feeling of normalcy,” Sergey explains.
Uzbekistan’s Mehrli Maktab School
In the south-western part of Tashkent, the Uzbek capital, operates one of the newer facilities of the international “We Teach/They Learn” project: the Mehrli Maktab School. Situated in the south wing of the Scientific and Practical Medical Center for Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Immunology, the School teaches children from 2 to 18 years of age on a range of subjects including electronics, information technology, music and math.
Last year, students from the Mehrli Maktab School achieved remarkable success at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) International Youth Festival “The Planet of Art – 2024”, held in Kazakhstan. Eleven students from the School were recognized as winners and finalists, with Samira Idrisova winning top honours. The final exhibition of the best works was held at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France, where the children’s artwork received international recognition.
With strong support from the Ministry of Preschool and School Education and the Ministry of Health, the Mehrli Maktab School is expanding across Uzbekistan. Branches have already been established in Andijan, Fergana and Nukus, and new locations are opening in Namangan, Samarkand and Bukhara. Every achievement inspires and proves that the students’ talents can make the world brighter and kinder.
Investing in the future for all of us
“The partnership with Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan has been invaluable,” Sergey notes. “We’ve learned so much from each other about how to tailor educational and emotional support to the specific challenges children face in different countries.”
Today, more than 70 hospitals and cancer treatment facilities across the Region host educational centres under the “We Teach/They Learn” project. In Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, the project has established 7 and 2 schools, respectively, and the journey is far from over.
Sergey concludes, “These children are not just cancer patients – they are future scientists, artists and leaders. By investing in their education, we are investing in a better future for all of us.”