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What Is Tech Explorers?
Tech Explorers is a free STEM education program bringing hands-on technology training to children of Ukrainian defenders, ages 7–17. The program teaches FPV drone piloting, unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) operation, 3D modeling, and robotics — giving young Ukrainians direct experience with the technologies reshaping the modern world.
The program now operates at 7 locations across Ukraine and has taught nearly 300 students since its launch. In 2025, 100 children participated across 3 locations, with 4 competitions organized to build skills and community among the next generation of Ukrainian engineers. All instruction is provided at no cost to participants.
Tech Explorers is implemented by Dignitas Ukraine, a U.S.-registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN: 92-3194330). The program targets two age tracks: foundational STEM skills for children ages 7–12, and advanced technical training and leadership development for teenagers ages 13–17.
A Session in the Field: What the Program Looks Like
In a town outside Kyiv, six schoolchildren, an instructor, and an unmanned ground vehicle arrive at a local forest park. The instructor opens the UGV, unpacks electronics onto a large mat on the ground. The children gather what they need and take their places.
Half of the group sits down and gets to work: batteries slotted in, wires connected, systems checked. The other half waits. Three quadcopter FPV drones are set out on a wooden plank in front of the group.
The children put on VR goggles and pick up their controllers.
Then the signal comes. The drones launch into the air — and the park becomes an obstacle course. The children sit perfectly still, heads bowed, navigating at speed between the trees. Their expression is one of complete concentration.
When the flight ends and the drones come back for battery changes, the children grin.
“This year changed my life,” — says Edward, 13, — “I like building drones, but I like flying them more.”
This isn’t a one-time event. It is a regular session in a program that runs across seven locations — systematically, deliberately, building skills and confidence in the children who need it most.
What Children Learn in Tech Explorers
STEM education for Ukrainian children in the Tech Explorers program is structured around four core areas — each connecting classroom learning to real-world application.
FPV Drone Piloting
Students begin with simulation and progress to flying quadcopter FPV drones with VR goggles. They navigate real outdoor environments — parks, obstacle courses — developing precision and spatial awareness in conditions that go well beyond a classroom exercise.
Ground Robotics (UGV Operation)
Unmanned ground vehicles are a central part of the curriculum. Students learn hands-on operation of UGV systems, understanding how ground robotics function in real environments.
3D Modeling and Printing
Using Blender modeling software paired with 3D printers, students design and manufacture physical components. When students wanted a hoop to fly their drones through, they designed one, printed the individual pieces, and assembled it themselves — demonstrating a grasp of modularity, a foundational engineering concept.
Electronics and Drone Assembly
Students purchase their own components, solder pieces together, install cameras, and assemble working drones from scratch — entirely independently. This approach builds ownership alongside technical skill.
“I didn’t expect this when this project started,” says Oleksander, a Tech Explorers instructor. “I thought there will be classes, children will fly. But children came who shocked me with their skills, their abilities, how quickly they soak up knowledge and implement it, showing results. These are future instructors, future engineers, roboticists.”
Who the Program Serves
Tech Explorers is designed specifically for children of Ukrainian defenders — military personnel, veterans, and families shaped by the conflict since 2022. These children often carry an invisible weight: a parent deployed, disrupted schooling, an altered daily life. Quality STEM education — free of charge — gives them structure, purpose, and a community of peers.
The program serves two structured age groups:
→ Ages 7–12 — foundational STEM skills, introduction to drone piloting and robotics
→ Ages 13–17 — advanced technical training, systems thinking, independent project work, and leadership opportunities
The program is free of charge for all participants. For families of defenders, cost should never stand between a child and high-quality technology education.
From Student to Instructor: Stories of Transformation
The clearest measure of a program’s impact is what its graduates do next.
One boy who joined Tech Explorers is now seventeen. He is currently an instructor — teaching community defenders FPV piloting and drone interception. A student became a teacher within the program’s own lifespan. The knowledge is flowing back directly into the community.
Sergey Tkachuk taught music before 2022. Today, he teaches drones, engineering, and electronics. “Where there were once instruments, there are now circuits, mechanics, and flight systems,” he says. His approach is built on trust: he regularly gives leadership roles to teenagers as young as 14. In his sessions, students are not passive learners — they are problem-solvers and project leads.
“They are faster, bolder, and more creative than we are,” Sergey says of his students.
Timofy, project head of Tech Explorers, has overseen the program’s growth to seven locations. He points to the moment students assemble their first working drone entirely on their own — purchasing components, soldering pieces, installing cameras, then flying — as proof of what this generation is capable of.
“Watching them grow,” Sergey says, “it becomes clear — this is the future of Ukraine being built in real time.”
Program Growth and Impact by the Numbers
Since its launch, Tech Explorers has grown steadily in reach and depth:
→ 7 locations now operating across Ukraine
→ Nearly 300 students taught since program launch
→ 100 children participated in 2025 across 3 active locations
→ 4 competitions organized in 2025 to deepen skills and reward achievement
→ Ages 7–17 served, in two structured age tracks
→ Free of charge for all participants
The program continues to expand — more locations, more cities, more children building the technical foundation Ukraine’s future depends on.
Why STEM Education Matters for Ukraine’s Future
STEM education for Ukrainian children has moved from a long-term aspiration to an immediate strategic priority. Technologies like drones, robotics, AI, and electronic systems are no longer distant fields — they are shaping logistics, emergency response, and infrastructure right now.
The children in Tech Explorers are learning to work with the same categories of unmanned systems that are already redefining how Ukraine operates in the field. Radio technology, drone piloting, and electronics are areas the country must develop in its youth if it is to lead — not follow — in the next generation of technological innovation.
But the impact extends beyond technical skills. Children of defenders carry specific psychological needs. STEM education provides structure, purpose, and peer community. It converts uncertainty into agency.
Oleksander, one of the program’s instructors, puts it plainly: “These aren’t just some toys. These are truly important elements that will influence the future of the world.”
The seventeen-year-old who now teaches drone interception to community defenders didn’t just learn to fly. He found a direction. Tech Explorers is building not only technical competence — it is building identity and purpose in a generation that needs both.
How to Support Tech Explorers
Every Tech Explorers session is free for participants. That means every drone component, VR headset, 3D printer, and competition event is funded through donations.
Your contribution supports:
→ Equipment and drone components for student use
→ Instructor training and program coordination
→ Expansion to new locations across Ukraine
→ Competitions that motivate and reward young engineers
Support Tech Explorers at dignitas.fund/techexplorers/
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Tech Explorers program?
Tech Explorers is a free, hands-on STEM education program for children of Ukrainian defenders and veterans, ages 7–17. Implemented by Dignitas Ukraine, it teaches FPV drone piloting, ground robotics (UGV operation), 3D modeling, and electronics assembly across 7 locations in Ukraine.
Who can participate in Tech Explorers?
The program is designed for children of Ukrainian military personnel and veterans, ages 7–17. All instruction is provided free of charge.
What do children learn in Tech Explorers?
Students receive training in FPV drone piloting, unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) operation, 3D modeling using Blender software, 3D printing, and full drone assembly — including purchasing components, soldering, installing cameras, and flying independently.
How many children has Tech Explorers reached?
As of 2026, the program operates at 7 locations and has taught nearly 300 students since launch. In 2025, 100 children participated across 3 locations, and 4 competitions were organized.
What age groups does Tech Explorers serve?
The program serves two age tracks: children ages 7–12 receive foundational STEM skills training, while teenagers ages 13–17 engage in advanced technical training and leadership development opportunities.
Where does Tech Explorers operate?
The program currently operates at 7 locations across Ukraine, with ongoing expansion to new cities.
Is Tech Explorers affiliated with Dignitas Ukraine?
Yes. Tech Explorers is implemented by Dignitas Ukraine, a U.S.-registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN: 92-3194330) based in Cranford, New Jersey.
How can I donate to support Tech Explorers?
Donations can be made directly at dignitas.fund/techexplorers/. Contributions fund equipment, instructor support, competitions, and program expansion.
Why does Tech Explorers focus on drone technology?
Drone piloting, robotics, and electronics are high-priority technical fields for Ukraine’s future workforce and national resilience. By giving young people hands-on experience with these technologies, Tech Explorers prepares them for careers in engineering and innovation — while building the expertise Ukraine needs to develop its own high-tech sector.
