РУ

University
of Childhood

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About the Foundation

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We believe that education becomes more alive, diverse, and relevant to society when a wide range of people are involved

a wide range of people are involved

and relevant to society when

becomes more alive, diverse,

We believe that education

University of Childhood

Our mission

Goal

We unite and support people working with children from birth to 18 who are developing "Living Education"

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130,000

educators and parents

schools

238

25

regions of Russia

regional campuses

across

42

Manifesto of the "University of Childhood"

The University of Childhood Foundation is part of the Rybakov Foundation ecosystem, a private philanthropic organization. Under its umbrella, all initiatives work together within the shared philosophy of the Power of Communities, bringing people and capabilities together to create greater impact.
The University of Childhood Foundation is an educational community and a project ecosystem that supports the professional and personal growth of educators and parents.

We unite and support those who advance "Living Education" using various approaches:

The University of Childhood Community — a space where participants exchange experience, explore new methods and technologies, and share practical insights for working in early childhood education. The community also brings together educators and entrepreneurs to create lasting impact at both local and global levels.

Educational Events — conferences, regional schools, and educational tours featuring authors of preschool and school education programs and methodologies. These events are designed to strengthen educators’ professional skills and to support entrepreneurs committed to developing leadership in education.

All initiatives within the Rybakov Foundation ecosystem are grounded in well-established pedagogical theories and have come together in the concept of Living Education.

The University of Childhood Foundation embodies the following elements of Living Education:

The "Our Childhood" Association — a community of authors of preschool practices and projects, united by shared values and a commitment to children’s development and the improvement of early childhood education.

The Association of School Communities — A union of school communities that share the "School as the Center of Society" concept.

The Educational Platform — a "living" university where thoughtfully developed methodologies turn learning into a practical tool for building relevant and in-demand skills in today’s world.

A community where people learn, teach, and thereby transform education. This is how new Teachers and new Learners emerge — and their numbers grow every day.

Our distributed university spans

regional campuses

educators and parents

The Constructivist Paradigm. Preschool educators create Regional Schools as spaces for mutual learning and growth. They choose topics, share experience, and learn from peers. Beyond formal structures, they build new knowledge together through practice.

The Situated Learning Paradigm. This paradigm is realized through opportunities for participants to step into new roles, such as leaders of regional campuses. It is also vividly expressed in the Great Lev Vygotsky Game. Through play, participants find partners for their schools, manage school social media, and design new educational spaces.

Community of Learners / Learning Through Community. This approach is grounded in the value of a supportive developmental environment and strong communities. Educators seek new professional circles when previous ones limit their growth and no longer allow them to develop. The grassroots education approach is reflected in educational practices that grow organically from the real needs of children, educators, and parents.

The Critical Pedagogy Approach. Participants recognize their own agency and influence in kindergartens and schools. They see these institutions not only as formal places of learning, but also as spaces they can actively reshape by creating new environments, interaction formats, and partnerships beyond the educational system.

across

regions of Russia

25

238

schools

42

MAKE AN IMPACT ON EDUCATION "HERE AND NOW" WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF CHILDHOOD FOUNDATION!

130,000

The University of Childhood Community — a space where participants exchange experience, explore new methods and technologies, and share practical insights for working in early childhood education. The community also brings together educators and entrepreneurs to create lasting impact at both local and global levels.

Educational Events — conferences, regional schools, and educational tours featuring authors of preschool and school education programs and methodologies. These events are designed to strengthen educators’ professional skills and to support entrepreneurs committed to developing leadership in education.

View the full manifesto

Founders

Education is a dialogue — a dialogue of cultures, a dialogue between generations. It is needed by those who come after us, to inherit our values and tools. It is also essential for us, because sooner or later we discover a need to share our experience. In other words, every person is a teacher, and every teacher is a learner.

Ekaterina Rybakova

Founder, University of Childhood Foundation; President & Co-founder, Rybakov Foundation

Chairman of the board and Co-founder, Rybakov Foundation

Igor Rybakov

There can be no education without upbringing, and an educational environment is essential. And who is the best nurturer? It is the community of "custodians of meaning" — those who are already creating visible values today, values that will become lasting principles in 10 and even 100 years. I call them philanthropists, patrons, and guardians.

“

The "University of Childhood" was founded by philanthropists Igor and Ekaterina Ryabakov in 2016 as the preschool education initiative of the Rybakov Foundation. In March 2020, it gained the status of an independent organization.

Foundation Council

Sergey Marchenko

Entrepreneur, graduate of the "Yard with Rybakov" program

Entrepreneur, founder of Russia's first endowment fund (target capital) for a kindergarten at the preschool educational institution "Skazka" in the settlement of Karymskoye, Zabaikalsky Krai

Anton Kozhevnikov

President of the X10 Movement; Professor of Practice at the Igor Rybakov School, MIPT (Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology); Master at the X10 Academy; Founder of VendGo; Co-founder of the charitable foundation "Darim Dobro Vmeste" ("We Give Good Together"); Trustee of the Scholarship Program of the Igor Rybakov School, MIPT

Alexander Sila

Anna Kurbatova

Partner and Head of JK Multi Family Office; founder and co-investor in fashion projects: Ideal White, One Tone; founder and co-investor in a beauty and wellness project: Legere Beaute; investor and developer

Founder, University of Childhood Foundation; President & Co-founder, Rybakov Foundation

Ekaterina Rybakova

Elena Morozova

Rybakov Foundation Board Member & Executive Director of Global University of Rybakov

Chairman of the board and Co-founder, Rybakov Foundation

Igor Rybakov

The University of Childhood Foundation Team

Chief Executive Officer, University of Childhood Foundation

Elena Golovacheva

Ekaterina Gavrilova

Executive Director, University of Childhood Foundation

President, University of Childhood Community

Yulia Trukhlova

Director of Communications, University of Childhood Foundation

Ekaterina Istomina

Educational Projects Manager, University of Childhood Foundation

Veronika Zhukova

Irina Polyakova

Educational Projects Manager, University of Childhood Foundation

Head of Development, Association of School Communities

Lilia Kashirina

Vladislava Chernyaeva

Educational Projects Manager, University of Childhood Foundation

Projects Manager, University of Childhood Foundation

Elena Shemyakina

Evgenia Mironova

Projects Manager, University of Childhood Foundation

Our Achievements

What We Are Proud Of

In 2023, the University of Childhood Foundation became a winner at the regional stage and a semi-finalist of the International #WEARETOGETHER Award in the "Land of Opportunity" category among non-profit organizations, ranking among the top three.

The preschool education program "PROdetey" has been included in the "Social Entrepreneurship in Russia 2020" catalog. Our project is featured on page 53.

Finalist of the international PROBA Awards in the "International Communications" category.

Research on the Potential for Public Support of the Foundation, conducted within the Research Got Talent competition for young researchers.

The "Igra 4D" project by the University of Childhood Community has been recognized as one of the 100 top global education innovations in the HundrED Global Collection 2022!