Educational space should not only be a place of learning, but also guarantee the safety and well-being of children. That is why, as part of the Together for Support program East Europe Foundation has initiated the construction of more than 60 shelters in schools and kindergartens in Chernihiv region. As a result, children will be able to continue their education offline – even in the face of constant air raid alerts.

Our reliable partners, the local public organization “LAMPA”, helped us to realize this mission. In 11 months, the NGO has equipped 27 shelters in educational institutions in six communities of the region: Snovsk, Koriukivka, Kholmy, Semenivka, Novhorod-Siverskyi, and Sosnytsia.

«For our organization, it is not just about arranging the premises, it is about ensuring the real safety of children and staff of educational institutions. It is especially valuable for us that a significant number of these institutions are located in rural areas, where there is usually less support and more needs. This is an exemplary project that we are proud of», – says Anton Alifirenko, Chairman of the Board of the NGO “LAMPA”.

Each educational institution had the opportunity to determine its own needs. As a result, the shelters were equipped with everything necessary for safety, the educational process, and meaningful leisure. Among the equipment purchased:

• Comfortable furniture and appliances to continue the educational process;
• Generators, first aid kits, charging stations, fire extinguishers and other life support equipment;
• Games, stationery, leisure and creative kits that help to spend time in a meaningful way during alert;
• Materials for “safety classes” that teach the correct actions in emergency situations; and
• Inclusive solutions – ramps, teaching materials and other resources that contribute to the comfort and development of children.

The program is implemented in close cooperation with communities that are involved in the decision-making process and can shape spaces to meet the real needs of students and educators.

«We want children to stay in an environment that supports their development, both emotionally and intellectually, even in times of danger. Therefore, our shelters have everything they need not only for safety but also to continue learning, playing and socializing. This is part of our vision of a sustainable educational ecosystem», – says Olha Moloko, Humanitarian Aid and Recovery Cluster Lead of East Europe Foundation.

We are grateful to the NGO “LAMPA” team for their effective work, involvement in the process and indifference. Our common goal is to make shelters in schools and kindergartens safe, comfortable and functional. Because even during air raid alerts, children should remain in an environment that supports their learning, emotional and psychological state.

The Together for Support Program is implemented by East Europe Foundation and funded by the Ukraine Humanitarian Fund.