On January 31, one of Kyiv’s high schools hosted the presentation of a model shelter conducted for the capital city educators by East Europe Foundation with the support of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and the State Emergency Service of Ukraine. The exemplary shelter was refurbished within the framework of the Safe School Program.

506 children study in this institution. However, the shelter, which was used after the full-scale Russian invasion, could accommodate a maximum of 300 schoolchildren.

After the refurbishment implemented by East Europe Foundation in just a few months, the shelter has become significantly larger and can now also accept children from the nearby kindergarten.

In the newly refurbished shelter, modern ventilation systems and a secure power grid were installed. In addition, WI-FI was installed, toilet rooms were arranged, as well as the recreational area.  Freshly painted white walls were already sparkled with children’s drawings.

Another reason for children’s joy is a newly added cinema. During alarms, children can watch educational cartoons, and films or perform exercises. A five-meter screen and speakers are installed here. The principal says that their school will most certainly be the first to have its own cinema in the basement.

During the event, an air raid alarm was heard, so schoolchildren went into the shelter. So the participants of the event could see with their own eyes how comfortable and safe the children feel there.

The Safe School Program is implemented by East Europe Foundation in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science, the State Emergency Service and the Ministry of Internal Affairs with the financial support of a number of partners – Eurasia Foundation and Terre des Hommes, as well as EPAM Ukraine, Baker Tilly International and METRO Ukraine.

28 educational institutions from across all regions of Ukraine take part in the Program: schools from Kyiv, Khmelnytskyi, Odesa, Chernihiv, Vinnytsia, and Sumy.