The First Lady of Ukraine visited the modern shelters set up by the Olena Zelenska Foundation in the Dnipro region. Nearly 2,000 students from two lyceums and a gymnasium will be able to study safely there during an air raid alert.
In each of the shelters, engineering networks were restored, major repairs were made, ventilation and fire alarm systems were installed. In addition, each of these facilities is now accessible. Special bathrooms and additional barrier-free exits with wheelchair accessibility mechanisms were installed for children with special educational needs.
Today, at the Foundation's invitation, instructors from the National Police, State Emergency Service, and HALO Ukraine (the world's largest humanitarian demining organization) held workshops in the shelters on mine and fire safety, as well as countering violence and cyber threats.
“All the shelters that the Foundation restores and equips in Ukrainian schools and kindergartens have a dual purpose. Today, we can hold various workshops in them, and after the victory, we hope that they will all turn into full-fledged modern hubs for children,” Olena Zelenska noted.
According to the Dnipropetrovsk Regional State Administration, 83% of educational institutions in the region operate in offline or mixed formats as part of the implementation of the School Offline state strategy.
By implementing the project, the Foundation contributes, among other things, to supporting students' education during the war.
“We are extremely grateful to every international partner who has joined and is joining our project to restore and equip shelters for children,” said Nina Horbachova, Director of the Olena Zelenska Foundation.
The Danish holding company HEARTLAND A/S helped to restore all three shelters in the Dnipro region. Shortly, four more shelters, restored thanks to the support of other international partners, will be put into operation in the Odesa and Mykolaiv regions.