In Trostyanets city hromada, an important stage in improving the educational process in rural areas is nearing completion — the construction of shelters in village schools. In November last year, thanks to financial support from the international partner GIZ Ukraine, construction began on two modular semi-underground shelters in the villages of Liudzha and Stanova. Each of them is designed to accommodate 50 people.
These villages have good schools, but due to the security situation, children are forced to study online. In the Stanova district, the situation is further complicated by poor road conditions — transporting children to Trostyanets is inconvenient, and parents are reluctant to take risks. Therefore, everyone is eagerly awaiting the opportunity to return to in-person learning in their local schools.
The construction progress was inspected by Mayor Yuriy Bova and Head of the Capital Construction Department of the Trostyanets City Council, Viktor Nykonenko.
Currently, the modular structures have already been installed, and waterproofing has been completed. In Liudzha, ventilation systems have been installed, and water supply, heating, and sewage systems have been connected. In Stanova, these works are still ongoing. Next steps include installing stairs, completing interior finishing works, covering the shelters with soil, and improving the surrounding.
Mayor Yuriy Bova noted that the contractor is working at a fast pace, so there is every chance that children will be able to return to in-person learning at the start of the new academic year, or possibly even earlier.
“We can see that the work is progressing at a good pace. We really want our children to return to school as soon as possible, to live communication with teachers and classmates”, he said.
“Our cooperation with GIZ Ukraine does not end here — we already have agreements to build a similar shelter in Neskuchne, for the IDP accommodation center”.
Schools themselves are also looking forward to the completion of construction. Tetiana Klymenko, Head of the Liudzha branch of Lyceum No. 3, says that both children and parents miss traditional learning.
“Children want to return to their classrooms. Online learning cannot replace live communication and working with a teacher. We are all really looking forward to this moment”, – she shared.
The situation in Stanova is even more critical — there is no shelter at all in the village. Valentyna Ovcharenko, Director of the branch, emphasizes that the new shelter will be important not only for the school but for the entire community.
“People will be able to come here during air raid alerts and stay in a safe place. Our school is the center of village life. People come here to charge their phones and use the internet during power outages,” she says.
The construction of shelters in these schools is another step toward ensuring that the community continues to live and develop despite all challenges. Most importantly, children will once again be able to study in their own schools, close to home and friends. Quality education is a priority for our community — it is essential both for today and for the future.
Trostyanets city authorities continuously care for children living in rural areas, doing everything possible to create equal learning opportunities regardless of the distance from the city center. The new shelters will ensure an uninterrupted educational process even in conditions of wartime risks.
We sincerely thank our friends and partners at GIZ Ukraine for their support and their constant contribution to a safe childhood and the future of our children. Together, we continue to transform the community for the better, making education accessible and ensuring that children’s time at school is as safe as possible.
