Converting shelters into classrooms in Ukraine so that children can continue to learn, despite the blare of ongoing sirens
Published: Jun 6, 2023 Reading time: 2 minutesChildren must go to school even in war zones, this is no different in the village of Mykolaivka, just 30 kilometres from the fierce fighting with Russia. In these types of places, the war can be felt everywhere, explosions can be heard, and sometimes alarms will sound up to seven times a day.
The school in Mykolajivka was attended by over five hundred children before the war, now currently four hundred children attend the local school. To ensure that the frequent sirens disrupt teaching as little as possible, we've renovated the underground bomb shelter with financial support from the European Union, turning it into a fully functional underground classroom.
We visited the school with video reporter Janek Rubeš, while Martin Dorazín reported on the visit to the school for Czech Radio. This is not the first time Rubeš has been to Ukraine and when he was approached for a joint trip with People in Need, he did not hesitate for very long.
"Janek Rubeš went with us to Ukraine, where he saw how we are repairing houses and apartments destroyed during the Russian invasion, visited schools shelled during the war and saw how they are being repaired and how we are building underground classrooms for children so that they can learn safely even during Russian attacks," says Petr Štefan, Global Communications Manager of People in Need.
"I have been interested in the activities of People in Need for a long time and when I was offered the opportunity to go to Ukraine with them, I did not hesitate for a second," Rubeš told Dorazin for Czech Radio.
The classrooms are equipped with everything needed for teaching. There is a blackboard, a teacher's desk and a podium. The only difference from a regular room is the absence of windows. "We renovated the enclosure with the help of EU funds so that the children could hide in a safe place in case of an alarm and then continue their education," adds Petr Štefan.
The shelters are also equipped with water and toys, because the alarms tend to be very long. The bunker is currently finishing work on the ceilings and floors, and should have four classrooms when the renovation is complete.
People in Need has been working in Ukraine since 2014, and after the February invasion last year, our assistance has grown to help more than a million people in Ukraine.
Listen to the full interview here (in Czech).
