StorySafe spaces to learn and grow across Ukraine

Description

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) Safe spaces to learn and grow across Ukraine For millions of children in Ukraine, returning to safe, warm classrooms means a vital path back to normalcy, friendship and psychological well-being amidst the reality of ongoing war. Across the regions of Kyiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, and Chernihiv, thousands of students are stepping back into warm, bright classrooms following the completion of comprehensive repairs at 74 educational institutions. Implemented by UNOPS with €28 million in financial support from the European Union, the project has transformed damaged kindergartens, secondary schools and vocational colleges into resilient, safe spaces for learning. As a result of these efforts, 13,400 children will return to safe learning environments across the four regions. The need for safe educational facilities remains urgent across the country. Since the start of the full-scale war, Ukraine’s educational infrastructure has suffered staggering losses. According to the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, more than 4,650 educational facilities have been damaged and 423 completely destroyed. In many communities, shattered windows, ruined roofs and disabled heating systems left entire towns without safe places for children to gather. To help communities recover, specialists carried out tailored reconstruction at each site. The work ranged from replacing shattered windows and installing secure doors to repairing roofs and adding thermal insulation to building facades. Heating and sanitation systems were modernized while classrooms, corridors and sports halls were renovated to restore dignity and comfort to the learning environment. Safety was a central priority of the initiative. In most facilities, basements were converted into fully equipped basic shelters featuring proper ventilation, lighting, desks and sanitation. When air-raid alarms sound, children and educators can move seamlessly to safety and continue their day with minimal disruption. "Access to education is a fundamental right of every child that war must not take away," says Marianna Franco, Head of the European Union Humanitarian Aid Office in Ukraine. "By restoring schools and creating reliable shelters, we are bringing back a sense of normal life, safety and the joy of interacting with peers to children. As long as Ukrainian communities need our support in protecting this right, the European Union will stand by them." By rehabilitating vocational colleges alongside primary and secondary schools, the project also helps young adults gain practical skills vital for the country's ongoing recovery and future economic resilience. "Quality educational infrastructure is the foundation for the resilience of the entire country," says Marysia Zapasnik, Head of Programme for the UNOPS Ukraine Multi-Country Office. "Restored schools and reliable basic shelters allow children to learn, and parents to work with peace of mind regarding their children’s safety. We are grateful to the European Union for its partnership and the opportunity to jointly implement such solutions, as every restored school is a tangible contribution to the recovery and preservation of Ukraine’s human potential." Global Goal we are supporting through this initiative: Explore further News 13 October 2026 Restoring essential public services in Ukraine’s Mykolaiv region With support from the government of Denmark, a UNOPS-implemented initiative in the Mykolaiv region is helping restore critical infrastructure, strengthen essential public services and build local capacity to advance long-term recovery. Read Now Story Sustaining lifesaving healthcare in eastern Ukraine With funding from the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief), UNOPS is delivering specialized medical equipment to help healthcare workers in eastern Ukraine save lives under severe wartime conditions. Read Now News 14 September 2026 Improving mental health and rehabilitation services across Ukraine UNOPS is supporting efforts to strengthen Ukraine's healthcare system and expand access to mental health services, with financing from the World Bank. Read Now

Sectors

Source

Source: un.unops.procurement