Viktoriia, 29, accidentally kicks a piece of rubble as she walks through the hallway of the primary and secondary school number four in Snihurivka, Mykolaiv Oblast, where she has worked for eight years.
“This is where the bomb hit. It destroyed two classrooms on different floors,” she explains.
Fortunately, the attack occurred during Easter, when the school was empty, sparing any casualties. According to local authorities, the school is just one of 246 educational institutions in Mykolaiv Oblast that have been damaged during the war in Ukraine.
Despite the destruction, the school continues its educational program for around 700 enrolled students, although all lessons are conducted online.
“The children have been learning online first due to COVID, and then because of the war,” Viktoriia shares.
“Nearly five years without in-person schooling has taken a toll on the children. They face social challenges because they’ve missed the interactions that come with recess—no games, no playtime. They’re just sitting at home.”
Two-Thirds of Children Are Out of School
In frontline areas of Ukraine, two-thirds of children are unable to physically attend school. Teachers across the country, according to UNICEF, report declines in students’ language and math skills. Beyond academics, schools are crucial social spaces where children form friendships, engage in physical activity, and learn essential life skills like teamwork and problem-solving.
DCA/NCA Ukraine, in partnership with ADRA and with funding from Danida, is working to rebuild schools, educational institutions, and kindergartens in Snihurivka. Once repairs are complete, bomb shelters constructed, and classrooms restored, students will be able to return to school, at least part-time.
“Reopening schools is crucial for our children’s development. My daughter, who’s in the third grade, might soon have her first day of in-person school. I hope she can attend soon—she’s missed out on so much, both in school and in kindergarten,” Viktoriia says, sitting in one of the restored rooms full of toys and games at the school where she works.
Importance of Reopening Schools
Reopening educational institutions is vital. The prolonged shift to online learning has had a detrimental effect on children’s well-being, mental health, and academic growth. Without intervention, this disruption could have lasting consequences for both the children and Ukraine’s future.
One parent looking forward to sending her child back to school is 41-year-old Anna. Her eight-year-old son has never experienced school in person.
“All the children want to go to school. But it’s terrifying to send them off, knowing that sirens can go off and attacks can happen at any moment,” Anna shares.
Despite her fears, Anna recognizes the critical role education plays in her children’s futures.
“School is like a second home. It’s where friendships are built, and children grow and gain knowledge. It’s essential for them, and I’m grateful to see our city slowly improving after so many years of war,” she says.
Rebuilding Preschools and Kindergartens
Another priority for the DCA/NCA and ADRA partnership is the reconstruction of preschools in Snihurivka. According to UNICEF, two-thirds of preschool-aged children in Ukraine are not currently attending school, and in frontline areas, this number rises to three-quarters. Among these children is six-year-old Kalysa.
“It’s absolutely critical for our children to get their schools and kindergartens back,” says Kalysa’s father.
“Young children need to socialize. While Kalissa is good at making friends, she often feels overwhelmed.”
Kalysa’s Kindergarten has been damaged multiple times by shelling, but several organizations, including DCA/NCA and ADRA, are now working to rebuild it from the ground up. Along with repairing the Kindergarten, DCA/NCA and ADRA are constructing an improved bomb shelter and creating new activity rooms.
About the project
Rebuilding schools and educational institutions in Mykolaiv, Ukraine, is essential since the war has severely damaged many of them, disrupting children’s education and well-being. Functional schools are vital for children’s learning and future prospects, as well as the country’s overall recovery. The rebuilding is done by completing light and medium repairs and reconstruction of social infrastructure and educational institutions, which are still damaged, allowing for a return to use of these institutions.
Furthermore, there are still very diverse needs for the war-affected population in Mykolaiv, located close to the frontline. To address this, we provide grants of 15,000 EUR to local initiatives. These grants offer flexible support to meet the specific needs of the community, ensuring that urgent issues are addressed. By supporting local projects, we empower the community to lead their own recovery and build a stronger, more resilient future.
The project is financed by Danida and implemented in partnership with Ukrainian Education Platform, ADRA Denmark, and ADRA Ukraine.
