Learning in a shelter: Ukrainian schools adapting to war.

Education continues despite air raid warnings

The shelter at Gymnasium No. 42 is a vivid example of how a shelter can become a space for development. We have transformed the previously flooded basement into bright and warm classrooms with modern furniture, ventilation, lighting, toilets and an area for individual tuition. About 500 students study here in two shifts.

"This is not even a cosmetic repair but a complete reconstruction. Our building is almost 70 years old, and we had to remove the walls down to the bricks, but this is exactly what allowed us to return even more children to school," says Alyona Korneva, the facility's director.

In December 2022, an explosion blew out 180 windows, destroyed part of the roof, and injured students and their families. The gym restoration became a matter for the whole community.

"My husband and I went to this school ourselves. Our oldest son, Ilya, studies here, so it has become part of our family history. And now that our youngest son is preparing for first grade, I am sure he will be well looked after here. There have always been great teachers here. They started renovating the building before the war. Now they have added a comfortable shelter, so we have never had to choose where our children will go to school," says Yulia Babina, a former gymnasium student.

The gymnasium staff try to impart new knowledge and support their students in any way possible. English teacher Anastasiia Bavrovska teaches eight children who have relatives in the military. One of her pupils lost his father in the war. Another is displaced and saw the destruction of his hometown with his own eyes.

"I never thought I would spend so much time studying psychology. We don't just teach subjects. Every day, we teach children to regain their faith in themselves. Sometimes it's more important to explain life than grammar rules," says Anastasiia.

Care is visible in the details

Gymnasium No. 121 is one of the largest educational institutions in the city. It has more than 620 students, more than 40 of whom have special educational needs. The shelter allows uninterrupted classes even during air raid alerts. Additional work carried out with the support of the Czech people has turned the premises into a truly inclusive space. A renovated entrance, a ramp, and an adapted bathroom have enabled children with disabilities to move freely and comfortably. In addition, we equipped and furnished a new classroom for individual lessons and recreation. 

Ninth-grader Dmitry dreams of becoming a car mechanic. His mother, Iryna, a high school teacher, was one of the first to support the idea of extra classes, which we organised to catch up on the material missed during the war.

"My son studied at a distance, but it was not enough. After the catch-up course, I saw a change. He better understands the material and is more confident in preparing for college," says Iryna.

Together, we can do more. When support reaches the community

In Kryvyi Rih, schools 19, 42, 94, 98, 121 and the 'Inspiration' special school became part of our comprehensive education programme. The project covers educational needs, technical support, and working with children's emotional states. For example, Gymnasium No. 94 has a modern digital centre, which has become a centre of knowledge, communication, and cooperation.

We also support the initiative of the schools themselves. Four schools have committees that have already received grants to implement their educational projects. All this allows the community to decide what is most important for its children.

In addition to educational initiatives, we provide emotional support. Mobile teams of our psychologists visit children's spaces, dormitories, cultural centres and educational institutions. They listen and help students, teachers, and families cope with difficulties.

Tetyana Kripak, Director of the Kryvyi Rih Education Department, says that since 2022, more than 100 shelters have been set up in the town's educational institutions. The builders had to dig out some basements under a layer of rubble, raise the ceilings, add entrances and strengthen the foundations. Work continues even under fire. After the most recent strikes, we must replace windows, rebuild roofs and repair premises. The local authorities plan to build another 63 shelters in 2025.

"We have educational institutions that have survived more than five bombings, but we continue to repair the damage. We cannot afford to stop because every child deserves a safe school. That is why we are working with our international partners, teachers and parents to ensure that no child loses their chance to learn," says Ms Tetyana.

As long as children's voices are heard in these shelters, the light of knowledge lives on. And that means life goes on. And the city goes on because the children stay there. This generation of children will rebuild and create the future.