The people of Åland, a demilitarized autonomy in Finland, are contributing €3 million to the Olena Zelenska Foundation to restore and equip shelters in educational institutions across Ukraine. This initiative ensures the safety and educational continuity of thousands of children in areas impacted by the ongoing war.
The donation is a result of the ongoing support from the Åland Islands towards those affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Since the start of the war, the people of Åland have, through numerous civilian initiatives, shown unfaltering engagement for the people of Ukraine. This includes multiple fundraisers and aid shipments to Ukraine, offering Ukrainian medical workers and doctors the opportunity to recover on Åland from the war-torn everyday life in their homeland, and daily demonstrations outside the Russian Consulate in Mariehamn, the capital of Åland. In addition, Åland has welcomed Ukrainians who have had to flee their country, resulting in one percent of the Åland population now being from Ukraine.
“We are very grateful to the Åland Islands for their support, particularly in restoring shelters for children in schools and kindergartens. Through combined efforts, we can return many children in several regions to offline education. We are also grateful to the Åland Islands’ Government and all their people for their shown solidarity with the Ukrainian people against the Russian aggressor. Namely, for providing shelter to more than 300 Ukrainian citizens who received temporary protection in Åland, Finland,” says Olena Zelenska, First Lady of Ukraine, the founder of the Foundation.
Åland’s commitment to peace and international solidarity has taken a tangible form in this significant donation. Head of Åland Government, Katrin Sjögren, highlights the region’s dedication, saying: “In times like these, Europe must show strength and unity. Åland stands firmly with Ukraine. By supporting education and safety, we are helping Ukrainian children to build a future of hope and resilience. This is a strong example of Åland’s contribution to a stronger and united Europe.”
The Olena Zelenska Foundation will utilize the funds to restore and adapt shelters, making them barrier-free and conducive to both safety and learning. Each facility will have individualized spaces for children to study, communicate, rest, and play.
Today, thousands of educational institutions have a critical need for shelters. This is especially true for schools and kindergartens in areas close to the front line. We restore shelters only where the safety situation allows for returning to offline education. We are working on 12 shelters in various regions, of which three fully function. This cooperation with Åland essentially supports our children’s education. And we are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to improve it,” says Nina Horbachova, Director of the Olena Zelenska Foundation.
This academic year, the Zelenska Foundation successfully already arranged three shelters in the Poltava and Chernihiv regions, enabling more than 3,000 children to return to education. With the new donation from Åland, up to 12 school and kindergarten facilities will be restored and fully equipped, providing safe and well-adapted spaces for more than 8,500 children in regions including Odesa, Mykolaiv, Chernihiv, and Dnipropetrovsk. These efforts will enable the continuation of education in Ukraine by ensuring safe, functional environments for in-person learning in areas where conditions permit. This donation is now one of the largest contributions to the Foundation's shelter restoration and equipment project.
“The common future of our world depends on our children. We hope our contribution will help Ukraine in restoring hope as well as building a peaceful and sustainable tomorrow”, comments the Speaker of the Åland Parliament, Jörgen Pettersson.