Olena Zelenska Foundation handed over four minivans to Transcarpathian educational institutions

The Olena Zelenska Foundation handed over four nine-seater minivans to educational institutions in the Transcarpathian region. The vehicles are intended to ensure safe, accessible transportation for children and youth to educational institutions in the region's mountain communities.

The Foundation consistently supports large foster families, including by providing vehicles. This strand of work continues. At the same time, we regularly assess the urgent needs of the regions. Access to education remains a major challenge in the mountainous areas of Transcarpathia due to long distances, tough terrain, and seasonal weather conditions. In winter, the road to school or college can be a serious obstacle for children and their families.

The Transcarpathian region has hundreds of general secondary, preschool, and vocational education institutions, many of which are located in remote, mountainous communities. That is why this time the aid was directed to regional institutions, where access to transportation directly impacts students' attendance, safety, and their full participation in the educational process.

"Barrier-free access to knowledge means making sure children can easily and safely reach school. Having a personal minivan at the institution offers regular transportation, eases worries for families, and provides more opportunities for children to learn and grow," Director of the Olena Zelenska Foundation Viktoriia Romanova noted.

The Department of Education and Science, Youth and Sports of the Transcarpathian Region Military Administration distributed minivans to the Velykyi Bereznyi Lyceum with Enhanced Military Physical Training, the Uzhgorod Scientific Lyceum, the Khust Vocational College, and the Khust Special School.

These institutions provide education for children and youth from diverse communities across the region, especially from mountainous and remote areas, as well as for children with special educational needs. For them, transportation is essential for the regular movement of students, participation in contests, Olympiads, professional competitions, field training camps, and inclusive and cultural events. The own minivan helps lessen the burden on families, improve transportation safety, and maintain the stability of the educational process.

The transfer of minivans became possible thanks to MAN Truck & Bus, which supplied the vehicles, the Charity Organization "Maltese Relief Service in Lviv," which coordinated their transportation to Ukraine, and the Ukrainian Embassy in Germany, which facilitated and supported the implementation of the initiative at every stage.

The Olena Zelenska Foundation continues its systematic efforts to ensure that every child in Ukraine has equal opportunities for learning and development, regardless of where they live, their physical characteristics, or social circumstances.