Olena Zelenska Foundation

A modern, brightly lit room with gray benches along both walls, various pastel-colored poufs, and white tables with chairs in the center. Posters and exposed air ducts are visible on the light gray walls.

Active

Safe School

Creating safe conditions for children in educational institutions.

Goal

Creating safe conditions for children's education and development by restoring and equipping shelters, restoring and equipping shelters; modernization of school kitchens and canteens and ensuring energy independence in schools and kindergartens.

Results

The Foundation has equipped 31 shelters in educational institutions across the Mykolaiv, Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Chernihiv, and Kyiv regions. These include 23 shelters in general secondary education institutions, 8 shelters in preschool institutions. More than 13,000 children use these spaces every day.

About the Project

To ensure that children in Ukraine can continue learning safely during the war, the Olena Zelenska Foundation implements projects to create modern shelters in educational institutions.

Air raid alerts have become part of daily life in many regions of Ukraine. Therefore, the Foundation creates not only safe shelter areas but also comfortable educational environments where children can continue their studies and spend time productively.

A spacious, brightly lit classroom with white walls and gray floors, featuring long tables with blue chairs, a water dispenser, bookshelves, a large chalkboard, and colorful lines on the floor.

A spacious room with white bunk beds featuring green bedding along the walls, pastel mats on the floor, and several round tables with chairs and art supplies in the center. The room has exposed ceilings and bright overhead lights.

Each shelter includes:

• learning areas for different age groups

• a recreation and extracurricular activities zone

• opportunities for individual sessions with a psychologist

All facilities are inclusive and equipped according to the requirements of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, ensuring safety for all children, including children with disabilities.

The Foundation is also launching a comprehensive Safe School initiative aimed at improving both safety and the quality of the educational environment.

In addition to shelters, the project includes modernization of school kitchens and canteens, installation of modern kitchen equipment, renovation of dining areas, and replacement of furniture. The upgraded facilities will help ensure children receive balanced and high-quality nutrition in line with modern standards.

Three essential components of the "Safe School" project:

restoring and equipping shelters; modernization of school kitchens and canteens; ensuring energy resilience by providing backup power solutions.

In 2026, the Foundation plans to open 30+ additional facilities as part of the project’s expansion, including shelters and upgraded food blocks. Providing safe learning environments for near 13,000 more children.

A brightly lit, modern underground classroom with pastel-colored chairs, round and rectangular tables, cushioned seating, and exposed pipes along the walls. The room appears organized and inviting for group activities.

A modern classroom with round white tables and gray chairs. Educational board games and books are on the tables. Colorful bean bags are in the background, and a poster with a chart is on the wall.

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