April 13, 2026
Mariika, 10 years old, Dnipropetrovsk region
Ambassador of the “School of Superheroes.” Favorite subjects: Ukrainian language, mathematics, and design classes.
Today we want to tell the story of a young girl, Mariika, a student of the School of Superheroes — a state institution that ensures access to education for young patients in children’s hospitals.
In 2024, the Olena Zelenska Foundation took over full funding of its educational centers. That year, six new Schools of Superheroes were opened with the Foundation’s support. In 2025, six more were funded, and in 2026, seven new educational spaces will be launched. Seeing happy students like Mariika reminds us why this work matters.
When you are ten, you dream about distant journeys, noisy picnics with friends, a quirky sun hat, and the joyful barking of your own puppy. But when you know that the walls around you are always the same color, and the corridors echo with the shuffle of slippers and the beeping of medical devices, your dreams become different. Simpler, yet deeper, more meaningful.
Mariika is a third-grade student, a little girl with a big heart and an even brighter light within. From the very first moment she heard about the hospital school, she became part of it. Because Mariika doesn’t just come to learn — she comes to live, to feel, to discover the world in her own sincere and enthusiastic way.
She has had vision impairments since birth and perceives the world in her own unique way, with a deep curiosity for every detail. That is why she loves learning. For her, every lesson is an adventure, every task is a challenge she meets with a smile. She creates, imagines, invents, and amazes — and explains it simply:
“I want to take everything from life: new impressions, feelings, and emotions!” says Mariika.
Her thoughts are deep, her ideas are bright, and her dedication inspires even adults.
Mariika studies according to an individual learning plan tailored to her needs and abilities. Lessons include adapted formats, more verbal explanations, creative exercises, and lots of live interaction.
During Ukrainian language classes, she enjoys virtual journeys that develop imagination and reduce fatigue by engaging kinesthetic memory. In math, she transforms into a researcher and a gamer, solving quests and puzzles with enthusiasm, confidently using interactive tools like the EdPro board.
“I love the School of Superheroes because I am always at the center of attention here. All my ‘why’ and ‘how’ questions are heard. The answers are always clear and accessible. Everything here is bright, modern, almost cosmic! We even learn digital safety — how to use tablets without harming our eyesight. It’s called ‘a superhero’s digital hygiene.’ It makes learning so exciting! I even started liking hospital porridge for breakfast, because after that I can ‘fly’ to school like a superhero,” Mariika shares.
She eagerly participates in lessons, answers questions, asks her own, and always strives to understand more. For her, education is not just about classes — it is a space where she grows and feels confident. She especially loves design lessons and often asks her teacher, Ms. Nataliia, to create something by hand after class.
Mariika is not just a student — she is an example. An example of how to love life in all its forms, how to find joy in small things, how not to give up and keep moving forward, even when it is hard. And how to dream, no matter what.
She dreams about the day after her surgery, when she will finally see the world clearly — bright, real, and full of color.
During her second stay in the hospital, Mariika became an ambassador of the School of Superheroes. She enthusiastically invited other children from her ward to join classes, sharing how much they could learn and experience. She quickly found common ground with those who were afraid or hesitant, offering support and encouragement.
Mariika is about quiet strength that radiates warmth, about kindness you can feel, about faith that lives within. Children like her remind us: real superheroes are among us. And their dreams always come true — because dreaming in a hospital is also a superpower.
Stories like this happen to millions: Ukrainian face anxiety and stress from the war every day, many have lost their homes or loved ones. Support them with your contribution.
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