Kyiv, 4 March 2024 — The European Union (EU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine have renovated Velykozholudskyi Lyceum in Rivne Oblast and Korosten City Lyceum 7 in Zhytomyr Oblast.

Both educational institutions suffered significantly because of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, which caused severe damage to the buildings and made them impossible to use. Consequently, students were forced to switch to online learning.

With the assistance of the EU and UNDP, essential renovation works have been carried out in both lyceums, including roof replacements, installation of doors, windows, drainage and ventilation systems, and electrical installations, enhancement of facades, and more. Throughout this work, particular emphasis has been placed on ensuring inclusivity, environmental sustainability, and adherence to energy efficiency standards.

In addition to the repairs, the project will soon equip the schools with furniture — such as desks, chairs, blackboards, and bookcases — to provide a comfortable learning environment for students. As a result, 974 school children and 107 teaching staff members can now resume in-person classes in the educational institutions.

Claudia Amaral, Head of the EU Humanitarian Aid Office in Ukraine, said: “Every day, we witness how this ruthless war deprives the children of Ukraine of happy, carefree days and, what is especially important, access to education and knowledge, which are essential for their future. That's why the European Union, along with its partners like UNDP, is making every effort to restore as many war-damaged schools as possible and to bring Ukrainian children back to their classrooms — in a comfortable and safe educational environment. For the sake of their future and the future of all in Ukraine.”

Jaco Cilliers, UNDP Resident Representative in Ukraine, said that almost 4,000 educational facilities have been damaged or destroyed in Ukraine. “In the context of war, this initiative is part of a comprehensive EU-UNDP effort to get Ukrainian students back to school and to ensure a safe and quality learning environment for as many children as possible,” he said. “To secure this, in close cooperation with the Government of Ukraine, we are integrating the ‘Build Back Better’ approach to strengthen Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction process.”

Background

The schools were renovated under the “EU4UASchools: Build Back Better” project, which is being implemented by UNDP in Ukraine, with financial support from the European Union. 

The project is intended to facilitate light repairs of 66 and re-equip 111 educational facilities in 11 oblasts of Ukraine. Specific repairs are being made to damaged buildings, selected in consultation with the Government of Ukraine, including light and medium repair works at schools with damage rates equal to or below 60 percent, covering the installation of new windows, repairs of roofs and sanitary facilities, reconstruction of shelters, and other urgent and critical work.

Media enquiries: Yuliia Samus, UNDP Ukraine Head of Communications; e-mail: yuliia.samus@undp.org