Education Ukraine Project #66428

Bucha School

by Support Fund for Bucha School

Project Report | Feb 26, 2025
Construction Permit Issued for Bucha School

By Aivaras Karalius | Member of the Management Board

Bucha School

After more than two years of dedicated work and collaboration, we are able to share that today, the construction permit for the new Bucha School has been officially issued!

Here's the short recap:

Bucha, a town in the Kyiv region, was one of the first to face the enemy and suffer from it. Because of the horrendous cruelty of the russian army towards Ukrainian civilians, Bucha became one of the bitter symbols of the war. After the de-occupation, numerous pieces of evidence of civilian killings, torture, and other crimes emerged. The housing stock suffered greatly, as did the social and educational infrastructure of the city – 14 schools in total were damaged during the occupation.

This isn't just any school – it's the first A energy class school in Ukraine, setting a new environmental standard for educational infrastructure. It is zero emission building, ensuring sustainability and protected biodiversity.

The Bucha School project has been a labor of love, resilience, and innovation, aimed at providing a safe, modern, and environmentally friendly learning environment for the future generations of Ukraine. The school will have a shelter that will be adapted for dual usage during peacetime. It will help the children return to education in school instead of studying at home.

A new modern school will replace old Soviet-type and damaged education infrastructure in Bucha, rebuild a social fabric for the community, and create additional capacity for 720 pupils in school and 180 in kindergarten.

The school is designed to have innovative education spaces with high aesthetics, creating a second home for children and enabling inclusive and modern education methods. It will be the education space that will empower children suffering from the traumatic experiences to reach their full potential.

We want to thank all the donors who contributed to the preparation of the technical design and helped to receive construction permit.

Links:

Construction Permit

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Feb 5, 2025
Bucha is awarded with New European Bauhaus Co-create grant

By Aivaras Karalius | Member of the Management Board

Bucha Forest Classroom Visual

We are extremely proud to announce that the Bucha Forest Classroom project has been selected as the winning proposal for the CO-CREATE New European Bauhaus Open Call 2025. Only 8 projects from the whole of Europe were selected under this New European Bauhaus initiative, each receiving a grant of 45,000 euros. Bucha Forest Classroom project aims to create a sustainable outdoor classroom in the Bucha municipality forest, providing a unique space for mental well-being, learning, and environmental education. The initiative addresses the urgent need for additional educational facilities due to the damaged infrastructure and increased number of internally displaced children in Bucha, Ukraine.

Project Objectives

Enhance Education Capacity. Development of the outdoor classroom will provide an offline education opportunities for internally displaced children, accommodating 30 children and offering classes and activities for at least 60 children daily.
Promote Mental Well-being and Strengthen Community. Foster well-being through a healthy microclimate and use the classroom as a community hub during off-peak hours.
Promote Circular Economy Practices in Construction. Showcase low-carbon construction aligned with circular economy principles, reducing waste and the carbon footprint by 70%.
Foster Environmental Education and Biodiversity Awareness. Raise awareness about local biodiversity, ecological principles, and sustainability through monthly workshops and nature walks.

Project Consrotium Partners

Support Fund for Bucha School is the Lead Partner responsible for for project implementation, construction, and launch of operations.
Restart Ukraine is a design and construction partner, providing technical support, urban and sustainability planning.
Bucha City Council is responsible for the project coordination, educational program development, local governance, permitting and community engagement.

Project Timeline

2025 February-April: Initial planning and stakeholder engagement, finalizing design plans, and obtaining necessary permits.
2025 May-August: Construction of the classroom using prefabricated straw panels, installation of utilities, and landscaping.
2025 September-October: Designing educational programs, training staff, and officially opening the classroom.
2025 November-December: Engaging the community through events and workshops, monitoring progress, and evaluating outcomes.

Expected Impacts

Educational: Increased access to quality offline education for Bucha children.
Community: Enhanced well-being and social cohesion through nature-based activities.
Environmental: Demonstration of low-carbon, circular construction methods and increased biodiversity awareness.
Social: Strengthened community engagement and inclusivity through co-creation and community events.

Budget

Total Budget: €68,712.50
EIT Funding: 65.48%
Co-Funding: 34.52%

Donation Goal

Bucha City is building a Forest Classroom to provide a safe and calming space for children suffering from war traumatic experiences and being internally displaced. We are seeking donations to support this initiative and ensure its successful implementation.

Special Invitation

Everyone who donates is invited to Bucha on August 24th, Ukraine's Independence Day, to join a community workshop where we’ll install the furniture and prepare the forest classroom—just in time for the school year opening the following week. We are excited to see the Bucha Forest Classroom come to life and make a lasting difference in the lives of children and the local community.

Links:

Attachments:

4 Attachments

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Dec 23, 2024
Year-end Report: Bucha School Progress

By Aivaras Karalius | Member of the Management Board

Dear Bucha School Supporter,

As we reflect on the past year, we want to share the encouraging progress and achievements of Bucha School. This year you showed how strong community support and collaboration can push forward even the most challenging projects in the uncertain environment. Here are some of the key milestones we have reached:

GivingTuesday Success

On GivingTuesday, we were overwhelmed by your generosity. A total of 63 of you contributed $3,951, including a bonus from GlobalGiving. These funds will be instrumental in preparing the working documentation for Bucha School, bringing us one step closer to the start of the construction.

Significant In-Kind Donations

We are excited to announce two major in-kind donations that will significantly enhance Bucha School:

Jures medis, a Lithuanian company, has agreed to donate Glue Laminated Timber (GLT) beams worth 100,000 euros. These beams will be used for the construction of our sports hall and amphitheater.
JUNG Vilnius, part of the German company group, will provide thermostats, light dimmers, switchers, and sockets valued at 20,000 euros. This generous contribution will help us create a modern and efficient learning environment.

International Recognition

Our project has gained international recognition and was invited to be showcased at the UNECE PPP and Infrastructure Award held on May 16-18th in Belgrade, Serbia. This prestigious event highlights the best PPP and infrastructure projects that embody green and digital characteristics. We are honored to be part of this global platform.

Pro Bono Tech Support

We are grateful for the pro bono services provided by Tech to the Rescue and Zing, who are developing a fundraising platform for our website. They join a group of tech donors, including Google, Microsoft, and Monday.com, who have been supporting Bucha School with their invaluable services.

Gratitude and Best Wishes

We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported Bucha School this year. Your contributions, whether financial, in-kind, or through services, have been vital in driving our project forward. We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year!

Together, we are building a brighter future for Bucha community and Ukraine. Thank you for being part of this journey.

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