Shelter for 386 Schoolchildren: Raiffeisen Bank and KSE Foundation Support Education in Wartime Ukraine

 Another safe and comfortable shelter has been completed at the hub school in the village of Chervone, Zhytomyr region — now 386 students can attend classes in person, even amid ongoing air raid threats. The shelter was renovated as part of the "ZAKHYSTOK: Safe Education" initiative by the KSE Foundation and Raiffeisen Bank, the largest donor of the program.

Half of the school’s students travel daily from six neighboring villages to study at Chervone Lyceum. Until recently, they had nowhere to go during air raids — the old shelter was in disrepair: it was damp, frequently flooded, and mold had developed. The space lacked proper lighting and sanitation facilities, while excessive noise from the ventilation system made it impossible to hold classes.

With the support of Raiffeisen Bank under the "ZAKHYSTOK: Safe Education" initiative, the shelter was fully renovated:
• The water leakage problem was resolved and waterproofing installed;
• The floors, walls, and ceilings were repaired, and new doors installed;
• A new lighting and ventilation system was installed;
• Sanitary facilities, water supply, and drainage systems were set up;
• 100 soft benches were purchased for the children’s comfort.

"The shelter is now bright and easy to breathe in. Before the renovation, children complained of stuffiness and allergic reactions to mold caused by high humidity," said Lina Ishchuk, Principal of Chervone Lyceum.

Today, the renovated shelter serves as a safe space not only for students, but also for local residents during air alerts.

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the "ZAKHYSTOK: Safe Education" initiative has helped equip 99 shelters across 13 regions of Ukraine.

 Join the fundraiser and help us create more shelters in schools and kindergartens: https://foundation.kse.ua/safe-education