School shelter of Ripky Lyceum in Chernihiv region - a comfortable space for learning and development

The shelter at Ripky Lyceum in Chernihiv Region has become a model of how a temporary protective space can be turned into a comfortable environment for education and personal growth. Town Head Serhii Harus recalls: "The difference between what the shelter was before and what it is now is incomparable. Teachers feel confident about the children's safety, so while most schools conducted online lessons, our lyceum continued learning offline."

Just a few years ago, school shelters were used as storage spaces. Today, thanks to the efforts of the community and the DECIDE project, they have been transformed into safe environments where students can not only take shelter during air raid alerts but also study comfortably and even engage in sports. The space has been equipped with new sanitary facilities, modern equipment, and a designated sports area.

Eighth-grade student Danylo Bashlak shares: "It has become much more comfortable to study in the shelter because we now have good lighting, ergonomic desks, and modern technology. In winter, it is warm here, and in summer, it stays cool with fresh air."

Students also contributed to enhancing the space by developing their own project for a mini-grant from DECIDE worth 50,000 UAH. Among the proposals from school teams were a cinema hall, a blogging school, and a sports hall. The winning project was the sports hall.

How was the shelter transformed into a space for the future? How did students create a mini-gym for active breaks? Find out more in the full article: https://bit.ly/3ZYKo3U