On 1 March 2022, everything changed for the quiet village of Pisky in Ukraine's Chernihiv Region. On that day, a large Russian military convoy entered the village – and people soon found themselves under occupation.

The occupation lasted a month but left a lasting mark on the residents’ memories.

"Every day we could hear tanks and explosions. It was truly terrifying," says Polina, an 11th-grade student at Pisky Secondary School.

People spent weeks without communication, sufficient food and medicine, and electricity. Simply charging a phone and reaching out to family became a challenge for many.

During the occupation, Pisky Secondary School was damaged. A window was blown out, and the roof was compromised.

"When the rainy season came, water started leaking through the gaps in the roof. We, the teachers and parents, did all we could to save the building," explains Valentyna Samson.

After the village was returned to Ukrainian control, UNOPS repaired one of the school buildings with funding from the European Union.

"We understood that children need to study in person – it’s crucial for both social development and the learning process," says Valentyna Khomenko, the school principal.

But since the school lacked a proper shelter, there were plans to close it entirely. To prevent this, UNOPS and the European Union built a modular shelter – a separate structure designed for short-term protection against debris and blast waves.

"Now, with the shelter in place, we have a fully established procedure for air raid alerts. As soon as the sirens sound, all teachers lead the children to the shelter, where they continue their lessons until the all-clear signal,” explains Valentyna.

According to safety standards, students can stay inside for up to two hours. If the air raid alert lasts longer, the school day is postponed until the following day.

There are three zones in the modular shelter: one for the younger grades, one for the middle grades and one for the older students. Each student has an assigned seat in the shelter.

"The modular shelter has everything we need to continue learning," says Denys, an 11th-grade student at Pisky Secondary School.

The students are happy to come to school every day and see their friends. Despite the ongoing war, they are all preparing for exams, dreaming of a bright future, and hoping for the end of the war.

About the project

The Schools Repairs in Ukraine project, funded by the European Union and implemented by UNOPS, aims to repair educational facilities that have been damaged during the ongoing war in Ukraine. This $30 million initiative is being implemented in the regions of Chernihiv, Kyiv, Sumy and Kharkiv, focusing on schools requiring light to medium repair work.

The primary objective of the project is to provide access to repaired school facilities, which will increase the proportion of children receiving face-to-face education. By rehabilitating more than 70 schools, the project will help restore facilities to a safe and welcoming environment where children can continue their education without interruption.