In the Ukrainian village of Bezruky, located in the Kharkiv region near the border with Russia, education was brought to a standstill by the war. Local residents witnessed tanks and artillery moving through their area in the first days of the invasion. The local gymnasium took a direct hit, sustaining significant damage that forced it to close its doors due to safety concerns. While teachers maintained contact with students through online learning, remote classes could not replace the value of in-person education. The school's existing basement was unsuitable for learning, leaving the children without a secure learning environment.

Through the ‘School Repairs in Ukraine’ project, funded by the European Union, UNOPS initially completed essential maintenance – such as replacing windows, to secure the building. Recognizing the critical need for further safety measures, given the school’s proximity to the conflict, the team returned to convert the facility’s basement into a fully-functioning shelter.

The refurbishment ensured the space met all safety standards - including ventilation, alarm systems and communication lines – and now includes fully-equipped classrooms and restrooms. To make the environment more welcoming, the school principal, Yuliia Bezruk, transformed the corridors into an art gallery, introducing students to world-famous art.

The renovated shelter has allowed children to return to the gymnasium for extracurricular activities in a protected environment. And it provides parents with the reassurance that their children learn and play in safety.

For the students, the impact is personal. Kamila, a grade 5 student, says she now rushes to the gymnasium after her remote classes. "I love attending these activities, especially drawing and gymnastics," she says.

Mykhailo, in grade 2, talks about how much he enjoys going to school now. “It’s always fun here, I have many friends,” he says. “We learn, run, and draw. Now we have to be in the shelter because the war is still going on, and it’s unsafe in the school building.”

Kateryna, a grade 1 student, learned to read and write in the new shelter classrooms. "I like the colour of the walls and the desks, they’re very comfortable," she says.

This initiative at Bezruky Gymnasium is part of a broader effort. Through this project, UNOPS is helping more than 15,000 children across four regions in Ukraine return to in-person learning in renovated educational facilities.