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Bomb shelter
Konotop Primary School “Leader”
A safe space for 261 children

The Leader Primary School in Konotop has 196 pupils in seven classes:
one first grade, two second grades, two third grades and two fourth grades.

The preschool division has another 65 pupils in three groups.

Twenty-five teaching staff and 20 technical staff work with the children.

In total, 261 children need a safe and stable educational space every day.

$298,650
Our goal
Donate to the fund
What happened?
When classes are held in a shelter

Due to frequent and prolonged air raid alerts, as of April 2025, almost all classes are held in shelters.

In fact, shelters have become the main place of learning — both for primary school pupils and preschoolers.

But the premises, which were supposed to be a temporary solution, are not suitable for a full educational process.

What are the consequences?
Current state of the shelter
As of now, the premises:
  • are damp due to the lack of a blind area — there are leaks;
  • have no ventilation;
  • have central heating, but it needs additional technical inspection;
  • have no functioning toilets (engineering networks are partially available);
  • the floor is concrete, unsuitable for children to stay in for long periods of time;
  • the geometry of the premises partially differs from the BTI plans due to the presence of load-bearing columns and beams.
In such conditions, it is difficult to organise:
  • full-fledged classrooms;
  • recreation areas;
  • space for preschoolers to sleep;
  • inclusive access.
What are the consequences?
Current state of the shelter
As of now, the premises:
  • are damp due to the lack of a blind area — there are leaks;
  • have no ventilation;
  • have central heating, but it needs additional technical inspection;
  • have no functioning toilets (engineering networks are partially available);
  • the floor is concrete, unsuitable for children to stay in for long periods of time;
  • the geometry of the premises partially differs from the BTI plans due to the presence of load-bearing columns and beams.
In such conditions, it is difficult to organise:
  • full-fledged classrooms;
  • recreation areas;
  • space for preschoolers to sleep;
  • inclusive access.
Activities
What the space will be like
The renovated shelter will include:
  • classrooms for each grade;
  • separate areas for preschoolers, including sleeping areas;
  • areas for recreation and socialisation;
  • safe, warm and dry infrastructure;
  • fully inclusive access.
This means that children will be able to:
  • learn without constant interruptions;
  • remain in the community;
  • have a stable daily routine even during times of unrest.
Why it matters:

When a shelter becomes the main place of learning, it must meet the standards of a full-fledged school. For 261 children, this is not a temporary space — it is their daily educational reality. Setting up a shelter at the Leader School is an investment in the continuity of education, safety and stability in the border region.

What will it look like?
The appearance of the renovated premises

Your contribution will change everything!

Help us light up children’s centres — make a donation to the collection bank.

Any contribution is valuable!

And if you are a business, media outlet, or opinion leader, contact us and we will figure out how to launch an additional fundraiser, raffle, or information campaign together with you.

We are flexible and creative — write to us using the contact details at the bottom of the website or fill out the form in the ‘Cooperation’ section 😉.

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