Poltava Lyceum No. 33 has been fitted with a modern, safe shelter that features recreation areas. The shelter is furnished with tablets, projectors, and even a 3D printer. The space has been completely renovated as part of the DECIDE: RECONSTRUCTION initiative of the Swiss-Ukrainian DECIDE project. "Imagine, the shelter has everything you need not only to study and achieve good results, but also to enjoy learning and spending time there," says Lyceum Director Nataliia Kikot.

Thanks to the DECIDE: Rebuilding Initiative, the Podilsk community has transformed a school shelter into a space that is not only conducive to learning but also supports various educational activities. As a result, more than 1,200 students from the local educational institution have been able to return to in-person learning. How did the Podilsk community manage to equip a modern shelter?– How did the students get involved in equipping the space?– What other plans do the lyceu

The school shelter at the Lynovytsia Lyceum in the Chernihiv region has undergone a significant renovation through the DECIDE: RECONSTRUCTION initiative, transforming it into a true educational hub. – How did the community transform an old shooting range into a multifunctional shelter and modern educational space? – What was achieved with an investment of over UAH 3.5 million? – How did the students of the educational institution develop the ‘Fitness Hut’ project, and what wa

The successful implementation of the senior specialised school reform requires effective cooperation, determination to make difficult decisions and the utilisation of internal community resources. Local communities in the Chernihiv region are already working on this ahead of the 2027 deadline. Communities are joining forces to provide local young people with the opportunity to receive a high-quality education. For instance, the Kipti community considered the number of high sc

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 shelter

Why should cooperation agreements be concluded between communities? Because together we can achieve more! Joint initiatives open up new opportunities for the development of education, enable more efficient use of resources and the implementation of meaningful, high-quality changes. The Kalush community in Ivano-Frankivsk region has found a way to support teachers by helping them grow professionally. With the support of the DECIDE project, the community was able to sign a coop

How the Halych territorial community and its “neighbours” found a solution for the development of an inclusive resource centre? Six years ago, this Inclusive Resource Centre (IRC) in the town of Halych, Ivano-Frankivsk region, provided services to children with special educational needs from across the district. But after administrative reform and the formation of new territorial communities, it continued supporting children and teenagers requiring special attention from fou

How is upper secondary education changing? Why will it become "profile-based"? What transformations should territorial communities expect, and are they ready for them? Valentyna Poltorak, Manager of the Swiss-Ukrainian DECIDE Project, which consistently supports these changes by providing practical and effective expert assistance, addressed these and other questions in an interview with the Destinations portal. "The transformation of upper secondary education involves the cre

The "DECIDE:VIDBUDOVA" initiative has enabled the creation of a modern shelter at Chernihiv Lyceum No. 22, ensuring safe conditions for more than 930 students. DECIDE allocated a total of 3.8 million UAH for the renovation and equipping of the 376.5 m² shelter. The project involved a full replacement of the electrical wiring, installation of a new ventilation system, levelling and painting of walls, flooring replacement, and furnishing with modern equipment. A stairlift was a

The Vertiivka community has become a strong example of how inter-community cooperation can be successfully established to meet the needs of all stakeholders. During the decentralisation reform, a key question arose: should the Inclusive Resource Centre (IRC) remain in Nizhyn, or should it be relocated to the community? The decision would directly impact hundreds of families. What challenges had to be overcome to develop this cooperation model? Why is the centre aspiring to cr

Is it possible to make a school shelter a place for learning, relaxation and even inspiration? Myrhorod Lyceum named after T. H. Shevchenko in Poltava region has proven that a school shelter can be more than just a place for safety. Thanks to the dedication of the community and support from the DECIDE project, it has been transformed into a modern and welcoming space. However, the journey was not easy. "In the beginning, the shelter looked like a storage room filled with old

Like many other cities in Ukraine, Chernihiv bears deep scars from the war, but the resilience of its community continues to overcome challenges. "As a result of the full-scale invasion and continuous shelling of Chernihiv, 80% of educational institutions, including schools, kindergartens, and vocational education facilities, were damaged to some extent. Some suffered direct hits and severe destruction, while others were affected by blast waves. Two schools were completely de

In 2021, the community began its collaboration with DECIDE, making significant progress in developing its education system. However, the war changed everything, and ensuring children's safety became a priority. Creating a comfortable shelter space was essential to guaranteeing access to education even during air raid alerts. The renovation of the shelter at Pershotravneve Lyceum, which serves 650 students, started almost from scratch. Yet, thanks to participation in the "DECI

Did you know that Poltava Region was one of the first in Ukraine to implement the concept of the school participatory budget? "Although the idea of a school participatory budget was well known, not all educational institutions actively took part—only those willing to take innovative steps. Others observed but didn’t know how to properly implement their ideas. However, with the 'Public Budget for Children's Dreams' initiative from the Swiss-Ukrainian DECIDE project, everything