ChangeX and the LEGO Foundation once again support B50

At the end of May, as part of the Reconstruction and Shelters projects, work began on repairing and decorating the bomb shelter at the Yalynka kindergarten in Mykulychi village. The B50 team is tasked with preparing the shelter for the next school year and improving the comfort of the kindergarten students.

During the occupation by russian troops, this village became a base for their shelling of neighbouring villages and towns, the locals were not allowed to evacuate, the occupiers killed many civilians, damaged houses and infrastructure, including the local school. The Mykulychi shelter of the Yalynka pre-school (nursery) is often used simultaneously not only by young children from the kindergarten, but also by older children from the local school, who are often co-located in the same room.

The repair and decorative work is being carried out in two rooms: a large hall, which has already been partially renovated earlier, and a technical room, which we will turn into a full-fledged bedroom for sleeping. The Shelters team will then add colour to the rooms and decorate the walls with murals and drawings to make it truly a kid’s space.

The transformation of the bedroom became possible thanks to a charitable contribution from the Förderkreis Mahnmal St. Nikolai e.V., as in February-June the Memorial (Mahnmal St. Nikolai) hosted our photo exhibition Chronicles of the Unknown Superheroes of Ukrainians and decided to help our community. Thanks to these funds, we were able to purchase the necessary materials (building mixtures, doors, lamps, ventilation system) and make repairs in the future bedroom and install doors in the great hall to improve the thermal efficiency of the room.

ChandeX included our pilot case of transforming the Kozachok kindergarten bomb shelter in Bucha in their guidebook as an example of a step-by-step implementation of a similar project. In addition, thanks to this initiative, B50 was able to receive a grant to renovate the shelter at Zavorychi Gymnasium, which was completed in April 2024.

This year, ChangeX supported our application for the improvement of the bomb shelter in the Yalynka kindergarten!

Thanks to this grant, we will be able not only to turn the technical room into a bedroom, but also to make it cosy and equip it with the necessary things – cots, mattresses, blankets, toys, etc. For the comfort of young children, we will now be able to implement other heat and energy-efficient solutions: laying a heat-insulating floor covering on the floor where the children’s play and sleeping areas will be arranged, and installing energy-efficient heating.

Thanks to these funds, high-quality acrylic non-toxic paints have already been purchased for the Shelters team and the stage of decorating the walls with drawings and murals has begun.

As a result, we strive to create a place that will encourage and inspire children to play and learn, engage in interesting educational play activities, and socialise with their peers.

We are grateful to ChangeX and the Learning Through Play initiative with the support of the LEGO Foundation for supporting our project. We are proud that our successful cases and experience allow us to attract the support of international foundations and help children in Kyiv region communities have access to more comfortable and safe shelters where they can continue their education and upbringing, play and relax, despite possible air dangers.

The improved shelter will become an important symbol of support for the local community and will allow the kindergarten to fully return to normal operation and education, which is important for restoring the psychological and social well-being of children and their parents.