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Kindergarten Sanctuary

ECW-supported classes, run by UNICEF & partners, are providing a nurturing learning environment for young girls & boys affected by the war in Ukraine

By Education Cannot Wait

July 26^th, 2024

Adapted Story from the Field. Special Contribution by UNICEF Ukraine (Original).

Milena and Varia both have wild blonde curls, tamed in ponytails at the back of their heads. Their brown eyes convey identical expressions: thoughtful and observant of their surroundings. Today, the only noticeable difference between the twins is that one wears a green shirt, and the other, an orange one.

At three years old, Milena and Varia’s entire lives, to date, have been set against the backdrop of war. As a result, caution and fear are all too familiar feelings for the young sisters.

Sitting in a bright makeshift kindergarten in Dnipro, Ukraine – nearly 370 km from their home in Kherson – they are able to forget the outside world for two hours and simply color, do crafts and learn about animals with children their own age.

The newly established classes for young children, located in a basement room, were set up by UNICEF and Caritas Ukraine with funding from Education Cannot Wait (ECW), the global fund for education in emergencies and protracted crises within the United Nations. These biweekly two-hour classes, which prioritize socio-emotional learning, and mental health and psychosocial support for children, are facilitated by trained educators and psychologists, guiding children to develop essential skills.

The classes have become a safety net for families in the crisis-affected city where public kindergartens have been closed and private ones are not affordable.

Yulia, mother of 3-year-old twins Milena and Varia, hugs her daughter in the ECW-supported makeship Kindergarten in Ukraine. © UNICEF Ukraine/Mala

When the war in Ukraine began, Milena and Varia were in the process of being adopted by their foster mom, Yulia. Unfortunately, those plans were put on pause due to the persistent shelling of Kherson.

Yulia and the girls had no choice but to flee their home city for Dnipro – a journey that should have taken six hours, but instead took two weeks due to the ongoing hostilities in the country.

Yulia worries about her young twins.

“They saw me and my parents in stress, and this passed through them. Unfortunately, the girls still react fearfully to all loud noises. When a motorcycle or a car goes past our house, they want me to hug them tightly.” ~Yulia, Milena and Varia’s Foster Mother

After Yulia learned of the kindergarten and began bringing Milena and Varia to the classes twice a week, it took some time for the girls to open up. “When we came here, they weren't able to recognize any colors, shapes or animal images,” Yulia recalls. “Moreover, they didn't communicate with anyone. When they started attending the kindergarten, my children were the only ones standing in a corner and watching the others play.”

Thanks to the dedicated support and attention from the kindergarten teacher Samira Neimatova and child psychologist Hanna Chervona, the twins now look forward to their time in the classroom.

“At first, they didn't make contact at all, they didn't speak well. Now, they approach other children on their own. They even started asking their mom to read them a book every night.” ~Samira, Kindergarten Teacher

Teacher Samira Neimatova works on a crafts project with twins Milena and Varia in the makeshift kindergarten in Ukraine. © UNICEF Ukraine/Mala

The kindergarten, located in the safety of a building basement, is filled with toys, modeling clay, paints, educational games, storybooks and coloring books. Classes are designed for two age groups – ages 3-5 and 5-8. The secure environment and dedicated shelter ensure that the learning process can continue seamlessly, even should an air alarm go off.

The teachers with the ECW-funded initiative use early childhood development materials developed by UNICEF and partners for play and learning. With guidance from their teachers, Milena and Varia immerse themselves in drawing, sculpting, and learning their numbers and letters. Although the crisis continues, this supportive environment ensures their safety and promotes their holistic development.

“It's crucial that they can come to such a safe and friendly space. It is an opportunity to preserve their childhood.” ~Samira, Kindergarten Teacher

Teacher Samira Neimatova points to something on the wall during class time with twins Milena and Varia in the makeshift kindergarten in Ukraine. © UNICEF Ukraine/Mala

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 sparked a deadly armed conflict that continues to rage today. Civilians in Ukraine, including millions of children and adolescents, have been severely affected – suffering trauma, shelling, displacement, injury and death. To date, thousands of schools and kindergartens have been damaged and destroyed. According to the Education Ministry’s data as of May 2024, around 4.6 million Ukrainian children face barriers to education – including about 2 million who are directly affected by school and kindergarten closures.

Since its establishment, the kindergarten in Dnipro has become a vital resource for many families in a city where all public kindergartens are closed as a result of the ongoing war, and private options are often financially out of reach. Parents with jobs and family obligations find this kindergarten to be a vital sanctuary for their children, enabling them to focus on their work.

With a war that rages on in their backyards, children in Ukraine need, now, more than ever, the stability and protection that education provides. The continued access to education not only fosters a sense of normalcy but also provides a safe space where they can learn and grow, shielded from the trauma of their surroundings.

ECW has supported education in crisis-affected Ukraine since 2017. To date, ECW investments in the country have reached more than 360,000 children and adolescents, including 65% girls, with holistic education support.

ECW’s First Emergency Response in Ukraine focused on protecting the wellbeing of conflict-affected children, providing continuous access to education, and mental health and psychosocial support.

In March 2024, ECW announced an additional US$18 million catalytic grant which will work to ensure safe and accessible physical learning environments, improve learning outcomes by training teachers, expanding digital learning initiatives, and providing alternative education opportunities, and work to ensure gender equity and inclusion. To address the challenges facing the girls and boys who are living through the ongoing conflict in the country, there is also a strong focus on mental health and psychosocial support.

One of the twins carefully paints a picture in the ECW-supported kindergarten in Ukraine. © UNICEF Ukraine/Mala

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No matter who or where they are, every girl and boy deserves a quality education and to be safe in the classroom.

Teacher Samira is adamant that the war in Ukraine, now in its third year, should not interrupt preschool education and early childhood development – which lay a strong foundation for lifelong learning.

“These children deserve the chance to dream and grow, despite the chaos around them." ~Samira, Teacher

Attending classes regularly is giving Milena and Varia the opportunity to hone important skills, while encouraging curiosity and creativity, and boosting their wellbeing. The twins have blossomed under the nurturing care of their teacher and continue to grow and hit key developmental milestones in their new kindergarten.

Today, the twins are thriving, and Yulia is now in the process of finalizing their adoption. “Seeing their smiles every day gives me hope,” says Yulia. The future looks bright for the smart, thoughtful young girls. They, and the children of Ukraine, deserve no less. Their resilience is a testament to the power of education and the dedication of those who refuse to let the war steal their childhood.

This kindergarten is just one example of the broader ongoing efforts to support the children and adolescents of Ukraine during this crisis. Initiatives like these ensure that, even in the darkest of times, hope and learning can continue to flourish.

A young student shows off her artwork in the ECW-supported makeshift kindergarten in Ukraine. © UNICEF Ukraine/Mala

Access high-resolution photos from this story and our full media library on ECW’s Flickr

© 2026 Education Cannot Wait

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