The “Superheroes School” acquires the status of a public institution

«Superheroes School» – from volunteers to a public institution

The main news of the past week and recent months was the Government’s decision adopted on October 28, 2021 “On ensuring the organization of educational services for children in inpatient or rehabilitation care.”

According to the document, from January 1, 2022, the public institution “Superheroes School” is established and placed under the supervision of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. The charter of the public institution and the procedure for providing educational services are also approved.
The Minister of Education and Science Serhiy Shkarlet said in his comment that the established public institution will ensure the consistency of children’s education and development regardless of their state of health. He also stressed that he was grateful to each volunteer and the NGO “Small Heart with Art”, as well as the 1+1 TV channel and the project “Right to Education” which have supported children in hospitals for many years and provided them with the opportunity to gain knowledge.

For the Superheroes School team and its founder Evgenia Smirnova, the Government’s decision is both a joyful event and a result of hard work, daily efforts, perseverance and patience, overcoming obstacles and faith that the goal will be achieved.

The first steps toward the major breakthrough in the education system for children in inpatient care were taken in 2016. The first lessons were held in the HIV department of the Kyiv Okhmatdyt Hospital. Later, in 2017, a classroom was opened in the same department.

It quickly became clear that children in other departments needed similar lessons and classrooms. Therefore, in 2018, the School of Superheroes was opened in the building of intensive and efferent therapy for acute intoxication. The hospital provided premises for the classroom and the renovation was carried out at the expense of sponsors.

However, the team has not stopped there and in 2019, the School of Superheroes presented a social franchise that would create a network of schools in all regions of Ukraine to provide access to education for more than 30 thousand children who are constantly in hospitals and unable to attend school. at the place of residence. Today the School of Superheroes works in hospitals of Zhytomyr, Dnipro, Khmelnytsky and Kherson.
Recently, the School team and like-minded colleagues have organized and held a Pro Bono Hackathon – an event where issues and ways to address the interaction between the hospital school and the school at the place of residence of the child were discussed.

The path of the School of Superheroes team from volunteer assistance to the public institution was challenging, intensive but effective. This path would not be possible without the help of our partners, sponsors, teachers, and volunteers. Special thanks to the ‘godmother’ of the Superheroes School Natalia Moseychuk for the support and commitment to the result.