The Superheroes School’s Network is expanding!

Welcome to the family: educational centers in Vinnytsia, Kryvyi Rih, and Rivne!

The new school year has only just begun, and we’re already sharing the first results. Thanks to funding from the Olena Zelenska Foundation, six new centers are being added to the Superheroes School’ map. This year, three such educational centers have already been renovated and equipped, opening their doors to patients in Vinnytsia, Rivne, and Kryvyi Rih, giving children the opportunity to learn even within the walls of hospitals.

On the eve of the start of the school year, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and First Lady Olena Zelenska visited the newly renovated center in Kryvyi Rih during a working trip. «Children in hospitals in Kryvyi Rih are facing not only illness but also the realities of war. That is why the Superheroes School is more than just a classroom for them. It is a place where they regain their childhood, hope, and support. I am truly delighted that the Superheroes School is developing so actively, and that my Foundation is involved in this. I hope that the support the children receive at these centers will help them recover more quickly» – said Olena Zelenska, First Lady of Ukraine and founder of the Foundation.

The Superheroes School is a place of superpowers where childhood reigns supreme. That’s why every center features a preschool area where our youngest superheroes explore the world through play and creative activities; a classroom for elementary school children, where the little ones achieve their first big victories; and a classroom where full-scale research projects take place because children, without exception, from 5th to 11th grade, want to know everything about everything.

To ensure a comfortable and engaging learning experience, the spaces are equipped with ergonomic furniture, interactive whiteboards, gadgets, interesting and diverse teaching materials, and a full set of school supplies. Everything is here to help children dive into the world of knowledge, develop, and overcome educational gaps. Mental health zones have also been created, where children can receive support or assistance from a psychologist. Here, every element is carefully designed and has a therapeutic effect – books, toys, and interactive materials help children cope with their emotions and learn to manage them.

During the visit to Kryvyi Rih, Nina Gorbachova, director of the Olena Zelenska Foundation, emphasized: «Today, we saw firsthand the results of our collaboration with the Superheroes School team in Kryvyi Rih. This is already the third centre to open with our financial support this year. It is results like these that inspire us to do more and continue seeking donors to open such schools in new cities».

Comfortable conditions have been created – now children who battle illness every day without losing their spirit have the opportunity to learn. Their confident strides in their studies are guided by superteachers, who began holding classes in the hospital wards back in April. While renovations were underway, teachers worked with the children in the hospital wards, providing over 1,200 educational sessions for 68 children in Kryvyi Rih, 885 sessions for 50 little ones in Vinnytsia, and 550 sessions for 67 little superheroes in Rivne.

Just as in the entire Superheroes School network, at the new educational centers, teachers give students a true childhood experience every day – right within the walls of hospitals, during classes and lessons, and through discussions and thorough explanations. Most importantly, children do not lose touch with their education and retain the joy of childhood even in difficult life circumstances. This allows children to keep up with the educational process and adapt more easily upon returning to their normal school life.

We thank the Olena Zelenska Foundation for its steadfast partnership in opening the Superheroes School’ educational centers – for inspiring children to dream big and giving them a chance to enjoy their childhood even within the walls of a hospital. Thanks to you, six new centers will be opened by the end of this year! While principals, elementary school teachers, educators, and school psychologists in Rivne, Vinnytsia, and Kryvyi Rih are smoothly starting the new school year, Poltava and Odesa are kicking it off with renovations! And soon, Lviv will join them as well.

Thank you for your support and for helping to create the conditions in which hospital teachers give children the opportunity to learn, grow, and dream even in the most challenging circumstances.