The European Union is providing €2 million under the Ukraine Facility to support a new 18-month project by the savED Charitable Foundation that will restore safe access to in-person education for children in the Mykolaiv and Sumy regions, running from summer 2026 through the end of 2027. The initiative, announced by the EU Delegation to Ukraine on 6 August 2026, combines the construction of educational infrastructure with learning loss recovery programs in communities severely affected by the war.
Under the project, two Education Recovery Centers will be built in Mykolaiv region, while a shelter in Sumy region will be renovated and fully equipped, allowing the local school to resume in-person or blended learning in line with safety standards. In 2027, two cycles of catch-up programs will be implemented across the new educational spaces, the renovated shelter, and 40 schools in Mykolaiv region. The catch-up curriculum covers Ukrainian language, mathematics, English, history of Ukraine, and primary school subjects, with children studying in small groups and progress measured through diagnostic tools and final monitoring assessments.
Henrik Huitfeldt, Head of Section for Public Finance, Business Support, and Social Policies at the EU Delegation to Ukraine, said the funding reflects the EU's solidarity with Ukraine and its commitment to supporting children's right to quality education amid the ongoing destruction of schools and security risks. Anna Novosad, co-founder of savED, called the agreement with the European Commission a "great honor and responsibility," noting the trust placed in the foundation to support Ukrainian education in frontline communities.
The project is designed to deliver both immediate and lasting benefits. Communities will gain modern, safe educational infrastructure that ensures continuity of learning even during air raid alerts, while catch-up programs help students address learning gaps and strengthen socio-emotional skills. Collaboration with local educators aims to build a sustainable support system that outlasts the project itself. The initiative aligns with the priorities of Ukraine's Ministry of Education and Science and international recommendations on safe, uninterrupted access to education in war-affected areas, contributing to community resilience, family return, and the rebuilding of Ukraine's human capital.
For the EU, the project advances its broader Ukraine Facility objectives of supporting recovery and resilience. For savED, it expands its operational footprint in frontline regions. For Ukrainian children and families, the main impact is restored access to safe, quality education, though the scale is limited to two regions and 40 schools. Local educators gain training and resources, but the project's reach is modest relative to the nationwide need, and its success depends on sustained security conditions and follow-up funding beyond 2027.