The Issue
After over two years of war in Ukraine, Mykolaiv Oblast faces severe impacts from infrastructure destruction and strained local civil society. The EU estimates that there are more than 1,300 damaged sites in Mykolaiv city, including public infrastructure and civil institutions, with extensive damage in rural areas. In frontline areas, three-quarters of parents report not sending their children to preschool, while two million children are still attending school online, according to UNICEF.
The urgent reconstruction needs are to rebuild schools, kindergartens, and hospitals. Mykolaiv is among the most affected regions for educational institution damage, with 246 damaged and 33 destroyed institutions. Few schools have bomb shelters, or power installations, essential for resuming offline education. Online learning has severely impacted children’s well-being and learning, potentially causing lifelong consequences.
The reconstruction of Mykolaiv needs concrete local knowledge of needs. Despite significant international aid, the response remains disconnected from local civil society networks. Local actors, with deep knowledge of community needs, efficiently deliver tailored assistance but struggle with funding and capacity.
The Project
Rebuilding schools and educational institutions in Mykolaiv, Ukraine, is essential since the war has severely damaged many of them, disrupting children’s education and well-being. Functional schools are vital for children’s learning and future prospects, as well as the country’s overall recovery. The rebuilding is done by completing light and medium repairs and reconstruction of social infrastructure and educational institutions, which are still damaged, allowing for a return to use of these institutions.
Furthermore, there are still very diverse needs for the war-affected population in Mykolaiv, located close to the frontline. To address this, we provide grants of 15,000 EUR to local initiatives. These grants offer flexible support to meet the specific needs of the community, ensuring that urgent issues are addressed. By supporting local projects, we empower the community to lead their own recovery and build a stronger, more resilient future.
The Change
This project aims to rebuild schools in Mykolaiv essential for the community’s recovery and resilience. The war has severely damaged many educational institutions, affecting children’s education and well-being. Restoring these facilities will not only provide a safe learning environment but also support the stability and prospects of the region.
In addition to physical reconstruction, the project emphasizes strengthening the role and capacity of civil society in Ukraine. Local civil society organizations will be empowered as active participants in the recovery process, capable of promoting democratic and transparent processes and values. By providing grants of 15,000 EUR, we support local initiatives, enabling them to address specific community needs effectively. This flexible support ensures that urgent issues are tackled promptly, fostering social cohesion and resilience.
Furthermore, the project aims to enhance collaboration between civil society actors and local authorities. By building the capacity of local organisations, we help them navigate bureaucratic challenges and engage more effectively in the recovery process. This collaboration promotes accountability and transparency, ensuring that recovery efforts are inclusive and community-driven. Overall, the project not only focuses on rebuilding infrastructure but also on empowering local communities to lead their own recovery, fostering stronger, more democratic, and resilient communities.
Our Partners
ADRA Denmark and ADRA Ukraine
As a part of the worldwide ADRA Network, ADRA Denmark and ADRA Ukraine, have complementary experience with projects supporting early recovery processes in crisis- and war-affected areas. ADRA Ukraine has since the initiation of the Russian invasion facilitated reconstruction of social infrastructure such as schools and shelters as well as rehabilitation and installation of water systems. As one of the biggest national NGOs in Ukraine, ADRA Ukraine operates in almost all regions of Ukraine with multiple sub-offices, including in Mykolaiv.
Ukrainian Education Platform
Ukrainian Education Platform is a Ukrainian NGO that for the last 10 years has worked towards strengthening and supporting young people and the education sector in Ukraine.
Like many other Ukrainian organisations, they transformed into a humanitarian response agency at the start of the war and built off their existing faith-based networks around the country to provide rapid assistance.
Our Work
This project fulfils our commitment to save lives and build resilient communities by rebuilding critical social infrastructure like schools and shelters in Mykolaiv. Our efforts ensure safe learning environments and promote stability, crucial for children’s education and well-being. By empowering local civil society organizations, we support community-specific needs and enhance social cohesion. Strengthening the capacity of these organizations promotes democratic, transparent processes, and effective collaboration with local authorities, ensuring inclusive, community-driven recovery. The holistic approach not only restores infrastructure but also fosters a resilient, empowered, and self-sustaining community, aligning with our core mission.
About the project
Full title: Reconstruction of social infrastructure in Mykolaiv through a strong civil society
Period: January 2024 – December 2024
Partners:
Consortium Partner: ADRA Denmark
Local Partners: ADRA Ukraine & Ukrainian Education Platform (UEP)
Funding: DKK 20,000,000
Main Donor: Danida
