Keeping Children Safe in Kharkiv
In view of the extreme danger posed by missiles, and now glide bombs, the Ukraine authorities have ruled that all education must take place either online or in an underground shelter. Underground shelters are often damp and gloomy , but it need not be so. EDA has joined a project creating properly equipped underground schools.
Basement into School Project
This project is to help the conversion into a safe school place of a large deep basement under a destroyed school about two hours South-East of Kharkiv on the edge of the Kharkiv/Donetsk regions.
On arrival in Kharkiv, EDA volunteer Maggie Tookey met with a local group to discuss a project to convert a basement in the de-occupied village of Studenok where around 110 children need their education might resume. The main school was a wreck. The town had been occupied, and the school had been stripped of evertthing of valuae; in addition a missile had badly damaged the roof. But the basement was large, and suitable for conversion. The group had already completed a similar conversion in another village and this one would be a mirror image.
Maggie agreed that EDA would supply a large part of the flooring, strong metal doors,and all the furniture and IT equipment needed to give the basement the facilities that the school once had. After committing to take part, Maggie returned to Kharkiv to buy the supplies required.
May 10th in Karkhiv
This was the day that a major Russian assault hit the northern border around the towns of Vovshans'k and Lyptsi and managed to take several kilometres of Ukrainian territory which they describe as a buffer zone. Whatever this incursion is, it brings Russian firepower closer to Kharkiv city which is only a little over 40 kilometres away and well within range of the more lethal Russian weaponry especially the Glide bombs. On may 10'th Kharkiv felt the full force of these weapons .Maggie recounts: " It was a horrible day. The sirens began at 5 15 am and continued most of the day. It was too dangerous to move anywhere - I spent much of the time sheltering with the hotel staff in an internal corridor in the hotel. There were a strikes not far away"
Basement conversion under way
But by early evening the shops re opened and Maggie was able to carry on purchasing everything needed for the project , which is expected to be complete in July. Team volunteers with expertise in many trades are carrying out the work Maggie was really impressed by their first conversion (pictures below). This one will look the same even down to the colour scheme.
Maggie is now back in the UK, but the work continues. It will not be long now before this additional basement-school is up and running
If you would like to make it possible for more children to continue their education in properly equipped schools out of the way of the glide bombs, underground, please give what you can. It will be money well spent.
EDA in Ukraine
We are hoping to raise another £20,000 to continue this project; the target of £60,000 shown includes the sums donated fo rpreviously done work. Full infomation can be found on our website at https://www.edinburghdirectaid.org
EDA is an all volunteer international charity. We We rely on our volunteers at home and in the field and the kindness of people like yourself for all our work.
Thank you
