War-blighted Ukrainian city of Ovruch unveils rebuilt kindergarten, funded by Estonia

Today, in a momentous ceremony, Ovruch, a city in Ukraine's northwestern Zhytomyr region, proudly unveiled a state-of-the-art kindergarten, marking a significant milestone in its recovery efforts. The remarkable reconstruction of this educational facility was made possible through the unwavering support and full financing provided by the Government of the Republic of Estonia. The inauguration of the kindergarten held special significance as it coincided with International Children's Day.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia Margus Tsahkna, First Deputy Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament Oleksandr Kornienko, Members of Parliament Arsenii Pushkarenko, Roman Hryschuk, and Vitalii Bezhin, Head of the Zhytomyr Regional Military Administration Vitalii Bunechko, and representatives from local communities, attended the opening ceremony of the rebuilt kindergarten in Ovruch.

Remarkably, the Zhytomyr region has emerged as a trailblazer, becoming the first region in Ukraine to witness the successful completion of a restoration project solely funded by a foreign nation. Estonia, responding to President Volodymyr Zelensky's call for international solidarity in rebuilding Ukraine, embraced the task of taking the patronage of this specific Ukrainian region, setting an inspiring precedent for others to follow.

The foundation stone for Ukraine's inaugural recovery project in the resilient border town of Ovruch was laid on August 2, 2022, in the presence of the then Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia, Urmas Reinsalu. The kindergarten reconstruction was possible thanks to the support of Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and Estonia's Prime Minister Kaja Kallas.

Arsenii Pushkarenko, the head of the parliamentary group overseeing interparliamentary cooperation with the Republic of Estonia, stressed that the newly constructed kindergarten had been designed, incorporating the latest advancements in energy-efficient, eco-friendly, and secure technologies while ensuring compliance with inclusive norms. The facility boasts a well-equipped kitchen, a spacious dining area, a modern laundry room, well-appointed restrooms, dedicated spaces for recreational activities, learning areas, and even a sports hall. Each group has a separate exit to guarantee enhanced safety measures for the children.

"Also, a large and reliable shelter was built in the kindergarten because the safety of children is above all else!" Pushkarenko said. "The new kindergarten in Ovruch is our analog of Estonian institutions not only in terms of construction technology but also in terms of the education system. For this reason, Ovruch educators are adopting the experience of their colleagues in Estonia."

In its initial phase, the project successfully provided facilities for four groups, catering to the educational needs of 80 children. In the subsequent phase, plans are underway to expand the kindergarten's capacity, accommodating up to 160 children. The first phase has incurred a total investment of almost €3 million, with the overall construction cost estimated at approximately €5 million. The Government of Estonia has generously shouldered the entire financial burden, reaffirming its unwavering commitment to supporting Ukraine's recovery journey.

Pushkarenko highlighted the ongoing partnership between Estonia and the Zhytomyr region, revealing, "The next project of Zhytomyr region's cooperation with Estonia is the restoration of the bridge in Malyna, which was destroyed by a Russian missile at the beginning of March 2022. The Government of Estonia announced the decision to co-finance this project at the end of September 2022, and today, June 2, all the necessary documents were signed in Ovruch. Within ten days, the Government of Estonia will transfer EUR 1 million to the customer of the works, the Zhytomyr Regional Military Administration."