War-torn Hostomel opens hobbit-hut-style shelter for children

Kyiv region presented a shelter in the form of a hobbit house for the Hostomel school, the charity fun "Hurtum."

What is the problem?

To study safely in Ukraine, many schools renovate or establish large and comfortable student shelters. The government wants parents to ensure their children will be safe when they send them to school and kindergartens.

Creating a safe environment for quality education for children is one of the priorities. As for now, 1249 shelters have been set up in the Kyiv region, which can accommodate almost 268,000 people.

The only primary school in Hostomel was destroyed by Russian shelling, so children were forced to study in other settlements.

What is the solution?

The Gurtum Foundation and the Krayany community of Ukrainians in Japan joined in rebuilding the school. Thanks to fundraising, the construction of the bomb shelter was fully funded. The Japanese donated one million hryvnias for the construction.

Photo: Gurtum Charity FoundationThat's why a unique Hobbit House shelter has appeared at the only elementary school in Hostomel.

Although there have been fewer air raids recently, students still have to go to the bomb shelter in the middle of class. But Petite Ecole students are always happy about it. After all, everyone wants to get into a fairy tale as soon as possible, the foundation emphasizes.

How does it work?

The organization noted that this project was their starting point in starting construction work.

Before that, we had performed complex installation and restoration work, but we had never built anything from scratch, they said.

The shelter is designed for 55 people but can accommodate over 70 children and adults if necessary. The shelter has two exits and a bathroom.

We have been looking for opportunities for a long time, developing the project, calculating the area for the number of schoolchildren. Full funding for the construction of the main bomb shelter was covered by the NGO Krayany. And then we were presented with another 15 m2 block from @leostatesukraine. Thanks to this, our bomb shelter has a second entrance and a separate space for a bathroom, the foundation said.

Photo: Gurtum Charity Foundation