When a School Becomes a Symbol of Resilience: The Story of Vyshhorod Lyceum

In the first days of the full-scale invasion, the city became one of the key directions of the Russian offensive on Ukraine’s capital. From 24 February 2022, the community faced the threat of encirclement, and the northern settlements of the district experienced partial occupation.

Today, the city continues to live and function despite regular shelling and damage to critical infrastructure. Power outages and air-raid alerts have become part of everyday life. Yet even under these conditions, Vyshhorod has not stopped. Along with the community, the local lyceum has resumed its work.

Returning to In-Person Learning

The lyceum in Vyshhorod has fully resumed in-person learning. This was made possible thanks to renovations carried out by UNOPS with the support of the European Union.

Initially, essential repairs were carried, including window replacements and room refurbishment. Later, the UNOPS team returned to renovate the basement, which had previously not been suited for long-term stays.

Today, the basement is a modern and safe shelter, equipped with proper ventilation, alarm systems, utilities, restrooms, and learning areas. During air-raid alerts, lessons are not interrupted — they continue in a comfortable and secure space.

The lyceum has around 540 students, including internally displaced children and children with special educational needs. For many, the school has become not only a place of learning but also a source of support during difficult times.

Milana, a 7th-grade student, has attended the lyceum since she was six. She vividly remembers the first days of the invasion:

“The first days were very frightening. I would wake up and wonder if I even had to go to school. Explosions were all around, and I just wanted to survive.

Despite the ongoing war, she can now enjoy the simple joys of school life once again:

“When I returned to school, I was so happy to see my classmates and friends again. I had missed it so much — running through the hallways, playing, and learning properly.”

For 11th-grade student Daryna, the journey back to her lyceum was much longer. At the start of the full-scale war, her family first moved to a neighboring town and later went abroad. However, the school in the other country could not replace her familiar learning environment.

“We didn’t know what to do. When it became unsafe, we left. But the local school couldn’t replace my lyceum. As soon as in-person learning resumed, we returned, and I was able to attend my school again.”

Daryna is now in her final year and is actively preparing for exams — all while coping with air-raid alerts and power outages.

“At first, it was very challenging to study during the alerts and power outages. But over time, you get used to it. Despite everything, I try to prepare for my exams as best as I can.”

During air-raid alerts, students quickly move to the equipped shelter and continue their lessons there.

“It’s spacious and comfortable. I feel safe,” says Liza, an 11th-grade student.

The restoration of the lyceum in Vyshhorod has allowed hundreds of children to return to a normal routine. In a city that continues to live under shelling, the school has become a symbol of the community’s resilience.

About the project

The Schools Repairs in Ukraine project, funded by the European Union and implemented by UNOPS, aims to repair educational facilities that have been damaged during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This $30 million initiative is being implemented in the regions of Chernihiv, Kyiv, Sumy and Kharkiv, focusing on schools requiring light to medium repair work.

The primary objective of the project is to provide access to repaired school facilities which will increase the proportion of children receiving face-to-face education. By rehabilitating more than 70 schools, the project will help restore facilities to a safe and welcoming environment where students can continue their education without interruption.