Students of the Pokrovsk community have the opportunity to resume face-to-face learning in special shelters. This has become possible, among other things, because of the support of Metinvest Group that allocated funding for the construction of six such facilities.
Oleksandr Myrokenko, Chief Operations Officer of Metinvest Group, has visited two shelters that have recently undergone a refurbishment. He noted that at the beginning of the refurbishment, one had to hunch over to avoid falling over a pile of trash. Now the place is clean, cosy and warm.
"The shelters are not just for schoolchildren. When they are free, dance and singing classes are held here. We are very grateful to Metinvest Group, which has always been a socially responsible business in our region, for this support. We have already implemented many joint projects, but the construction of shelters is a very urgent issue that helps children socialise," says Margaryta IDRYSOVA, deputy head of the Pokrovsk Regional Military Administration.
FACT
Safe spaces are outfitted with new furniture and sanitary equipment for children and adults. Each room has two emergency exits. To ensure the desired outcome of the renovation, a whole range of work was carried out beforehand.
Oleksandr Myronenko
"The ceiling height was initially low, about one and a half metres. We had to lower the foundation by one metre. Then we poured a new floor with concrete, installed ventilation, which was not there at all, and made a fire alarm system, electricity, and bathrooms from scratch. The work was also complicated by a large amount of groundwater," says Maksym LOBYNTSEV, director of the contractor "Novi Teplotekhnolohii", LLC.
The shelters are designed to be as self-sustaining as possible. There are generators, radios, and water storage tanks. Oleksandr Myronenko also visited the technical room and asked the contractor about the intricacies of the transformation.
Lessons and other activities for children are organised in safe rooms on a rotational basis with the consent of their parents. Classes are scheduled daily. Educational counselling centres are more intended for primary school students. After all, these children have not had an opportunity to get the traditional classroom learning experience at all. First because of the pandemic, then because of the war.
"We also conduct classes for the older preschool group. This means that teachers prepare children for the first grade. This is the so-called "group of first graders". We have partially resumed extracurricular activities and refresher classes for graduates to prepare for the NMT," added Liubov VOROTYNTSEVA, head of the Pokrovsk City Education Department.
"Online learning is no substitute for live communication, when children can look into each other's eyes, listen and see their teacher in real life. In my opinion, live communication offers more opportunities and benefits. The enemy is advancing, but we are taking measures to stop it. We are taking part in the construction of fortifications around the city, do not give up and continue to work. I believe it is very important to create safe conditions in Pokrovsk so that our children can develop despite all the adversities," said Oleksandr MYRONENKO, Chief Operations Officer of Metinvest Group.
