“Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, 484 children have been killed, nearly 1,000 injured and 19,000 abducted and sold to Russia. We do not know the fate of the children of the occupied territories. These are not just numbers: every child must be at the heart of what we do,” said Tsahkna at the opening of the kindergarten. “We have to stand up for the future and the safety of Ukrainian children, and the construction of the kindergarten is one way to protect them. No child must suffer under Russian aggression and terror,” Tsahkna stressed.
“Although it is not easy to build a facility in a country in war, it is very symbolic that Estonia's first project is a kindergarten. We support Ukraine in building its future by giving their children the opportunity to learn in a safe and inspiring environment,” said Andrea Kivi, Head of ESTDEV.
With the completion of the Ovruch kindergarten, Estonia became one of the first countries to complete an educational building as part of the reconstruction of Ukraine. The first phase of the construction included the completion of four group rooms, common areas, a playground and a bomb shelter, without which no kindergarten in Ukraine can operate. The Ovruch kindergarten project is the largest public-private partnership in Estonia's history.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia allocated €2.7 million for the completion of the first construction phase. Estonian projects in the reconstruction of Ukraine are managed by ESTDEV.
Pictures from Ovruch: https://www.flickr.com/photos/estonian-foreign-ministry/albums/72177720308770544
