Selected by an independent jury from a total of 61 submitted projects, the Bucha School project stood out among global submissions for its innovative approach to inclusive education infrastructure and its alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The commendation was presented during a dedicated session at the Forum on May 16, 2025, accompanied by a short video showcasing its impact. The UNECE will also award a certificate and a trophy to the project team, recognizing their contribution to sustainable and inclusive development through PPPs.
“We are honoured to receive this recognition from UNECE,” said Alina Saraniuk, Deputy Mayor of the Bucha City Council. “This commendation affirms our commitment to creating accessible, equitable, and scalable educational environment in Bucha that can further serve as a replicable model for communities in Ukraine.”
“This project is more than just a school—it’s a symbol of resilience and a vision for the education infrastructure future in Ukraine,” said Aivaras Karalius, Member of the Management Board of the Support Fund for Bucha School. “We are building a safe, sustainable, and inclusive space for children who have endured the trauma of war. This recognition by UNECE strengthens our resolve to continue investing in hope and opportunity.”
Tony Bonnici, Chief of the Cooperation and Partnerships Section at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, also expressed his admiration: “I am thrilled that the Kaunas School program in Lithuania, which received a similar award from UNECE in 2023, served as a model for this project. We need to replicate and scale up projects to achieve the SDGs by 2030.”
The idea for a new school emerged in 2022, following the liberation of the city from Russian occupation. The project envisions the construction of a state-of-the-art public school for 880 children, replacing an older school building damaged by war. It is designed to meet the
current global educational demands of Bucha — a fast-growing city that has become a symbol of Ukrainian resilience.
This will be the first A-class energy-efficient school in Ukraine, designed to meet zero-emission standards with a strong focus on sustainability and biodiversity preservation. The building will include a dual-use shelter, suitable for both emergency and peacetime use, ensuring safety and adaptability in a conflict-affected region.
The project is being implemented by the Charity Organization "Support Fund for Bucha School" in cooperation with the Bucha City Council. The initiative is led by Aivaras Karalius, Member of the Management Board, with over 30 years of experience in banking and business in Lithuania and Ukraine, and Chairman of the Lithuanian-Ukrainian Business Council, Algirdas Gediminas Šemeta, Member of the Supervisory Board, Ukraine’s first Business Ombudsman and former Minister of Finance of Lithuania and Andrii Yakshin, Chairman of the Management Board, with 20 years of experience in business finance.
The project team includes also architects, engineers, lawyers, designers, and managers from both Ukraine and Lithuania, all united by a shared goal — to build a next-generation school.
For more information about the Bucha School project or to request interviews, please contact:
Aivaras Karalius
Member of the Management Board
info@buchaschool.com
+370 682 44 373
Charity Organisation Support Fund for Bucha School