The russian army destroyed hundreds of thousands of buildings in Ukraine. In the Bucha community, 14 schools were ruined.
Get involved in Bucha School project – together, we will create a school for a new generation, which will also become a foundation of a stronger, rebuilt Ukraine.
Modern education spaces, safety, clean energy and environmental resilience has been the focus of the school design. A second home designed to provide a comfortable environment and to enable the future generation of Ukraine.
Project team partnered up to create the Bucha School that has no negative impact on the environment – the first ever A energy class school in Ukraine.
The sense of safety and inclusiveness within the community is a key aspect of the Bucha School concept. Our team of architects aims to create a hub of educational and recreational activity.
EXPLORE
The minimalistic outer design of the building creates safe and welcoming spaces within the school’s inner courtyard, which functions as the heart of the site. Beyond solely a hub for kids, this modern school now opens its doors as a vibrant community space, hosting sports competitions, concerts and much more.
EXPLORE
The energy efficiency of Bucha School stands at the highest level — an A-class rating. It will be able to generate all its necessary energy from renewable sources, ensuring zero negative impact on the environment.
EXPLORE
Vilnius, Lithuania
Vilnius, Lithuania
Bilogorodka, Ukraine
Kaunas region, Lithuania
Gdansk, Poland
Kaunas region, Lithuania
Kaunas region, Lithuania
Vilnius, Lithuania
Vilnius, Lithuania
Every donation will contribute to the rebuild of destroyed education infrastructure in Bucha. Help Ukraine to become more resilient, modern, and stronger than ever before.
2022 August
2022 December
2023 January
2023 February
2023 March
2023 April
2023 August
2024 December
2025 April
2026 September
Transparency is our greatest value. You can review our latest report and ask us any additional information that would be of interest to you.
Funds raised to date
Supporters
Raised out of required
€ 18 000 000
If your company or institution can donate supplies, provide us with discounts and special terms – we are open for every offer!
We are looking for companies and institutions that can help Bucha School project with specific needs
Indoor and outdoor finishes
Solar electrical equipment
Supporting structures
Elevators
Engineering equipment
Sports equipment
Windows and doors
Kitchen equipment
Furniture
Playground equipment
Other
After years of planning, community co-design, and the dedication of dozens of partners across Europe, the Bucha Forest Classroom has officially opened its doors in Olivtsi Park, Bucha, Ukraine. The project, the first in Ukraine to be implemented under the European Commission’s New European Bauhaus initiative, marks a major milestone for the Bucha School project and for children’s education in post-war Ukraine.
Tired, but with big smiles on our faces, we head back home. The memories are still fresh and it feels like the right moment to reflect on a weekend spent with purpose – celebrating Ukraine’s Flag & Independence Days. This year, it was different. Not only remembering, but putting work in creating together something beautiful, […]
The Bucha School project has been awarded a Special Commendation at the 9th edition of the UNECE International Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) Forum, held in Belgrade. The recognition highlights the project’s outstanding contributions to Access and Equity and its strong potential for Replicability in other regions.
On 6th of March, the first co-design session was organised in Bucha, Ukraine, with more than 40 participants and speakers from Lithuanian Ornithological Association, European Institute of Innovation and Technology, Galileo, ISKU, Pažinimo medis and Modulina, which resulted in the site selection and laid the foundation for the classroom design. We can already see, that […]
We are pleased to announce the completion and audit of Bucha School's financial statements for the fiscal year 2024. This milestone reflects our commitment to transparency, accountability, and the sustainable growth of our educational initiatives.
After more than two years of dedicated work and collaboration, we are able to share that today, the construction permit for the new Bucha School has been officially issued.
After years of planning, community co-design, and the dedication of dozens of partners across Europe, the Bucha Forest Classroom has officially opened its doors in Olivtsi Park, Bucha, Ukraine. The project, the first in Ukraine to be implemented under the European Commission’s New European Bauhaus initiative, marks a major milestone for the Bucha School project and for children’s education in post-war Ukraine.
The Forest Classroom is a symbol of resilience. It was built in a city that endured devastating violence in the early weeks of russia's full-scale invasion, and it now stands as a beacon of what rebuilding with purpose can look like: sustainable, community-driven, and forward-looking.
The Bucha Forest Classroom is a 80 m² eco-educational space nestled in a tranquil pine clearing within a Bucha municipal park. Designed by 2L Architects & Engineers and constructed with zero carbon footprint, the building is a practical demonstration of what sustainable architecture can achieve even in the most challenging environments.
The structure uses thermally modified wood and straw panels for the walls, solar panels with a battery storage system for off-grid power resilience, and an energy-efficient heat pump for heating. The glass façade is fitted with Birdshades UV film to protect the local bird population, a small but meaningful nod to the biodiversity of the park that surrounds it.
Inside, students will find a professional podcast recording setup for children’s media projects, a greenhouse with direct indoor access, and raised garden beds for hands-on lessons. Outside, the serene park setting encourages nature-based learning year-round.
The Bucha Forest Classroom was made possible through an extraordinary mobilisation of private and civic support:
• 43 companies contributed funding, materials, and equipment
• 118 volunteers from Lithuania and Ukraine worked on-site and behind the scenes
• 323 private supporters made individual donations
• ~€200,000 total raised in cash, materials, and in-kind contributions
Supporting companies include Lithuanian firms Modulina, Brolis Timber, Jūrės medis, Solitek, Doleta, Battec, Energy Green, and many others, alongside Ukrainian partners and international organisations.
The project was coordinated by the Support Fund for Bucha School charity organisation together with the Bucha City Municipality, with the co-design process launching in March 2025 — a session attended by over 40 participants including representatives from the Lithuanian Ornithological Association, the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, ISKU, Pažinimo medis, and Galileo.
The New European Bauhaus is a European Commission initiative that bridges sustainability, aesthetics, and social inclusion. The Bucha Forest Classroom was one of just eight projects across Europe selected in the NEB CO-create 2025 grant round to receive implementation funding.
Being selected for, and now completing, this programme makes the Bucha Forest Classroom a landmark: the first NEB project fully realised in Ukraine. It demonstrates that even in a country at war, it is possible to build beautifully, sustainably, and in service of community wellbeing.
The Bucha Forest Classroom has been designed as a multi-disciplinary educational hub. Its curriculum connects environmental science, biodiversity, sustainability, gardening, and media literacy in a way that is hands-on, curiosity-driven, and deeply connected to the natural world.
Students will be able to tend to the greenhouse and raised garden beds, observe and document local wildlife, and produce their own podcast episodes on ecological themes. This integrated learning model, combining practical experience, scientific inquiry, and communication skills, is designed to cultivate environmental stewardship from an early age.
The classroom is designed to accommodate 30 students at a time and will be available for reservation by schools across Bucha. Over its lifetime, the space is expected to deliver ecological education to more than 12,000 children.
The location of the classroom, in a calm pine clearing within a public park, was chosen with purpose. For children in Bucha, who have grown up in the shadow of conflict and trauma, access to a peaceful, natural, safe space carries a significance that goes beyond curriculum.
The classroom is accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds. Alongside school programmes, the space will host community workshops, ecological events, and open gatherings — functioning as a neighbourhood green hub as much as an educational facility.
The Forest Classroom is a “little brother” project to the larger Bucha School — a planned school for 880 children that will be the first A-energy-class school in Ukraine. In February 2025, the construction permit for the main school building was officially issued, and the project is now actively seeking funding to begin construction.
The Support Fund for Bucha School, which coordinated the Forest Classroom, was founded by Lithuanian companies BT Invest and 2L Architects. The organisation continues to champion transparent, internationally supported reconstruction of educational infrastructure in Bucha.
The Bucha Forest Classroom is now open and available for schools and community groups to reserve. If you represent a school in Bucha or the wider region and would like to bring your students for an environmental education session, please get in touch through the Bucha School website.
Support the Next Step
The Forest Classroom is open but the mission is far from complete. The full Bucha School for 880 children is ready to build. If you’d like to support the next phase of this project, visit our support page or contact us directly.
The trust of our partners is our greatest value, so we keep our expenses transparent. You can check our latest report.
Tired, but with big smiles on our faces, we head back home. The memories are still fresh and it feels like the right moment to reflect on a weekend spent with purpose – celebrating Ukraine’s Flag & Independence Days. This year, it was different. Not only remembering, but putting work in creating together something beautiful, […]
Tired, but with big smiles on our faces, we head back home. The memories are still fresh and it feels like the right moment to reflect on a weekend spent with purpose - celebrating Ukraine's Flag & Independence Days.
This year, it was different. Not only remembering, but putting work in creating together something beautiful, sustainable - Bucha Forest Classroom, part of New European Bauhaus initiative.
Twenty volunteers travelled from Lithuania to Ukraine and teamed up with Bucha's warm and resilient community. Over fifty local volunteers joined in, including many children, probably making one of the busiest construction sites that we have seen in a while.
In just one weekend, together we:
- raised the structural frame from glue-laminated timber donated by Jūrės Medis UAB
- assembled all Modulina Straw Panels
- while we were not yet ready to complete the facade & terrace works using Brolis Timber donated materials, it took alternative turn and was utilised by volunteers to create two bird houses, eight raised plant beds and a bug hotel
We'll take a short rest and start planning the next one. If you want to join us, please do and let us know. We can promise - it's deeply rewarding.
The trust of our partners is our greatest value, so we keep our expenses transparent. You can check our latest report.
The Bucha School project has been awarded a Special Commendation at the 9th edition of the UNECE International Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) Forum, held in Belgrade. The recognition highlights the project’s outstanding contributions to Access and Equity and its strong potential for Replicability in other regions.
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
The trust of our partners is our greatest value, so we keep our expenses transparent. You can check our latest report.
On 6th of March, the first co-design session was organised in Bucha, Ukraine, with more than 40 participants and speakers from Lithuanian Ornithological Association, European Institute of Innovation and Technology, Galileo, ISKU, Pažinimo medis and Modulina, which resulted in the site selection and laid the foundation for the classroom design. We can already see, that […]
On 6th of March, the first co-design session was organised in Bucha, Ukraine, with more than 40 participants and speakers from Lithuanian Ornithological Association, European Institute of Innovation and Technology, Galileo, ISKU, Pažinimo medis and Modulina, which resulted in the site selection and laid the foundation for the classroom design. We can already see, that the curiosity of the Bucha children is shaping the classroom into the sanctuary of the knowledge and creativity, fostering a deep appreciation for the environment and sustainable living.
The trust of our partners is our greatest value, so we keep our expenses transparent. You can check our latest report.
We are pleased to announce the completion and audit of Bucha School's financial statements for the fiscal year 2024. This milestone reflects our commitment to transparency, accountability, and the sustainable growth of our educational initiatives.
Bucha School received a total of €72,9 thousand in donations throughout 2024. These generous contributions have been pivotal in advancing our mission to provide modern, inclusive, and resilient educational space for the children of Bucha. These funds were allocated towards technical design preparation, capital expenditure estimates, and construction permit application. In addition, the company has signed two in-kind donation agreements for construction materials worth €120 thousand.
The financial statements for 2024 were meticulously audited by BDO Ukraine, a member of the international audit and consulting group. The audit confirmed that our financial records are accurate and comply with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). This rigorous process ensures that our financial practices meet the highest standards of integrity and transparency.
As we move forward, Bucha School continues to raise funding for the start of construction. We extend our gratitude to all our donors, partners, and community members for their continuous support. Together, we are making a lasting impact on the future of education in Bucha.
The trust of our partners is our greatest value, so we keep our expenses transparent. You can check our latest report.
After more than two years of dedicated work and collaboration, we are able to share that today, the construction permit for the new Bucha School has been officially issued.
🇺🇦 Bucha, a town in the Kyiv region, was one of the first to face the enemy and suffer from it. Because of the horrendous cruelty of the russian army towards Ukrainian civilians, Bucha became one of the bitter symbols of the war. After the de-occupation, numerous pieces of evidence of civilian killings, torture, and other crimes emerged. The housing stock suffered greatly, as did the social and educational infrastructure of the city – 14 schools in total were damaged during the occupation.
🌳 This isn't just any school – it's the first A energy class school in Ukraine, setting a new environmental standard for educational infrastructure. It is zero emission building, ensuring sustainability and protected biodiversity.
🏫 The Bucha School project has been a labor of love, resilience, and innovation, aimed at providing a safe, modern, and environmentally friendly learning environment for the future generations of Ukraine. The school will have a shelter that will be adapted for dual usage during peacetime. It will help the children return to education in school instead of studying at home.
🧒 A new modern school will replace old Soviet-type and damaged education infrastructure in Bucha, rebuild a social fabric for the community, and create additional capacity for 720 pupils in school and 180 in kindergarten.
🎨 The school is designed to have innovative education spaces with high aesthetics, creating a second home for children and enabling inclusive and modern education methods. It will be the education space that will empower children suffering from the traumatic experiences to reach their full potential.
We want to thank from the bottom of our heart to the architect teams of 2L Architects & Engineers, BAUST architects, martins studio and all the volunteer specialists who contributed with their insights.
We also want to thank to you, who provided necessary funds to complete the technical design phase, especially NOVUS, FIRSTPICK, PIRKLIŲ KLUBAS and all the individual donors who donated on GlobalGiving platform.
You can find construction permit here.
Let's continue to support Ukraine and celebrate this incredible recovery story! 💪🇺🇦
The trust of our partners is our greatest value, so we keep our expenses transparent. You can check our latest report.
