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 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 

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.

Financial Overview

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.

Audit and Approval

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.

Key Achievements

• Technical Design Completion and Construction Permit: The construction permit for Bucha School's was received in February 2025, providing immediate opportunity to start the construction of the shelter and kindergarten, followed by primary and secondary school for 880 children.
• Energy Efficiency Certificate: Bucha School received the highest A Energy Class Certificate, aligning with the European Commission’s Nearly Zero Emission Standard (NZEB).
• New European Bauhaus CO-create 2025: A proposal to create a Bucha Forest Classroom was selected among 8 projects from Europe to receive grant for project implementation in 2025.
  

Looking Ahead

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.

🇺🇦 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! 💪🇺🇦

This event, organised by Monika Kiriejevaitė, was a true test of endurance and spirit, celebrating Lithuania's 107 years of independence. The hike wasn't just about physical endurance; it had a noble cause. The participants aimed to raise funds for the Bucha Forest Classroom in Ukraine.

Thanks to the generosity of 57 individuals and two companies, ISKU and Hostinger, the hikers raised a total of €4,793. These funds will be used to furnish a classroom, providing a unique learning environment for the children in Bucha Forest.

A huge thank you goes out to everyone who participated, donated, and supported this cause. Your contributions are making a real difference. The event received extensive coverage from LRT on national TV and radio, highlighting the community's spirit and dedication.

About Hike for Freedom

The Hike for Freedom is an annual event that brings together passionate individuals to celebrate Lithuanian independence through a challenging and meaningful activity. Each year, participants take on a significant hiking challenge, symbolizing the resilience and determination of the Lithuanian people. The event also aims to support various charitable causes, making a positive impact both locally and internationally.

Donation includes state-of-the-art thermostats, dimmers, light switches, sockets, and more - transforming the school's interiors with modern, smart and stylish solutions. These upgrades will create a more efficient, comfortable and inspiring environment for both students and teachers.

On behalf of the entire Bucha community, we are grateful to JUNG for believing in the magic of education and the power of giving. Together, we are not just lighting up classrooms - we're illuminating the path to a brighter future for Ukrainian children!

About JUNG Vilnius

JUNG Vilnius is part of a JUNG family, a premium supplier of modern building technology. The Company offers a wide range of products and solutions for lighting, blinds, air conditioning, energy management, security, door communication, and multimedia. JUNG is known for its high-quality, innovative, and stylish electrical installation systems. Their products are designed to enhance the functionality and aesthetics of various spaces, making them more efficient and comfortable.

The GLT beams from Jūrės medis are not just a financial contribution; they represent a commitment to quality and sustainability. These beams will form the backbone of our new facilities, ensuring that they are built to the highest standards. The sports hall and amphitheater will provide our students with state-of-the-art ethereal spaces for physical activities, performances, and community events. The new sports hall will offer a modern space for physical education, promoting health and wellness among our students. The amphitheater will be a hub for cultural and artistic activities, fostering creativity and expression.

We extend our deepest gratitude to Jūrės medis for their incredible support. Their generosity is a testament to their commitment to education infrastructure rebuilding in Ukraine and Bucha community development. This donation will have a lasting impact on Bucha school and students, helping us to provide an enriched and full of serenity learning environment.

Together, with the support of companies like Jūrės medis, we are building a brighter future for Bucha children. Thank you for being a part of this journey with us.

About Jūrės medis

UAB Jūrės medis is one of the largest manufacturers of glue laminated timber structures in the Baltic states. The company has produced such structures since 1974 and the origins of the company date back to 1909 when the german merchant F.Torkler has established a new sawmill in Jūrės village. Extensive experience and high quality of products is approved by the quality certificate of the German Otto Graf Institute for strength classes A, GL24; GL28 and GL32 in accordance with EN14080. In 2012 the company received ISO9001 and ISO14001 certificates.

The 2024 GivingTuesday campaign matched all eligible online donations to projects with a proportional share of GlobalGiving’s $750,000 Incentive Fund. Supported by more than 12,400 donors, 1,400 locally led projects raised $3.4 million for their mission to improve their community wellbeing.

Support Fund for Bucha School has debuted on the platform several months ago and managed to raise $3,951, out of which $798 were added by GlobalGiving matching bonus. A total of 63 donors from Netherlands, Germany, Finland, Lithuania, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Sweden, Lithuania, Ukraine and other countries supported Bucha School project.

All the funds raised during the campaign will be used to finance working documentation in order to prepare for construction start in Spring 2025. A new modern school for 880 children is scheduled to be completed in September, 2026. This state-of-the art school will not only provide a modern education but also serve as a model for sustainable and energy-efficient construction in Ukraine.

Through our partnership with GlobalGiving we're aiming to raise crucial funds to complete the construction and equip the school with essential resources. If you want to support our vital cause, visit our GlobalGiving project page. Every contribution, big or small, brings us closer to our goal.

The technical design expertise is a comprehensive document that details the technical aspects of the school building. It outlines the building's structure, materials, systems (electrical, plumbing, HVAC), accessibility features, and compliance with all relevant safety regulations.

The completion of the technical design expertise signifies that the planning and development phase is nearing its end. With this document in hand, we can now confidently proceed with submitting our application for a construction permit.

Obtaining the construction permit will pave the way for the construction phase to begin. We'll keep you updated on our progress through the permitting process and provide regular updates as construction gets underway.

We are incredibly excited to be another step closer to building a new school that will provide students with an exceptional learning experience. We'll continue to share updates on our website and social media channels.

With a generous $10,000 monthly budget for Google and Youtube Ads grants, Workspace, and more, we are poised to enhance our reach to a wider audience of supporters like never before. We are deeply grateful to Google for their commitment to empowering nonprofits and empowering a positive impact on education.

Moreover, we are proud to announce that the Bucha School has joined the Microsoft Tech for Social Impact program. Through this collaboration, we have secured a grant for 300 Microsoft 365 licenses, Azure, and other cloud solutions. This support will significantly enhance Bucha School’s IT infrastructure. Providing quality resources to children in a modern learning environment is a foundation of the stronger educational achievements. A heartfelt thank you to Microsoft for Nonprofits for their belief in our mission and their dedication to shaping the future of education in Bucha.

These partnerships with Google and Microsoft mark a significant milestone in our journey to provide the best possible education environment for Bucha community students. We look forward to leveraging these technology platforms to create a brighter future for Bucha community. We thank our valuable partners for continued support!

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Enhancing Educational Resources

The influx of new books aims to foster a love for reading and learning among Bucha’s youth and residents. With a diverse range of titles now accessible, students will have the opportunity to explore new worlds, gain knowledge, and develop critical thinking skills. This initiative is not just about providing books; it’s about opening doors to endless possibilities and nurturing a culture of lifelong learning.

Community Impact

The donation is expected to have a profound impact on the community. For the schools, it means better-equipped libraries that can support the English curriculum and offer students a broader perspective on various subjects. For the city library, it means an enriched collection that can attract more visitors, encourage reading habits, and serve as a hub for community engagement.

A Collaborative Effort

This joint initiative between Book Aid International, Support Fund for Bucha School and Bucha City Council underscores the power of collaboration and the importance of supporting communities in need. Book Aid International’s generous support is a testament to their commitment to education and social development. Their efforts to restore Bucha’s social fabric through this donation are commendable and deeply appreciated.

Building a Brighter Future

As Bucha continues to rebuild and grow, initiatives like these play a crucial role in shaping a brighter future. By investing in education and providing valuable resources, we are collectively working towards a more informed, empowered, and connected community.

A huge thank you to Book Aid International for their incredible support and effort. Together, we are building a brighter future, one book at a time. 

GlobalGiving is the first and largest worldwide fundraising community for nonprofits, donors, and companies. Through access to funding, tools, training, and one-on-one support, they support community-driven organisations like Bucha School in hundreds of communities around the world, creating a virtuous cycle of good.

Each year, thousands of organisations from around the world apply to become official partners of GlobalGiving by completing the Pathway program, a community learning experience designed by existing GlobalGiving nonprofit partners to help organisations get fundraising ready.

“I am excited to see how our partnership evolves, and I am honoured to be part of their journey to make the world a better place,” said GlobalGiving CEO Victoria Vrana of the partnership with Support Fund for Bucha School.

This partnership enables Bucha School to reach a wider audience of individual, corporate and institutional donors that will help fund the new school in Bucha.

Learn more about Fund's work at GlobalGiving.

About Support Fund for Bucha School

Support Fund for Bucha School is a non-profit organisation registered in Ukraine, which aims to build a modern school for 880 children in Bucha community. The new school has A energy class certificate and will be equipped with a dual-use shelter designed in accordance with the most recent changes in the regulation.

About GlobalGiving

GlobalGiving is a top-rated nonprofit that makes it easy and safe to give to local projects around the world, while providing fellow nonprofits with the tools, training, and support they need to thrive. Since 2002, the GlobalGiving community has raised more than $948 million from 1.9 million donors for 37,537 projects in more than 175 countries. To learn more, visit Bucha School profile.

With DREAM (Digital Restoration EcoSystem for Accountable Management), anyone, anywhere can now monitor the effectiveness and efficiency of the Bucha School project in real time. This means that all stakeholders can access vital insights to help mitigate risks, improve reporting accuracy, and enhance overall project performance.

Bucha School commitment to transparency is unwavering, and by embracing platforms like DREAM, we aim to foster trust and collaboration in the Ukraine reconstruction process. Together, we can redefine how projects are implemented and ensure that every effort contributes to building a brighter future for Ukraine communities.

You can visit Bucha School project profile on DREAM platform.

We are delighted to share Support Fund for Bucha School financial statements for fiscal year of 2023 prepared by the independent auditor BDO.

It was the first operating year for the Fund, which marked the successful completion of a design stage, workshops with the community and preparation for the construction permit issue. It has also set a solid foundation for a continuous work with our valued donors and partners that will continue even at the higher pace in 2024.

SUPPORT FUND FOR BUCHA SCHOOL, a non-profit organisation working to design and build a school/kindergarten in the city of Bucha (Ukraine), on June 18th, 2024, completed organisational changes that welcomed a new participant. 2L Architects & Engineers, who have been partners in the design of the school so far, joined the Fund's participation and decision-making team. 2L Architects & Engineers will contribute its invaluable experience in school construction and will replace Nullus UAB as a founding member of the Fund. The latter's withdrawal was initiated by the mutual agreement of the parties in order to protect the meaningful initiative of the Fund from the reputational risks currently faced by the Nullus' shareholder BaltCap Infrastructure Fond, due to an investigation launched to one of BaltCap's partners. We are pleased that, due to the collegial governance mechanism put in place at the time of the establishment of the SUPPORT FUND FOR BUCHA SCHOOL, the Fund has not suffered any harm and is not part of the investigation.

Due to the withdrawal of Nullus UAB, the SUPPORT FUND FOR BUCHA SCHOOL is no longer eligible for APVA (Aplinkos projektų valdymo agentūra - Environmental Project Management Agency, Lithuania) support under the successful application submitted by Nullus UAB, and therefore the contract between APVA and Nullus UAB has been terminated and, in this context, the amount reserved for the project, but cancelled through no fault of the Fund, will be subtracted from the amount of the donor contributions received to date and the amount of the donors' fixed commitments. On the other hand, we understand that reputation and stability are often more important than the promised subsidies, so we would like to thank the participants of the SUPPORT FUND FOR BUCHA SCHOOL: BT Invest UAB and the public institution 1K fund (VšĮ Vienas K paramos fondas), our partner and new participant 2L Architects & Engineers, who have been actively contributing to our noble cause to date, and those who have supported the fund with their competences, work and funding: Baust architects, hx6n - Hexagon Agency, Panevėžio statybos trestas, Novus Ukraine, FIRST PICK and all donors.

Our sincere thanks goes to all those who donated and believed in meaningful initiative of the SUPPORT FUND FOR BUCHA SCHOOL to build a school fully compliant with the requirements of the Ukrainian law and influenced by the best European solutions and innovations already applied in Lithuania. The school/kindergarten will be energy-efficient, independent of the city's heating network, gas, designed with a solar power plant on the roof of the entire building, geothermal boreholes that will not only provide full heat but also passive cold during the warm season. It will also have a stadium and a bomb shelter, as required in Ukraine, for all the staff and pupils (720 pupils and 160 kindergarten children), which will, among other things, have a number of alternative uses that will allow the use of this part of the building in the day-to-day running of the school/kindergarten.  The school/ kindergarten is planned to be fully finished and equipped and, after commissioning, will be donated to the town of Bucha with all its infrastructure and land plot. We hope that the school project, which has been prepared in accordance with modern requirements, will later be used as a model design for the construction of educational facilities throughout Ukraine.

On November 24, architect team went to Bucha to present the interior design of the school to the most important audience — students, teachers, school management, and the Bucha municipality administration. The students examined each floor drawing in detail and shared their novel ideas with the architects to galvanise further improvements. The team also gathered feedback on the interior design of the future school and kindergarten from teachers and educators.

At the moment we are working on school interior, and the team of architects will make sure to include all the amazing suggestions from the kids and teachers in the next phase of our work. Meanwhile, the technical design of the school is almost ready, and we are preparing to obtain a building permit.

The biggest appreciation goes to Bucha Lyceum No. 9 for helping us to organise such a valuable brainstorming session. A special shout-out goes to the 10th-grade students and teachers who shared their thoughts during our discussions!

This September the Franciscan High School in Kretinga, Lithuania, organised a fair for European Countries Day, where students came together to raise money to support the construction of a new school in Bucha, Ukraine. Together students collected and donated more then 700 euros for the Bucha school fund. It is truly fantastic to see the involvement of kids in supporting the rebuilding of Ukraine.

Every donation matters to the successful construction of the Bucha School! We want to thank all the children for their effort and contribution to the Bucha School success.

Be galo Jums dėkojame!

Link to the original post on a Kretinga school website.

On October 5 and 6, Ukrainian and Lithuanian architects and educators, representatives of government agencies and NGOs met in Vilnius to launch the «School of the Future for Ukraine» project. During the two-day workshop in Vilnius, participants discussed architectural, educational, social, environmental, and economic aspects of the concept of a new Ukrainian school. This joint study will serve as the basis for determining the criteria necessary for the implementation of the future technical design of a typical school.

We were grateful for the opportunity to join the discussion! Viktorija Blažienė, Head of the Architecture Department of the Bucha School, shared her experience of actively involving key users, including students, teachers, and parents, in the planning and construction of schools.

The «School of the Future for Ukraine» project, initiated by the Lithuanian government, aims to reconstruct Ukraine's educational infrastructure. The program aims to develop a standard technical school design that will save time and money on construction while creating an innovative learning environment.

Link to the article on a lietuva.lt: link.

The project team gathered in Vilnius Gravitas school to meet the kids from Ukraine and asked them – what is a perfect new school? All participants were divided into five groups and had to brainstorm and design ideas for several spaces in the school.

Nowadays, school is not only a second home for students – it is a hub for everything and everyone – sports, leisure and events. So, for best results, everyones‘ in the school community's needs have to be heard!

In collaboration with the Bucha municipality design team, administration members, Bucha school heads, teachers, investors, and project coordinators gathered to think about a new type of school for Bucha. All participants were divided into four groups and had to reflect on the problems and possibilities in existing schools. Their insights will be used to define the main tasks, challenges and needs for the further steps of the design process.

Out of total project cost of EUR 18 million, 0.5 million will be invested into energy efficiency measures and granted from Climate Change Mitigation Program funds administered by the Environmental Project Management Agency (APVA). The project will be implemented by Nullus on behalf of the Support Fund for Bucha School. Once built, the school that meets the nearly-zero-emission-standard will be handed over free of charge to the municipality of Bucha.

“This is the first project supported by the Development Cooperation Program in Ukraine. It is good that the investments reach a very important area of education, and the children attending the school will remember Lithuania’s contribution to rebuild of destroyed infrastructure of Bucha. We believe that the school’s opening ceremony will take place in a free Ukraine,” says Agnė Markauskienė, head of the Climate Change Mitigation Department.

On August 18th, 2022, a memorandum of cooperation was signed between Bucha mayor Anatoliy Fedoruk and Aivaras Karalius, a representative of an investment company from Lithuania and Member of the Management Board of Bucha School.

With this memorandum we established collaboration between the charity organisation «Support fund for Bucha school» and the City Council for the construction of a school and a kindergarten in a new neighbourhood of Bucha.

The new school is designed to accommodate 720 children, while the kindergarten will cater to 160 preschoolers. The school will feature thirty classrooms, libraries, computer labs, workshops, a stadium, a running track, gym and a multifunctional hall.

You can watch the signing of the memorandum here.