Support the Shelter Equipment at “Metelyk” Kindergarten, Cherkasy

The International Charitable Foundation “Angels of Freedom” is raising funds to equip a safe shelter for Kindergarten №54 “Metelyk” in Cherkasy, which is attended daily by 129 children.

Since the beginning of the full-scale russian invasion of Ukraine, as of December 21, 2025, Cherkasy has experienced over 2,851 air raid alerts, with an average duration of 1 hour and 30 minutes each. Given this, children spend hundreds of hours in underground shelters yearly.
The kindergarten has a shelter, and its area can accommodate all the children. However, it currently lacks an emergency exit. That’s why according to safety standards, the shelter can hold no more than 50 children at a time.

In practice, this means that during air raid alerts, most children have to go to a nearby building’s shelter. This is unsafe, difficult for staff, and stressful for the children.

WE ARE OPENING THE COLLECTION

Fundraising goal: UAH 330,000

What we are fundraising for:

1. Construction of a second (emergency) exitThis is a key solution that will: • Safely accommodate all 129 children in the shelter; • Eliminate the need to move children between buildings during alerts; • Bring the shelter into compliance with civil protection requirements.
2. Installation of a forced ventilation systemForced ventilation is a basic requirement for safe shelters. It ensures: • Clean air during prolonged stays; • Reduced health risks, especially for the youngest children.
3. Construction of a rampThe kindergarten includes: • 26 children with special educational needs; • 12 children with disabilities.
Without a ramp, staff must carry children to the shelter by hand, which is hard for caregivers and uncomfortable for the children.

Among the kindergarten children:
• 5 children from low-income families; • 26 children with special educational needs; • 12 children with disabilities; • 16 children from military families.

Why this fundraiser is important:

UAH 330,000 will make it possible to:
 • Make the shelter fully functional and safe; • Ensure equal access to the shelter for all children; • Reduce constant stress for teachers and parents; • Provide children with a comfortable environment during air raid alerts and reduce their stress.

A shelter is not a luxury or an optional feature, it is a basic requirement for safe learning and development for children living in a country at war. Help the children and staff of “Metelyk” Kindergarten in Cherkasy stay safe.

Thank you to everyone who contributes.

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