“I was at home in Rudnytske during the Russian occupation. It was a very difficult time for our village. There was a shortage of food. We received food deliveries by ambulance from Baryshivka. It was hard to leave the house. Russian soldiers lived in our art space, “Mystetska komora”. After liberation, I needed to work with a psychologist. That's why I understand very well that people need rehabilitation. And art and creativity can help them," says Antonina Polyanychko, the founder of the educational hub “Mystetska komora”.
Rudnytske is a small village in Kyiv Oblast. Before the war, 632 people lived there. There was a school, kindergarten, and club. Russians occupied the village and destroyed the school and kindergarten in March 2022. The building was directly hit by a shell, causing destruction and a fire. Currently, children commute to another village 7 kilometers away for their education. Therefore, the educational hub “Mystetska komora” has become a place in the village where children gain knowledge and interact with their peers.
Before the war, there was an art space in the village, but gradually, it expanded into an educational hub.
"Usually, the initiative comes from the villagers, and my task is to support it. For instance, some boys came to the club and said they wanted to learn how to play chess. So, a chess club was formed in “Mystetska komora”, says Antonina Polyanychko.
The educational hub became very important after the beginning of the full-scale war when internally displaced persons (IDPs) from other regions of Ukraine arrived at Rudnytske. In particular, 37 immigrants live in the village, including two large families.
The installation of the hub in the village was supported by the Charitable Foundation 'MHP - Gromadi' with the assistance of the non-governmental organization ISAR Ednannia. The educational hub is a great example of how a community, in collaboration with a charitable foundation, combined efforts to improve the quality of people's lives. Now, individuals can learn, conduct workshops, play, organize various events such as first aid lessons, and safety training, and soon, even piano lessons will become a reality!
The setup of the educational hub cost 500,000 hryvnias. 'We completed a comprehensive renovation of the 57 square meter premises. For instance, we replaced windows, doors, flooring, and ceiling. Additionally, we purchased audio equipment, a modem, router, screen, projector, chairs, and shelves. This equipment is essentially for the hub's activities. Also, if necessary, our hub can function as a resilience center,” explains the director.
However, necessity number one for Rudnytske is rebuilding the destroyed school. Before the war, this school was attended by 127 children from Rudnytske and the neighboring village of Lukyanivka.
“Families with children don't stay with us for long because the school doesn’t work. Parents find it important that during times of war, their children are nearby. If there's any danger, they can quickly retrieve them from school or kindergarten. Therefore, the school is essential for us, like the air," asserts Olga Melnychuk, a leading specialist in the Lukyanivka village district.
The rebuilding of the school requires 60 million hryvnias. This is an insurmountable amount for the community. While the regional authorities seek funding, the educational hub at least partially addresses the needs of the local children.
The hub is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) within the Ukraine Civil Society Sectoral Support Activity implemented by ISAR Ednannia in partnership with the Ukrainian Center of Independent Political Research and Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law.
