Ukraine: Rebuilding education — the revival of Snihurivka Lyceum in Mykolaiv Oblast

When we arrive at the Snihurivka Vocational Lyceum, we are struck by the contrast. The buildings are partially ruined, yet the grounds are carefully maintained, with flowerbeds in full bloom. Viktoriia, the school’s director, welcomes us with a smile that carries both warmth and weight.

She walks us through the premises, pointing out what used to be — and what could be again. For over 80 years, the lyceum trained more than 400 students each year in fields such as culinary arts, computer operation, plastering, and agricultural machinery. Notably, it was the first institution in Ukraine to systematically train women as tractor drivers.

That all changed in 2022. After Russian forces occupied the area in March, residents spent months without basic utilities. A missile strike destroyed the main school building. When the occupation ended, the teaching staff found the school heavily damaged and looted.

“They kept livestock here,” Viktoriia says quietly. “The former director couldn’t imagine students would ever return.”

A team that chose to stay

But Viktoriia and her colleagues believed otherwise. Step by step, they began clearing debris and salvaging what they could. With limited resources, they launched a pilot tractor-driving course for eight young women. “We taught in rooms with plastic on the windows,” she says. “It wasn’t ideal — but it was a start.”

International partners began helping with equipment, allowing the school to admit over 100 new students in September 2024. Still, the buildings remained unsafe and uncomfortable. That’s when the Danish Refugee Council stepped in.

Supporting safe learning environments

“When we saw the condition of the site, we knew it needed urgent support,” says Oksana, a Shelter and Settlement Officer at DRC’s Mykolaiv office.

With support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, DRC contracted repair works across two main buildings. In one, the second floor serves as a dormitory for 80 students, while the first contains classrooms. The roof and drainage system have been repaired, and a new entrance canopy installed.

In the second building, restoration of classrooms and workshops is ongoing. Windows and doors have been replaced; work continues on floors, walls, ceilings, staircases, and restrooms. The basement, which serves as a shelter during air raid alerts, is also being reinforced.

A future shaped by persistence

According to regional authorities, over 220 educational institutions in Mykolaiv Oblast were damaged in the first year of the war, with 25 completely destroyed. Snihurivka Lyceum is one of many — but it is one of the few now being rebuilt. Full recovery remains a long way off. The school oversees over 360 hectares of farmland, much of which remains contaminated with mines, making hands-on training difficult. But Viktoriia remains focused on what’s possible.

“Restoration isn’t just about buildings,” she says. “It’s about giving young people a reason to stay and a chance to build a life here.” The repairs are expected to finish in autumn 2025. The lyceum’s full return will take time — but with each step, the path forward becomes clearer.