The kindergarten, a project of Estonian development cooperation, is set to open its doors on June 1, 2023. The first wooden modules of the kindergarten have been manufactured and will begin the journey to Ovruch this week.
“All necessary paperwork is in order, and construction is on schedule. We are confident that, in 80 days’ time, we will open the kindergarten’s front door and welcome 80 children into their four new classrooms,” said Tarmo Needo, Manager of Infrastructure Development Projects in Ukraine.
The Largest Public-Private Cooperation Yet
The construction of a kindergarten in the Zhytomyr region is the first large-scale Estonian development project in which the public and private sectors have worked together toward a common goal. Our private partners are:
- Harmet OÜ, which won a state tender worth €1.7 million to construct and deliver the modules that make up the kindergarten.
- Nordecon AS and its Ukrainian subsidiary Eurocon Ukraine TOV, secured a €780,000 public tender to carry out the main contract for construction.
- Kumer Saag OÜ produced relevant furniture, a tender worth €59,510.
- Metos AS provides the equipment for and installation of the kindergarten’s kitchen and secured a €33,289 tender for this effort.
Several companies have also offered their products and services free of charge. Tiit Sild’s Architecture Firm Sport OÜ created workable blueprints for the kindergarten, and Primostar OÜ supplied waterproofing materials for an underground bomb shelter. This project is also supported by Kitman Thulema AS and Eesti Puitmajaliit.
In addition, recent cooperation agreement between the Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV), Solarstone, and Sunly, confirms that a 20kW solar energy system, including corresponding batteries, will be installed at the Ovruch kindergarten. These solar power resources will be sustainable and environmentally friendly, enabling the kindergarten to save on electricity costs and ensure that the school will have energy access even in the event of a power outage.
To bring the Ovruch kindergarten to completion, ESTDEV also works with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iceland, which contributed €66,000 to purchase furniture and media technology for the classrooms.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia has allocated €2.7 million to ESTDEV to manage the first stage of construction of the kindergarten.
Estonia is the first country to begin physically contributing to Ukraine’s reconstruction, and seeks to set an example for other countries through its initiative and successful projects.