Educational institutions in the Lviv community raised UAH 45.6 million over the 2025/2026 academic year to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The funds were used to purchase drones, vehicles and other equipment for Ukrainian servicemen. This was reported during a year-end live broadcast by the director of the Department of Education and Culture of the Lviv City Council, Andrii Zakaliuk.
“Throughout the year, charity fairs and various initiatives were held in our schools, nurseries and out-of-school institutions. Thanks to the concern shown by children, parents, teachers and the entire educational community, we managed to raise UAH 45.6 million to meet the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. I thank everyone who contributed to this important cause,” said Andrii Zakaliuk.
The largest share of the funds raised came from school-based initiatives. During charity fairs, celebrations, auctions and other events, schools in the Lviv community transferred UAH 27.65 million to support the military.
A further UAH 7.8 million in support of defenders was raised through citywide charity fairs involving educational institutions. Pre-school education institutions collected UAH 8.43 million, while out-of-school education institutions raised UAH 1.68 million.
Separately, Andrii Zakaliuk noted the solidarity shown by educators and parents when it came to helping a pupil of one of Lviv’s kindergartens — four-year-old Marko Hladysh, who has been diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. For his treatment, educational institutions together with parents raised over UAH 15 million. According to the official, these funds were collected through charity events, concerts, as well as one day’s wages donated by staff members. The fundraising campaign has been completed, and the boy is preparing to travel to the UAE for treatment.
During the broadcast it was also reported that educational institutions in the Lviv community actively attracted extra-budgetary resources for their own development. Over the academic year, schools received UAH 34.8 million in such revenues, nurseries — UAH 4.9 million, and out-of-school education institutions — UAH 394,000. These include charitable contributions, grant programmes, as well as support in the form of goods and completed repair works.
Andrii Zakaliuk thanked parents of pupils and children for their participation in charitable initiatives and for their joint efforts to develop educational institutions in the Lviv community.