The First Lady of Ukraine, together with the team of the Olena Zelenska Foundation and the Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Portugal in Ukraine, Pedro Forbes Lemos, visited the first School of Superheroes in Cherkasy.
Together with the children, the President’s wife joined a creative workshop, a lesson on Ukraine’s cultural heritage, and a resilience-building session. Olena Zelenska was also shown the wards where teachers hold lessons for children unable to attend regular schools due to health conditions.
The First Lady spoke with teachers and psychologists about the center’s activities: helping children adapt to school, coordinating lessons with treatment, and organizing classes.
“When a child is undergoing treatment, learning should not stop; it must adapt to the child and the circumstances. The School of Superheroes makes this possible: equipped classrooms in hospitals, a teacher and a psychologist by the child’s side, and communication with peers. The Foundation is expanding the School of Superheroes network so that such spaces exist in every children’s hospital in our country. This must become a national standard, and we are working steadily toward it together with international partners,” noted Olena Zelenska.
The Cherkasy School of Superheroes center provides education for children in two medical institutions: the Regional Children’s Hospital and the Oncology Center. The space includes seven learning zones – for preschoolers, primary and secondary school students, as well as mental health rooms. This year, while renovations were ongoing, almost 1,500 lessons were delivered to over 800 children in hospital wards.
“We are grateful to our partners who support us in implementing such important projects. We are grateful to the Camões Institute of Portugal for their trust and contribution to establishing the Cherkasy center,” emphasized the Director of the Olena Zelenska Foundation, Nina Horbachova.
This Cherkasy School of Superheroes has become the 18th in Ukraine. Over the last academic year, more than 15,000 children studied at School of Superheroes centers.
“Knowledge heals, inspires, and opens the world. We are glad, in partnership with the Olena Zelenska Foundation, to bring knowledge to children even there, in hospitals, where it may seem impossible,” noted Nataliia Zhilinska, Director of the State Institution “School of Superheroes.”
Just last year, with the Foundation’s support, six new learning spaces were opened. Since September 1, Schools of Superheroes will also start operating in Chernihiv and Lutsk.
“Portugal believes education truly saves lives, and we are pleased to support the Olena Zelenska Foundation’s School of Superheroes initiative and the establishment of two educational centers in hospitals in Chernihiv and Cherkasy,” emphasized Paulo Rangel, Minister of State and Foreign Affairs of Portugal.