15.07.2025 | People
Tetiana Shumak, Director of the Teremok day-care centre in Makariv, tells her story of the occupation of the city in spring 2022 – a story of resilience and a shared future that we are building together from the ruins.
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When Tetiana Shumak first saw the remains of the Teremok day-care centre, her heart sank. The building she had devoted a large part of her life to had been turned to rubble. Toys lay shattered, books were ruined, and the playgrounds were destroyed. A place once filled with children’s laughter and songs was now silent.
Before the war, Teremok was the sole inclusive day-care centre in the community of Makariv. Here, a team of 50 dedicated professionals had created a caring and supportive environment for over 130 children, including eleven with special educational needs. For Tetiana, the day-care centre was not just a place of work – it was a calling.
All that changed with the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion. On 27 February 2022, occupiers invaded Makariv. Tetiana and her husband were forced to live in their cellar for over a month, facing threats and searches for gold and weapons. During these difficult times, Tetiana learned of yet another devastating loss: the destruction of the Teremok day-care centre where she worked.
“This isn’t just a war against walls, it’s a war against the young generation of Ukraine,” Tetiana reflects.
But amid the silence of the rubble, there is hope. Thanks to the EU-financed and Nefco-managed programme Housing for Internally Displaced Persons and Rehabilitation of Liberated Cities in Ukraine, Teremok day-care centre is currently being rebuilt as a better, safer and more modern facility.
The reconstructed energy-efficient day-care centre will offer:
- Six class groups, including one for toddlers
- Space for 200 children, including 110 long-term residents
- Inclusive conditions for children with special needs
- Reliable shelter
- New equipment and modern facilities to support a positive learning environment
The project is being implemented with input from the community and the institution’s experienced staff. The team is already preparing for the reopening, dreaming of returning to the work they love and, most importantly, hearing the sound of children’s laughter in the building again.
“This is not just a reconstruction of a building, it is a return to life. It’s a reminder that good has allies. I am extremely grateful to everyone who is helping ensure our children have their place in the sun again,” says Tetiana.
The project is funded by the EU, managed by Nefco, and implemented by the city of Makariv. The European Commission has allocated in total EUR 100 million to support this initiative, Housing for Internally Displaced Persons and Rehabilitation of Liberated Cities in Ukraine, which includes construction of new housing in 9 cities and renovation of municipal facilities in 2 cities to urgently accommodate internally displaced persons and provide educational and healthcare services.
For further information, please contact:
Julia Shevchuk, Senior Programme Manager at Nefco
Yuliia.Shevchuk@nefco.int, +380 50 358 3518
Oleksii Kapustinskiy, Investment Manager at Nefco
oleksii.kapustynskyi@nefco.int, +358 10 6180 649
Andriy Bandura, Sector Manager Energy – Gas, Oil and Energy Efficiency at the Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine
Andriy.BANDURA@eeas.europa.eu