Create New Spaces for Preschool Education Grant Program (Ukraine)

Applications are open to public and municipal educational institutions in seven Ukrainian regions to establish and launch new preschool divisions for early childhood education and care. Grants of up to US$20,000 can support premises preparation, furniture, equipment, educational materials, and the creation of safe and accessible learning environments.

About the Preschool Development Grant

The programme aims to address shortages in preschool education and childcare services in communities across Ukraine.

It supports public and municipal educational institutions that want to establish new preschool divisions within existing educational facilities. The funding is intended to help institutions prepare their premises, purchase essential equipment, and complete the practical preparations needed to begin providing early childhood education and care.

The initiative focuses particularly on communities where access to preschool services has been disrupted or remains insufficient.

What Does the Grant Support?

Successful applicants can receive funding of up to US$20,000 per project.

Grant funding can be used for expenses directly connected with establishing and launching a preschool division, including:

• Preparing and adapting suitable premises.
• Purchasing furniture for classrooms and childcare spaces.
• Purchasing educational and didactic materials.
• Acquiring essential equipment.
• Creating a safe environment for children.
• Improving accessibility for children with different needs.
• Other justified expenses directly related to opening the preschool division.

The grant is intended to help institutions move from planning to actual implementation of new preschool services.

Key Objectives of the Programme

The programme seeks to strengthen early childhood education and care in Ukraine by:

• Increasing the availability of preschool and childcare services.
• Supporting communities experiencing shortages of preschool places.
• Creating safe and child-friendly educational environments.
• Improving access to early childhood learning.
• Supporting public and municipal educational institutions.
• Helping institutions establish operational preschool divisions.
• Providing appropriate furniture, equipment, and educational resources.

Who Is Eligible?

Eligible applicants are public and municipal educational institutions in Ukraine that meet the programme requirements.

Applicants must:

• Be located in one of the seven eligible regions.
• Intend to establish and open a new preschool division.
• Provide early childhood education and care through the new division.
• Have suitable premises available or be able to designate appropriate premises.
• Have the support of the institution’s founder.
• Be prepared to complete the necessary organisational requirements.
• Be prepared to undertake the required legal and administrative procedures.
• Have the capacity to recruit or arrange the necessary staff.
• Be ready to operate the preschool division after establishment.

Eligible Regions

Applications are open to educational institutions located in the following seven regions of Ukraine:

• Dnipropetrovsk
• Zaporizhzhia
• Mykolaiv
• Odesa
• Sumy
• Kharkiv
• Chernihiv

Institutions located outside these regions are not eligible under this programme.

Funding Amount

The maximum grant available is US$20,000.

The funding can help cover the practical costs associated with establishing a preschool division, particularly:

• Premises preparation
• Furniture
• Equipment
• Educational resources
• Didactic materials
• Safety improvements
• Accessibility measures
• Other justified launch-related costs

Applicants should ensure that proposed expenses are clearly connected to the establishment and opening of the preschool division.

What Applicants Must Be Ready to Do

Receiving funding requires more than simply having an available building. Applicants should demonstrate that they can take the necessary steps to establish and operate the new preschool service.

This includes:

1. Identify suitable premises
   The institution must have appropriate space or be able to designate premises for the preschool division.
2. Obtain founder support
   Applicants must have the necessary support from their founder to establish the new division.
3. Plan the preschool environment
   The proposed space should provide a safe, accessible, and appropriate environment for young children.
4. Identify equipment and materials
   Applicants should determine which furniture, equipment, educational materials, and other resources are required.
5. Complete organisational and legal procedures
   Institutions must be prepared to undertake the necessary administrative and legal steps required to open the preschool division.
6. Address staffing requirements
   Applicants must be ready to make the necessary staffing arrangements for operating the new service.
7. Launch the preschool division
   The ultimate purpose of the grant is to establish a functioning preschool service rather than simply renovate or equip a facility.

Why This Grant Matters

Access to quality early childhood education and childcare is essential for children and families, particularly in communities facing disruption and limited educational infrastructure.

By supporting the establishment of new preschool divisions, the programme can help communities:

• Expand access to early learning.
• Provide safer spaces for young children.
• Improve educational continuity.
• Support parents and caregivers who need childcare services.
• Strengthen local education systems.
• Create more inclusive and accessible preschool environments.

The investment can therefore contribute to both early childhood development and community resilience.

Application Tips

Applicants should make their proposals clear, practical, and closely connected to the purpose of the programme.

Important points to consider include:

• Clearly explain the local shortage or need for preschool services.
• Describe the premises that will be used for the new division.
• Provide a realistic list of required furniture and equipment.
• Explain how the proposed investment will benefit children.
• Demonstrate that the institution has founder support.
• Explain how the preschool division will be staffed and operated.
• Include realistic and justified costs.
• Ensure proposed purchases are directly related to establishing the preschool division.
• Demonstrate how the new service will create a safe and accessible environment.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applicants should avoid proposals that:

• Do not clearly establish a need for a new preschool division.
• Lack suitable premises.
• Do not demonstrate founder support.
• Request funding for unrelated institutional expenses.
• Provide unclear or unrealistic budgets.
• Ignore accessibility or child-safety considerations.
• Fail to explain how the division will operate after the grant.
• Focus only on purchasing equipment without explaining the overall preschool plan.

How the Funding Can Be Used

A strong application should connect each proposed expense to the establishment of the preschool division.

For example:

Need → Proposed investment → Expected result

• Lack of suitable classroom furniture → Purchase child-appropriate furniture → Functional preschool classroom.
• Insufficient educational resources → Purchase educational and didactic materials → Improved early learning activities.
• Inadequate child-friendly facilities → Prepare and adapt premises → Safer learning environment.
• Accessibility barriers → Install appropriate accessibility measures → More inclusive preschool participation.

This approach makes the proposed use of the US$20,000 grant easier to understand and justify.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can apply for the preschool grant in Ukraine?

Public and municipal educational institutions located in Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Sumy, Kharkiv, or Chernihiv can apply, provided they meet the other programme requirements.

How much funding is available?

Eligible institutions can receive grants of up to US$20,000 to establish and launch a new preschool division.

What can the grant pay for?

Funding can support premises preparation, furniture, equipment, educational and didactic materials, safety and accessibility measures, and other justified costs directly related to establishing the preschool division.

Do applicants need to have premises already available?

Applicants must have suitable premises or be able to designate appropriate premises for the new preschool division.

Is founder support required?

Yes. Applicants must have the support of their founder and be prepared to complete the organisational, legal, and staffing steps necessary to establish and operate the preschool division.

Which regions of Ukraine are eligible?

The programme covers Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Sumy, Kharkiv, and Chernihiv regions.

What is the main purpose of the programme?

The programme aims to increase access to early childhood education and care by helping public and municipal educational institutions establish new preschool divisions in communities where additional childcare and preschool capacity is needed.

Conclusion

The Preschool Division Development Grant provides an opportunity for eligible public and municipal educational institutions in seven Ukrainian regions to expand access to early childhood education and childcare. With grants of up to US$20,000, the programme can support essential premises preparation, furniture, equipment, educational materials, and safety and accessibility improvements. Institutions considering an application should demonstrate a clear local need, suitable premises, founder support, and a realistic plan for establishing, staffing, and operating the new preschool division.