Open Call: Mobile Kindergarten c for Communities in Ukraine

The Mobile Kindergarten Grant for Communities provides financial assistance, training, and mentorship to selected communities in Ukraine seeking to establish mobile kindergarten services and expand access to early childhood education. Communities in seven eligible oblasts can participate in training and a business plan competition, with two successful communities receiving up to US$20,000 each to launch their mobile kindergarten services.

About the Mobile Kindergarten Grant

The initiative is part of “Childcare in Ukraine: A Systemic Approach for Better Recovery,” implemented by the All-Ukrainian Foundation Step by Step with funding from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).

The programme responds to the need for accessible and flexible early childhood education and care (ECEC) services in Ukrainian communities affected by ongoing recovery challenges.

The grant is designed to help communities establish mobile kindergartens that can bring early childhood education services closer to children and families who may have limited access to conventional kindergarten facilities.

Objectives of the Programme

The Mobile Kindergarten Grant aims to:

Expand access to early childhood education in underserved communities.
Support the establishment of mobile kindergarten services.
Strengthen local capacity to plan and manage childcare services.
Promote safe, inclusive, emotionally supportive, and developmentally appropriate environments for children.
Help communities develop sustainable childcare models.
Encourage collaboration between local authorities and community stakeholders.
Generate practical experience that can support the wider development of mobile kindergarten services in Ukraine.

What Support Is Available?

The programme provides support in several stages rather than offering funding immediately to every applicant.

Selected communities will receive:

Intensive training on entrepreneurship and mobile kindergarten development.
Guidance on planning and organising mobile childcare services.
Support in preparing a business plan.
Exposure to international experiences and approaches to mobile early childhood education.
Mentorship following the business plan competition.
Financial support for the two communities with the strongest development plans.

Grant Amount

Two communities will be selected to receive financial assistance of up to:

US$20,000 per community
Funding will be provided in the hryvnia equivalent.

The financial support is intended to help successful communities implement their planned mobile kindergarten services.

Who Is Eligible?

The programme is open to communities located in the following Ukrainian oblasts:

Dnipropetrovsk
Zaporizhzhia
Mykolaiv
Odesa
Kharkiv
Sumy
Chernihiv

Eligible communities should:

Be ready to establish a mobile kindergarten.
Have a clear vision for developing the service over the next three years.
Demonstrate support from local authorities.
Be prepared to work as a team throughout the programme.
Be willing to participate in training and learning activities.
Be committed to sharing experiences and lessons learned with other participants.
Aim to create a service accessible to a broad range of children and families.

What Is a Mobile Kindergarten?

A mobile kindergarten is a flexible early childhood education service designed to bring childcare and developmental activities to communities or locations where access to traditional kindergarten facilities may be limited.

The proposed services should provide children with:

Safe learning and play environments.
Age-appropriate developmental activities.
Emotional support and care.
Opportunities for social interaction.
Accessible early childhood education.
A supportive environment for children and families.

The programme particularly encourages communities to develop services that can respond to local needs while remaining sustainable over the longer term.

How Does the Programme Work?

The initiative follows a staged process combining training, business planning, competition, funding, and mentorship.

Step 1: Community Selection

Eligible communities apply to participate in the programme. Selected finalists move forward to the training stage.

Step 2: Intensive Training

Finalist communities participate in training focused on:

Entrepreneurship.
Mobile kindergarten organisation.
Service planning.
Sustainability.
Business development.
International experience and good practices.

Step 3: Develop a Business Plan

Participants use the knowledge gained through training to prepare a detailed plan for establishing and operating their mobile kindergarten.

The plan should demonstrate how the service will respond to local childcare needs and remain viable over the next three years.

Step 4: Business Plan Competition

The completed plans are assessed through a competition.

Two communities with the strongest development plans will be selected for financial support.

Step 5: Launch the Mobile Kindergarten

The two successful communities receive up to US$20,000 each in hryvnia equivalent to implement their mobile kindergarten plans.

Step 6: Mentorship and Sustainability Support

Successful communities also receive mentorship designed to help them establish effective and sustainable services.

What Should Applicants Demonstrate?

A strong application should clearly explain:

Why the community needs a mobile kindergarten.
Which children and families will benefit.
How the service will operate.
How local authorities support the initiative.
The community’s three-year development vision.
How the service will remain sustainable.
How children will receive safe and developmentally appropriate care.
How the community will work with relevant stakeholders.

Why It Matters

Access to quality early childhood education and care is particularly important for communities facing disruption or limited availability of conventional childcare services.

The Mobile Kindergarten Grant provides more than financial assistance. It combines capacity building, entrepreneurship training, business planning, mentorship, and implementation funding, helping communities develop practical childcare solutions that can continue beyond the initial grant period.

The initiative also supports Ukraine’s broader recovery efforts by strengthening local systems for childcare and creating more flexible opportunities for young children and their families.

Key Funding Details

Maximum grant: US$20,000 per selected community
Number of funded communities: 2
Currency: Hryvnia equivalent
Type of support: Training, business planning, financial assistance, and mentorship
Target: Mobile kindergarten and early childhood education services
Eligible locations: Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Kharkiv, Sumy, and Chernihiv oblasts
Development vision: Three years
Implementing organisation: All-Ukrainian Foundation “Step by Step”
Funding support: Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida)

Application Tips

Applicants should focus on demonstrating a clear local need and realistic implementation strategy.

Important points to consider include:

Clearly identify the childcare gap in the community.
Explain why a mobile kindergarten is an appropriate solution.
Provide evidence of local authority support.
Develop a realistic three-year vision.
Consider staffing, logistics, accessibility, safety, and sustainability.
Explain how children from different backgrounds and families with different circumstances will be able to access the service.
Treat the training and business planning stages as an opportunity to strengthen the final implementation proposal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can apply for the Mobile Kindergarten Grant?

Communities located in Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Kharkiv, Sumy, and Chernihiv oblasts can apply, provided they meet the programme requirements.

How much funding can communities receive?

Two selected communities can each receive financial support of up to US$20,000, provided in the hryvnia equivalent.

Does every participating community receive funding?

No. Communities first participate in training and develop business plans. The two communities with the strongest plans will receive the financial support.

What is the funding intended for?

The funding is intended to support the implementation of a community’s mobile kindergarten service and the activities required to establish and operate it.

Is training included in the programme?

Yes. Selected finalists participate in intensive training covering entrepreneurship, mobile kindergarten organisation, planning, sustainability, and relevant international experience.

Do successful communities receive support after receiving the grant?

Yes. The programme provides mentorship to help successful communities implement their plans and strengthen the sustainability of their mobile kindergarten services.

What should a community have before applying?

A community should be ready to establish a mobile kindergarten, have a three-year development vision, demonstrate local authority support, and be prepared to participate actively in training, teamwork, and experience-sharing.

Conclusion

The Mobile Kindergarten Grant for Communities offers Ukrainian communities an opportunity to develop flexible and accessible early childhood education services where traditional childcare options may be limited. By combining training, business planning, mentorship, and up to US$20,000 in implementation funding for each of two selected communities, the programme can help communities create safe, supportive, and sustainable mobile kindergarten services for young children and their families.