In Pershotravensk, classrooms and hospital premises are being renovated, sports grounds and sidewalk paths are being equipped, and new communication spaces are being created. These and other projects will be implemented in the town thanks to the DTEK’s Do-It-Yourself Community competition. All efforts are made to ensure that the residents feel comfortable and safe in their town.
‘DTEK ENERGY is a socially responsible business and a reliable partner to the community. For eight years, the mini-grants Do-It-Yourself Community competition has provided an opportunity for initiative residents of Pershotravensk to participate in the development of their town. Over the years, 78 socially significant facilities have already been created. These are dozens of playgrounds and sports grounds, improvement of parks, squares and other recreation areas, renovation of school classes, equipping classrooms for children with special needs. Each year, the competition determined the following priorities — energy efficiency, safety, smart technologies, beautification. This year, the focus was on accessibility,’ noted Olena Nievierova, Social Development Manager at DTEK PAVLOHRADCOAL.
Traditionally, residents of Pershotravensk took active part in the competition. This year, 33 applications have been submitted for mini-grants, of which 13 have won. One of such projects is a chemistry classroom at School No. 1.
‘Our chemistry room has not been renovated for a long time. In addition, the class is not suitable for teaching children with special needs. But after all, according to the New Ukrainian School reform, students need a modern educational space. Therefore, taking into account the new standards, our initiative group came up with the NEO Element project. We embedded our striving for openness and new realities in the name of the project. Thanks to the victory in the competition, the windows and ventilation system were replaced, the walls and ceiling were repaired, new lighting was installed in the room, and modern desks and visual aids were purchased. For children with special needs, a multimedia touch screen was installed to make it easier for students to assimilate the material. There are only small touches left, and the classroom will soon be ready to host students,’ said Olha Kondratiuk, Head of the Chemists Initiative Group, about her project.
Also, thanks to DTEK ENERGY, a modern vaccination room, a sports ground and a sensory room for children with special needs, a modern computer science class, an open-air HUB space and sidewalk paths will appear in Pershotravensk.
As a reminder, in 2021, 32 communities in 11 regions of Ukraine have taken part in the competition. The company received 667 bids, from which the project jury in each individual community selected the winners based on the criteria. The Do-It-Yourself Community project was transformed once DTEK joined the First Lady’s Business without Barriers initiative. Accessibility principles became part of 60% of the programs and initiatives that communities and volunteers submitted to participate in the competition.