A new sports ground with artificial turf was opened at Zhytomyr Kindergarten #46.

The project was implemented by the Zhytomyr Community Foundation jointly with the kindergarten administration, with financial support from the Boot Development Foundation (Netherlands) and the ISAR Ednannia NGO.

The initiative began in May 2024 when Dutch volunteers from the Boot Development Foundation visited Zhytomyr. This foundation has been directing a significant part of its funds to charity for many years – including the installation of playgrounds in various regions of Ukraine.

During the visit, the volunteers visited Kindergarten #46, met the pupils and educators, inspected the updated shelter, and noticed that the playground equipment had not been updated for decades. After that, they decided to help the institution.

In the autumn of 2024, the Boot Development Foundation team held a charity event in the Netherlands and raised funds, which they decided to allocate to purchasing equipment for the kindergarten. However, this sum was insufficient for installing a full-fledged playground complex.

Thanks to the fundraising efforts of Zhanna Solovyova, Head of the Board of the Zhytomyr Community Foundation, another partner was successfully engaged in the initiative – ISAR Ednannia, which tripled the amount raised under the “People for People” grant program.

Thus, a joint project was formed, in which everyone contributed:

• Boot Development Foundation – initiated the idea and provided the starting sum;

• ISAR “Ednannia” – provided additional financing;

• Kindergarten #46 – paid for the rubber tiles, preparatory work, and the installation of the complex with artificial turf;

• Parents, educators, deputies, and the Department of Education – assisted and supported the implementation.

Now, 145 pupils of the kindergarten have a modern sports ground with an obstacle course and safe rubber coating, which reduces the risk of injuries and creates conditions for the active development of children.

“We spent 503 thousand UAH to equip such a playground, of which 328 thousand UAH was attracted by the Zhytomyr Community Foundation from various sources, and 175 thousand UAH was paid by the kindergarten itself. And thanks to joint efforts, we have such a modern sports ground that will serve the children for a long time,” commented Zhanna Solovyova, Head of the Board of the Zhytomyr Community Foundation.

Tetyana Ivanova, Head of Kindergarten #46, said that this is the first large-scale update of the sports ground in the entire long history of the kindergarten.

“This is the sports ground where all our physical education classes, entertainment, and leisure activities take place. We have just started the work to modernize this area. Children are living their childhood today, and they only have one. Therefore, the creation of such a modern playground is truly necessary for them. And the joyful emotions of our pupils confirm this,” said Tetyana Ivanova, Head of Kindergarten #46.

The Zhytomyr Community Foundation continues the fundraising campaign for the renovation of the entire sports ground area: setting up a football field with artificial turf and creating additional zones for sports and recreation.