When the air raid sirens sound in Mykolaiv, Poltava, and Zaporizhzhia, children stop their lessons mid-sentence and file downstairs into school bomb shelters. Sometimes they're there for an hour. Sometimes much longer. And one of the most basic things they need — clean drinking water — has been one of the hardest to guarantee.
That's the problem this Rotary project is solving.
The Project at a Glance
- 65 water fountains with built-in purification systems
- 65 schools across Mykolaiv, Poltava, and Zaporizhzhia
- ~26,000 children plus school staff served
- $99,998 USD total budget — roughly $1,538 per school
- Equipment relocates to school hallways after the war, serving students for years
Why It Matters
When students are forced into shelters for extended periods, drinking water shifts from a convenience to a health and safety issue. Most schools currently rely on bottled water — expensive, inconsistent in supply, and environmentally wasteful.
These fountains change that equation. They deliver unlimited access to safe drinking water during shelter time and school hours, reduce dependence on bottled water deliveries, support better hygiene and sanitation through accompanying educational materials, and protect the health of children spending hours underground.
And critically, this is not a wartime-only investment. When schools no longer need their shelters for protection, the fountains will be relocated into school hallways and continue serving students for years to come.
Part of a Bigger Vision
This is phase two of a larger Rotary initiative aiming to install 500+ fountains across Ukraine. The current grant alone reaches 65 schools, 26,000 children, school staff at every site, and multiple communities across three of Ukraine's most heavily impacted regions.
For just under $100,000, the footprint is significant.
A Canadian Connection
The project is hosted by the Rotary Club of Ukraine Unity Passport, with the Rotary Club of Sherwood Park serving as international partner. That Canadian link matters: fellow Canadian Rotarians are already on the ground in oversight and fundraising roles, which makes this a natural fit for Canadian clubs considering support.
Additional partners include Rotarians living in the beneficiary communities themselves, and the Regional Departments of Education in all three target regions.
Hands-On Rotary Oversight
Host Rotarians are directly responsible for purchasing all equipment, managing grant funds, monitoring installations, tracking and reporting outcomes, ensuring training is delivered, and measuring project impact. International partners support oversight, fundraising, and site visits where safe to do so.
Built to Last
Sustainability was designed into this project from day one.
Schools take ownership of the equipment and have committed to purchasing replacement filters, handling routine maintenance, and keeping the fountains running long-term. The manufacturer trains local teams on operation and upkeep, and replacement parts are readily available within Ukraine.
Even when the war ends, the value continues — the fountains move from shelters to hallways, and keep serving students.
Budget Breakdown
- $97,500 — 65 water fountains with purification systems
- $2,498 — hygiene training materials
- $99,998 — total project budget
The Bottom Line
For about $1,538 per school, Rotary is delivering long-term access to safe drinking water for tens of thousands of Ukrainian children — in the very places they're forced to take shelter today, and in their school hallways for many years to come.
It's practical. It's measurable. It's hands-on Rotary. And it's already underway.