Malyn Hobby School now a model for rest of Ukraine after undergoing Estonian-funded reconstruction

This autumn, 400 children will be able to resume their extracurricular activities at Malyn Hobby School in Zhytomyr Oblast. For them, this means an opportunity to enjoy their childhood. 

According to Andrea Kivi, ESTDEV’s executive director, extracurricular education plays a vital role during wartime, extending far beyond simply filling children's free time or developing their skills. 

"A hobby school provides routine and stability, helping young people cope with the daily stresses of war through creative activities. This is an important way to support young people's mental health in extremely fragile circumstances," Kivi said. 

The current state of extracurricular education in Ukraine is reminiscent of Estonia 30 years ago: the system is functioning but urgently needs substantive development and a more learner-centred approach. The situation is further complicated by the fact that while general education schools have managed to reorganise their work to some extent under wartime conditions, extracurricular education has largely been disrupted. 

Because of administrative reform in Ukraine, hobby school management has been transferred to local governments. However, they have little experience in this area.  

“Many Ukrainian municipalities are currently seeking ways to restore and develop extracurricular education amidst wartime conditions. The Malyn Hobby School project offers a practical model for this that can be adapted and implemented in other regions of Ukraine as well,” Kivi said. 

Malyn’s local community was actively involved, with nearly 1,000 young people, teachers and parents participating in the co-creation process to ensure their needs were addressed. Teachers took part in training sessions and study visits to Estonia, which gave them the opportunity to acquire and implement more current teaching methods. Given the urgent need to support students’ mental health, both parents and teachers were also offered trauma-awareness training. 

"The importance of culture in difficult circumstances may not be obvious to everyone, but it is what keeps us going. We must also support our children psychologically in order to restore their sense of security. We are reopening this school for the future, and I sincerely thank Estonia and all the experts for all the assistance they have provided," said Anna Solonenko, Malyn Hobby School’s director. "I am convinced that this is the best school in Ukraine." 

The Malyn Hobby School project reflects Estonia’s broader approach to Ukraine’s reconstruction: beyond restoring infrastructure, it is essential to invest in substantive changes such as improving the quality of education, strengthening management capacity and fostering community development. The project resulted in the creation of a three-year development plan for the hobby school and extracurricular education strategy for the entire city. Support is also being provided for closer cooperation between general and extracurricular education and for the development of local youth work. Additionally, Estonia provided the school with equipment and furniture, with support from the Principality of Andorra.

ESTDEV’s goal is to contribute to the modernisation of Ukraine’s education system and its integration into the European education area. Robust educational and support services are a crucial prerequisite for families displaced by the war to return in the future and actively participate in rebuilding their communities.