From Helsinki to Ukraine: Finnish donors’ support brings three Schools of Superheroes to life

Particular attention was given to the School of Superheroes initiative – educational spaces inside children’s hospitals where young patients can continue learning while receiving treatment.

The response was immediate. A group of Finnish and Finland-affiliated private donors came together and raised the necessary funding in record time. The initial commitment subsequently grew, making it possible to support three Schools of Superheroes: in Ternopil, Chernivtsi and Boyarka in the Kyiv region.

Since that first meeting in Helsinki, Miltton Group has remained closely involved, facilitating communication between the Finnish donor group and the Olena Zelenska Foundation and keeping donors connected to the progress of the schools.

This year, that commitment became a reality, with all three Schools of Superheroes opening their doors in Ukraine. Maya Sviberg-Järnström, one of the donors and Senior Adviser, IR and Financial Communications at Miltton Group, travelled to Ukraine to see the result firsthand. Together with Nina Horbachova, Board Member of the Olena Zelenska Foundation, she visited the new School of Superheroes in Ternopil, met the team and saw classes taking place.

For children who may spend weeks or months in hospital, the School of Superheroes provides much more than a classroom. It allows them to remain pupils while they are patients – to learn, interact with other children and maintain an important sense of normality during treatment. The Ternopil centre also includes a dedicated space for mental health support, where teenagers can talk about their experiences and emotions.

“A hospital is a place no child chooses to be. But even during difficult times, children should have the right to learn, to be curious, to meet friends, to laugh, and simply to be children. It brings a piece of normal life into circumstances that are anything but normal,” said Maya Sviberg-Järnström.

“For us as donors, this has never been only about funding a building or a classroom. It is about investing in children and in their future – and by doing that, investing in the future of Ukraine. Ukraine has taught us that support matters most when it is sustained. We want you to know that we are here, and that we intend to stay.”

The visit coincided with the Sixth Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen in Kyiv. For the third consecutive year, Miltton and its Finnish guests were invited to take part in the Summit, continuing a relationship built through several years of engagement between Finland and Ukraine.

This year, the Finnish delegation also included Eduard Paulig, representing Paulig Group and the Caravan Project. Together with Jarkko Konttinen of Miltton Group and the Miltton Ukraine team, the guests met with the Olena Zelenska Foundation and took part in the Summit programme, which focused on resilience. President of Finland Alexander Stubb joined the programme for the second consecutive year alongside First Lady Suzanne Innes-Stubb.