Part of the school furniture donated by Alingsås kommun, Alingsåshem, and Sweco through HUG has now been installed in a kindergarten and a shelter in the Kharkiv region.
Desks, chairs, tables, and cabinets from the former Ingared school in Alingsås are now being used by children who continue their education despite the war. For many communities in eastern Ukraine, schools and kindergartens operate in damaged buildings or underground shelters due to constant security risks.
It is heartwarming to see these materials being reused to support Ukrainian children. We are deeply grateful to our Swedish partners for making this possible and to our local teams for ensuring the equipment reached the classrooms and shelters safely.
“We work with many different types of support, both for Ukrainians in Sweden and for those who remain in Ukraine. This includes humanitarian aid such as medicines and hygiene products, as well as psychological support for Ukrainians living here in Sweden. We also support war veterans who have lost limbs and received prosthetics, helping them recover and return to a normal life,” says Mykola Ivkin, Project Manager at HUG, together with his colleague Olena Petrus.
In total, more than 60 pallets will be transported to Ukraine, and half of the cargo — including equipment and school furniture — has already reached one of the most heavily affected regions of the country.
“Many schools in Ukraine have been destroyed or damaged by Russian attacks, and the front line is constantly shifting. As a result, education often has to take place underground, in shelters, to keep children safe,” says Mykola, continuing:
“Thanks to our donors, who help collect and organize everything here, we are able to send equipment to the Kharkiv region — an area that has been severely affected by the war. The furniture from Ingared School will be of great use there.”
Behind the wheel are often Ukrainian drivers who have a deeply personal motivation to help.
“We had a driver who almost loaded the entire truck by himself because he was from a region that had been under occupation. He knew what this meant.”
Mykola explains that despite the war, it is still relatively safe to remain in the country — but civilians are frequently targeted. Due to constant attacks on residential areas and civilian infrastructure, people must always be prepared for air raids and bombings.
“This is a full-scale war, but many people continue to live their lives. Children go to school, adults work, and people still meet for coffee. After a bombing, a grocery store often reopens immediately. This is part of Russia’s strategy — to destroy our everyday life. So continuing to live as usual is also part of our resistance,” he says.
Also present at the fire station is Karin Hallingström, Recycling Coordinator at Sweco and consultant for Alingsåshem. She explains that the demolition of the old Ingared School became the starting point for a new reuse initiative.
“I saw that there was great potential for reuse. Since then, we’ve been able to implement some reuse solutions, but above all, there was still a large amount of furniture and interior materials left. That’s when we realized it was far better to send them to Ukraine than to throw them away,” she says.
Ukraine continues to need support — and together, we can make a real difference.
👉 Support Help Ukraine Gothenburg (HUG) by donating, partnering, or volunteering.
👉 Help us deliver critical aid, support mental health programs, and rebuild lives.
👉 Every contribution matters.
Join us in standing with Ukraine.
Learn more – https://www.lokalpressen.se/skolmobler-fran-ingared-far-nytt-liv-i-ukraina-6.2.3770.231e7c40dd
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