In the heart of Bucha’s Dyvo Park, a new kind of classroom has quietly emerged — built not only with hands and hammers, but with heart, hope, and the materials of the Earth. The Bucha Forest Classroom is a space for learning, nature, and healing — a living tribute to resilience and imagination in post-war Ukraine.

And it was built in just two unforgettable days.

✊ A Weekend of Purpose and People

The Forest Classroom was brought to life on Ukraine’s Flag and Independence Days, August 23–24, 2025. The project was made possible through a dynamic collaboration between:

• 2L Architects & Engineers (LT), led by architect Viktorija Blažienė
• Bucha School Foundation, led by Aivaras Karalius
• Restart, facilitating community workshops
• Bucha City Council, who provided land and support
• Backed by the EIT Community – New European Bauhaus grant

But it was the people — the volunteers, the children, the craftspeople — who gave it life.

Over the course of the weekend:

• 20 Lithuanian volunteers made the journey to Ukraine
• They were joined by over 50 Bucha locals, including many children
• Teams worked side by side, erecting walls, planting gardens, and painting signs of hope

“Probably one of the busiest and most joyful construction sites we’ve ever seen,”

– said one of the organizers with a smile.

🏗️ What We Built, Together

The energy on-site was buzzing. From morning to dusk, the site was alive with hands-on creation, conversation, and music.

In just 48 hours:

• The glue-laminated timber frame, donated by Jūrės Medis, was raised
• Straw wall panels of Modulina Straw Panels were installed under expert supervision
• Brolis Timber’s donated materials were creatively repurposed into:
  → 8 raised garden beds
  → 2 birdhouses
  → 1 bug hotel
• A Ukrainian flag carried during Lithuania’s 107 km “Hike for Freedom” was gifted to Bucha
• Children crafted, painted, planted, and laughed — fully involved in the build

On-site, the construction and workshops merged into something rare: a building site that felt like a festival of sustainability, solidarity, and skill-sharing.

🧱 Natural Materials Meet Human Values

This was more than an architectural project. The Forest Classroom became a platform for learning about natural construction techniques.

Giedrius Zubrickas, a clay plaster master from Lithuania, CEO of MOLINE, ran an open clay plastering session — inviting anyone from curious children to aspiring artisans to try their hand.

Meanwhile, Žilvinas Bitinas, CEO of Modulina Straw Panels, provided guidance during the panel installation. His presence marked the beginning of a practical dialogue with Ukrainian subcontractors, sharing knowledge on how to work with compressed straw panels — a step toward a broader cultural shift in building with nature.

🌾 Children at the Center

What set this workshop apart was its openness. Children weren’t just observing — they were co-creating.

They:

• Carried garden soil and seeds
• Assembled planters
• Painted ecological signs
• Helped build and decorate bug hotels
• Asked bold, smart questions about straw, soil, and clay

A participant put it beautifully:

“This classroom isn’t for them. It’s theirs.”

🌍 A Healing Space for Learning and Nature

The final result is not just a classroom — it’s a prototype for a different kind of future.

• Built from compressed straw, local timber, and clay
• Breathable, regenerative, and non-toxic
• A space for natural sciences, ecology, and emotional well-being

“This is where children can study science,”

said Kateryna Pylypchuk strategist of Modulina,

“but also where they can breathe deeply, regulate emotions, and feel safe — something every child in Ukraine deserves.”

💬 Voices and Visitors

The event welcomed public officials and cultural guests, including:

• Mayor Anatolii Fedoruk of Bucha
• Donatas Butkus, Deputy Head of the Lithuanian Embassy in Ukraine
• Agne Skaistyte, officer of Lithuanian Embassy in Ukraine
• Mykhaylo Tenenev, Mayor of Teofipol
• Kateryna Pylypchuk, strategist in Modulina Straw Panels, founding partner of Rebuild Green 2030 program in Ukraine
• Mia Catra, Lithuanian artist entrepreneur based in Chernivtsi

Each brought warm words of encouragement — but more than that, they saw the power of a project where diplomacy, ecology, and education meet.

🔗 A First Step Toward a Larger Dream

While the Bucha School project continues its fundraising and permitting journey, the Forest Classroom stands as its prelude — a physical and symbolic first brick in the foundation.

The consortium’s approach — combining architecture, education, grassroots mobilization, and sustainable materiality — has become a model for what rebuilding can look like.

With Deep Gratitude

To the children who inspired us,
To the volunteers who gave their time and sweat,
To the architects and builders who led with heart,
To the donors, civic leaders, and supporters,

Thank you.

This Forest Classroom now belongs to Bucha’s future — its students, its soil, and its story.