Partnerships

The Communal Institution of Lviv Regional Council “St. Nicholas Multidisciplinary Educational and Rehabilitation Center” educates 312 children, including those with special educational needs and internally displaced persons. The Center has a unique mission – to help children with psychophysical developmental disorders adapt to life, acquire self-sufficiency and confidence skills.

One of the important components of this mission is healthy nutrition. However, the existing conditions did not allow providing children with a sufficient quantity of quality vegetables, greens, and fruits. The only amateur greenhouse, installed nine years ago, could not meet the growing needs – the number of pupils had doubled during this time.

Also, the center lacked clean drinking water (due to the absence of a filtration system) and a space for practical learning where children could prepare healthy meals. Learning was limited to theoretical knowledge, and children did not have the opportunity to experience the joy of independent work or the results of their own efforts.

Without the expansion of greenhouse facilities and the creation of a practical base, the healthy nutrition development project could have stalled, and children could have lost an important developmental tool.

Since there was potential for project development, partners of the NGO “Development of the Community,” in partnership with the Auchan Pivdennyj store, developed a project that was submitted within the framework of a competition for social projects from the Auchan Foundation (this year’s competition was internal – without communication in social media).

After the voting by the members of the Auchan Foundation Selection Committee, the project “Greenhouses with the Auchan Foundation: Tasty and Useful – by our own hands” became the winner. The Auchan Foundation allocated 54,000 euros for its implementation.

The project’s goal is to create a modern educational and practical space where children can:

1. learn to grow food ecologically

2. prepare healthy meals

3. understand the importance of rational nutrition

Key elements of the solution:
● Installation of six 10×3 m greenhouses with an irrigation system, one of which will have a heating system for year-round use.
● Arrangement of a modular building near the greenhouses – an educational mini-kitchen for conducting culinary classes and master classes.
● Installation of a reverse osmosis system in the dining room to provide children with clean water.

Implementation stages:
● Preparation (Spring 2025): technical calculations, coordination with engagement. the administration, partner
● Installation (Summer 2025): greenhouse installation, irrigation connection, site improvement.
● Autumn 2025 – Winter 2026: launch of the mini-kitchen, teacher training, first classes for children.

“We are not just creating greenhouses – we are creating a space where children feel needed. Here they grow, learn, cook – and grow along with the plants,”
Andriy Feduniak, project manager and head of the “Development of the Community” organization.

Quantitative results – short-term perspective (2025–2026):
● 1 mini-kitchen for learning
● 1 water purification system
● 6 modern greenhouses, 1 of which is heated
● 10+ first master classes on healthy nutrition
● 1 coordinator and a minimum of 15 volunteers from the partner store Auchan South for project implementation
● Increased area for planting berries (180 m² = 50% berries, 50% vegetables and greens)
● 312 children and over 30 educators involved

Quantitative results – long-term perspective (from 2027):
● Opportunity to sell project produce in three Auchan hypermarkets in Lviv, and subsequently across the entire Auchan network
● Opportunity for future employment of graduates of St. Nicholas ERC in three Auchan hypermarkets in Lviv

Qualitative results:
● Educational effect: children will gain practical experience in growing and cooking, contributing to the development of self-reliance.
● Improved nutrition: own vegetables and greens will become available, and water quality will improve.
● Emotional engagement: children will eagerly participate and show initiative.
● Career orientation: some students will become interested in agriculture and culinary arts.
● Enhanced center reputation: the project will serve as an example for other educational institutions in the region and/or country.
● Participation of store employees and their families in activities from our partners to improve mental well-being.
● Continued corporate volunteering through monthly meetings/visits to the partner or partner visits to Auchan hypermarket(s) in Lviv.