THE NURSERY PROJECT
SUPPORT THE CHILDREN
CHOMONYN, UKRAINE
2024
This project is very close to my heart. It started with my old village nursery of Zabar, in Nógrád county, East-Hungary. It's was very much in need of some upgrade, new toys, new shower, and complete new furniture set. We started dreaming, than magic happened. I found partners to invest, and it has become a beautiful example of the expat community of Hungary not just contributing to uplifting the countryside childcare system, but getting actively involved in "making it happen" by volunteering to assemble the furniture and renovations. This time, in January 2024 in Ukraine the magic happened again. We have started the planning in 2023, and a year later it's fully finished. Huge thanks to Alex Davern and his family for the support. Below photos by Mátyás Szuperák, the brilliant handyman of the village kindergarten, Chomonyn
31st of January 2024
CHOMONYN, UKRAINE 2024
Play Room 3 walls are all cleaned, stripped down to the bare bricks. The corridor got an other coat of green paint, Play Room 2 new ceiling structure is almost done, electric cables are going in for the new lights. All walls are plastered here, 2nd coat is drying.
29th of January 2024
CHOMONYN, UKRAINE 2024
Work started on the office space.(10I). Here - just like anywhere else in the building - the walls have to get cleaned down to the bricks. The kids bathroom (9F) - with the lid to the roof - is now painted, new lights fitted. Also the staff bathroom (6R)- used as a wash room - is also painted. This is the one with light blue color.
27th of January 2024
CHOMONYN, UKRAINE 2024
All hands were on to progress the second playroom (Cs2A). As these walls are not brick, special coating of plaster was layered several times, before reaching an absolute smooth surface. Remember, it's the middle of a winter, drying takes a lot longer. At the same time, next door in Playroom 3 (CS3B) the sleeping room walls are pealed off.
26th of January 2024
CHOMONYN, UKRAINE 2024
Huge progress on the walkway (10F). This is more than a few days work. As everywhere in the building, this new ceiling has also received a 10cm thick wool insullation, than a special "heat mirror" sheet, to keep warm air inside. Closed with plasterboards, than painted white. How nice it turned out? We are really pleased. Also the new door arrived to the dish wash area, which is now fully covered with new tiles.
25th of January 2024
CHOMONYN, UKRAINE 2024
The laundry room / staff toilet got the first coat of blue paint (6R), also the tiling finished at the dishwash area. Also a new door arrived, a bit wider than the original was. In the middle play room (CS2A and B) both the electricians were busy puling in the main lines, as the plasterers started applying the first layers.
15th of December 2023
CHOMONYN, UKRAINE 2024
We are back in the largest room, the new floor dried, so the team has started installing the framework for the new ceiling. This was needed to prevent mould forming, and better insulate the building. Also more work done on the play room ceiling. Old doors removed from the kitchen / dish wash area. Metal framework in place for the staircase leading into the new kitchen pantry.
14th of December 2023
CHOMONYN, UKRAINE 2024
Today one of the kid's play rooms got emptied, floor lifted, and walls cleaned.
14th of December 2023
CHOMONYN, UKRAINE 2024
As development work continues in most areas of the nursery, the kids are not missing any day from learning. They are brought together into two playrooms, and two sleeping rooms. Nursery staff is very supportive, they also can continue to work. It would be a very difficult situation for them to miss work days, as income is important. We really appreciate and thankful for all staff to be with us on this journey.
13th of December 2023
CHOMONYN, UKRAINE 2024
Meet the design team. Much awaited moment, when dreams become pictures. Éva Kecskés is a fantastic interior designer, a good friend and she is also a volunteer in this project. It's the two of us coming up with furniture plans, textures, lighting, color schemes for this project, discussing all steps and all details with the local nursery staff. See more information on how each room is described (Hungarian only, sorry) : Project description - Part 1 Main play room
Éva's help is just so so much appreciated, as it gives clear ideas to all tradesman involved, and at later stage to all volunteers coming to help build the furnitures. This is the second project we do together, the first one was the Special Boys Institute in Vynohradiv. If you want to check out her work, visit : www.kecskeseva.hu
13th of December 2023
CHOMONYN, UKRAINE 2024
The new concrete flooring has been layed in the main playroom and the adjoining new storage space. Also iron poles were set outside, for the new separate staircase, leading all arriving food products into the storage directly
12th of December 2023
CHOMONYN, UKRAINE 2024
Today the main playroom got a new layer of water proofing. Also a plastic sheet to help the new concrete flooring evenly spread and level.
11th of December 2023
CHOMONYN, UKRAINE 2024
All internal doors removed, also the old heating system dismantled and cleared away. The bricks were unused for a long time, the nursery has a central heating (wood) in place. This free up some valuable floor space we can use much better. Also the new entry is created between the new pantry/storage space and the main building.
8th of December 2023
CHOMONYN, UKRAINE 2024
A team has started lifting the old floor in the main play room. The building was never sealed, so under the flooring it was a vet surface, which needs to be sorted.
7th of December 2023
CHOMONYN, UKRAINE 2024
A professional local company is asked to measure all doors, which will be changed. It's for better noise control, the building will hold the heat better with the new entry and delivery doors.
6th of December 2023
CHOMONYN, UKRAINE 2024
The kitchen basement had to be converted to a bomb shelter, so it was really essential to "find" a new storage space for long shelves life food, fridges and vegetables. The plan is, to connect this smaller unused junk space to the main area, open a new entrance and build a stair from outside. Here, the clear out has happened, an old heater removed.
6th of December 2023
CHOMONYN, UKRAINE 2024
Clearing out the main play room (also used for sports and music practice). The kidergarten staff moved cleared all shelving and floor space before the renovation work starts.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT !
Thanks to Alex Davern, his family and friends, this project was possible to get a green light.
Photo Diary Csongor Kindergarten upgrade
by The Nursery Project
6th of Dec 2023
Nursery staff to start clearing out the main play and music room. All furnitures removed, papers sorted
8th of Dec 2023
Floors lifted up in the main play room before water proofing
13th of Dec 2023
Leveling floor is spread in the main room and pantry
14th of Dec 2023
One of the 3 play room got cleared, walls cleaned
6th of Dec 2023
The new kitchen storage cleared out. (The original space used as a bomb shelter)
11th of Dec 2023
Old heating blocks removed, new entry created to the pantry
13th of Dec 2023
Meet the design team, and first ideas released
15th of Dec 2023
New ceiling structure comes into place, stairs get built to the pantry
7th of Dec 2023
Measuring up all entry doors and internal doors. Plan is to have a much better insulated space
12th of Dec 2023
Concrete flooring get a new sealed layer
14th of Dec 2023
Kids not missing a day. Renovation continues next door.
General info on The Nursery Project
We work with the nurseries to plan the necessary changes to the indoor play area, come up with a design plan, then a shopping list, from which supporters can choose what to buy. We help with the orders and purchase as well. Once all support are in place to complete one play area, we organize a volunteering day, where expats and locals work together to make this magic. Kid's come back late afternoon to take over their new space. It's a true community effort, where both locals, parents, nursery staff, local mayor's office work with the supporters and volunteers.
