At Verkhnyodniprovsk Lyceum 2 in the Dnipropetrovsk region, a modern STEM laboratory has been operating for six months. It was established under the Da Vinci Ukraine grant programm by KSE Foundation and STEM Talent Fund. The project was implemented by the NGO “DIM.VDN,” a winner of the program that directed the grant toward developing STEM education in the community.
The goal of the Da Vinci Ukraine programme is to develop the Olympiad and STEM movement in Ukraine by supporting initiatives that prepare students for national and international competitions, foster scientific and engineering thinking, and build long-term talent development pathways.
At Verkhnyodniprovsk Lyceum 2, the laboratory has become a space for learning programming, engineering, robotics, and 3D modeling. So far, 94 students have joined the classes, and more than 60 teachers from the community have completed specialized training.
80% of participants in programming Olympiads have won prizes. The number of prize-winners in district-level Olympiads in technical disciplines increased to 7 in 2026, compared to just 1–2 in previous years. For the first time in the institution’s history, a student became a prize-winner at the regional stage of the programming Olympiad. The impact of the STEM laboratory has extended across the entire community — demand for education has grown to the point that the lyceum is opening two first-grade classes instead of one. The institution is gradually becoming an educational hub for the community, engaging not only students but also teachers and local residents.
“This project shows that access to modern STEM infrastructure enables children from smaller communities to achieve results at the regional level and opens up new development opportunities. We are working to build a sustainable ecosystem for preparing talented students for Olympiads and complex STEM challenges — through mentors, teams, and educational initiatives,” said Maryna Borysenko, Director of Programs and Implementation at KSE Foundation.
Through the Da Vinci Ukraine grant programme, local initiatives are transformed into solutions that create long-term educational impact. As part of the program, KSE Foundation has supported 11 initiatives. The winners received grants to establish STEM laboratories and academies, organize free offline camps, and implement projects that expand access to STEM education for school students across Ukraine.