Serhiy Tokarev on the New DIY Guidebook for STEM Centers

The savED charitable foundation and Tokarev Foundation have presented a DIY guidebook — a practical manual for businesses, local communities, and philanthropic organisations seeking to independently establish technology-focused educational spaces for teenagers.

The document is based on the experience of developing the DIY “Beehive” network in regions where offline education has been most affected by the war. Tokarev Foundation was founded by Ukrainian impact-investor and tech entrepreneur Serhiy Tokarev, co-founder of the Roosh investment group.

What DIY “Beehives” Are and How They Work

“Beehives” are hands-on learning hubs where students work with 3D printers and laser engravers, learn programming, build robotics prototypes, conduct experiments, and bring their own projects to completion. The DIY acronym (“do it yourself”) reflects an educational approach in which independent exploration and creation replace passive theoretical learning.

Today, the network operates in five communities across the Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, and Chernihiv regions — areas where children’s access to extracurricular offline education sharply declined after the start of the full-scale war.

The pilot center in the town of Tsarychanka, launched by Tokarev Foundation in partnership with savED, engaged more than 800 students in STEM activities throughout 2025. According to participant surveys, 96% acquired new skills, while more than half plan to apply them in the future.

From a Single Case to National Infrastructure

Serhiy Tokarev explains the logic behind moving from a one-off initiative to a systemic solution:

“One center in Tsarychanka is a case study. A guidebook is infrastructure. That is the difference between isolated support and a systemic response to the shortage of engineering talent — a structural challenge Ukraine will be addressing over the next 10–15 years. No private foundation, community, or ministry can solve this issue alone.”

The scale of the challenge is reflected in savED’s own data: in 2025, only 41% of Ukrainian school students regularly participated in extracurricular activities. Educators cite staff shortages, limited funding within communities, and the lack of equipped educational spaces among the key reasons. At the same time, the economy faces growing demand for specialists in electronics, automation, mechanical engineering, and chemical engineering — professions where interest often begins forming during school years.

Investing in Human Capital

The organisers position DIY “Beehives” as a tool for long-term investment in human capital and a response to the structural shortage of technical professionals.

During the presentation, Ukraine’s Minister of Education and Science Oksen Lisovyi emphasised: “Modern educational spaces are essential for preparing the professionals the country needs.”

He added that such environments help shape future engineers, scientists, researchers, and highly qualified specialists across industries. According to the minister, state investments in upgrading these spaces for 2025–2026 amount to UAH 6.3 billion.

“The working model is when a charitable foundation, technology philanthropy, business, and the state work together around a shared standard. We are providing everyone interested with a proven methodology — how to equip a space, train educators, and give children access to modern technical education within their own communities,” Serhiy Tokarev noted.

The guidebook was presented on April 16 in Kyiv with the participation of representatives from the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, educators, civil society organisations, and companies supporting STEM initiatives. The document includes step-by-step recommendations — from equipping educational spaces to training teachers and adapting centers to the specific needs of each community. Access is free of charge.

About the Guidebook Authors

savED is a charitable foundation focused on restoring life in war-affected communities through educational, social, and infrastructure initiatives. The foundation develops shelters, educational centers, temporary learning spaces, implements programs to address learning losses among school students, and engages teenagers in rebuilding and developing their communities through the UActive program. The organisation operates systematically across the Chernihiv, Kyiv, Mykolaiv, Kherson, Odesa, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, and Dnipropetrovsk regions.

Tokarev Foundation is a technology philanthropy initiative dedicated to building a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable Ukraine through technology and innovation. The foundation drives positive social change and human capital development by implementing innovative projects in the EdTech and HealthTech sectors. The foundation’s founder is Serhiy Tokarev, a Ukrainian impact investor and tech entrepreneur, founder of the Roosh investment group (Roosh Ventures and Roosh X).