A sport in which pupils from Stryi have no equal

When we think of sports, what are the first associations that come to mind? Football, basketball, running, boxing... What are these technical sports? At the Stryi Sports and Technical School, or as it is better known, the Stryi Young Technicians' Station, young technicians are taught the following technical sports: 1. car modelling (cord models, track models, indoor cord models), 2. Ship-modelling, 3. Karting (mini-cars), 4. Motorcycles. Car modelling, or car modelling, is a technical creativity of modelling, designing and testing of reduced models of land transport: cars, ATVs, motorcycles, tanks, etc. Modelling involves reproducing not only the appearance but also the operation of mechanisms, so these can be very accurate copies of real machines in a certain scale, as well as working models. For younger children in grades 1-3, classes are held in technical creativity, technical design and drawing. In total, the school has 260 children and young people who attend classes every week, and is taught by 6 teachers who are true enthusiasts of their craft.

The school's patrons, principal and teachers all emphasise the importance of technical skills for children: to have a good understanding of drawing, construction, modelling, and so they do their best to support the school's activities and success. And the successes are really impressive! The school's students, together with their teachers, go to regional competitions, Ukrainian junior and adult championships, European Cup stages, European and world championships. Recent achievements and victories: 1st place at the 2022 World Championships in cordon bleu, silver medal in Switzerland in 2023, gold at the Ukrainian Championships in cordon bleu in 2023, 4 gold + 3 silver + 3 bronze medals at the Ukrainian Junior Championships. The young athletes have someone to look up to, as their coaches are also among the first of the first: they won the Ukrainian Senior Championships, the Ukrainian Senior Cup, and brought back 1 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze medal from the World Championships held in Basel, Switzerland.

What is the key to such success? The preserved tradition, continuity and great enthusiasm of those who have gained such valuable experience and skills here, recognition of the importance of these sports and the skills that students receive, understanding of what is important and what is secondary and, of course, people: the head of the school, Igor Safiyanik, teachers, and patrons. A major patron of the school is Serhii Kovalchuk, CEO of Ukrpol printing company, a student of the school, master of sports in car modelling, and the champion of Ukraine in his class in 2023. According to Sergiy Kovalchuk, it is important to educate children who will acquire basic technical skills, be able to hammer a nail and learn to work and achieve their goals, just like in sports. Every month, the philanthropist provides financial support for the school's material support, for trips to competitions abroad, and the best students are employed by Ukrpol, a printing company, where basic technical skills become a solid foundation for further training and development.