MODEL EARLY EDUCATION CENTER.
SPYNKA

In May 2023, Ashley McGraw Architects was introduced to the transformative work of the SPYNKA program at the World Forum on Early Care and Education in Panama City, Panama. There, we met Jon Mills and Monika Rościszewska-Woźniak, CEO of the Comenius Foundation for Child Development (Fundacja Rozwoju Dzieci), who shared their compelling efforts to support Ukrainian refugee families in Poland through trauma-informed early childhood education.

Since April 2022, the SPYNKA initiative has created nurture-based, full-day childcare programs for displaced Ukrainian children—many of whom arrived in Poland without speaking the language—by retrofitting available spaces such as former refugee shelters, storefronts, and garages. Monika, a renowned leader in early childhood development in Poland, and Jon, a dedicated philanthropist, invited Ashley McGraw to help envision a more permanent and scalable architectural solution to better meet the emotional and developmental needs of these children.

Our partnership with the Comenius Foundation and researchers at the University of Warsaw began with the development of trauma-informed Design Guidelines for SPYNKA centers. These guidelines draw upon Ashley McGraw’s extensive experience designing early childhood environments in the United States and reflect the unique challenges faced by refugee children in crisis.

Out of this collaboration, the SPYNKA Mobile was born—a high-quality, customizable, mobile prefabricated childcare center designed to serve up to 16 children, from infants to preschoolers. In November 2023, our team traveled to Poland and, through collaborative design charrettes, site visits, and focus groups with Ukrainian caregivers, finalized a compact, flexible, and cost-effective model that meets Polish regulatory standards while prioritizing healing and emotional safety.

In July 2024, the first SPYNKA Mobile prototype, built by manufacturer Lenitskowo for approximately $85,000, was unveiled in Warsaw. This unit was later transferred to Irpin, Ukraine—a city deeply affected by the war—to serve as a model of resilience, hope, and healing for children and families grappling with trauma.

Research on the SPYNKA Mobile continues, led by the University of Warsaw, with aspirations to scale the model across Poland and post-war Ukraine. The project stands as a testament to the power of interdisciplinary collaboration, responsive design, and the belief that even in times of profound crisis, all children deserve safe, nurturing environments in which to grow and thrive.

*Project completed as studioMLA Architects prior to acquisition by Ashley McGraw Architects