New projects to support people with disabilities are being launched in eight communities and at national level. Thanks to “The League of the Strong” sub-grant programme, support centres will be opened in the Dnipropetrovsk, Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Poltava, Kharkiv and Kherson regions; case management will be introduced; psychological and legal advice will be provided; information materials will be produced in Ukrainian sign language; and will also expand support for people with rare diseases, veterans and families raising children with disabilities.
“For us, the sub-grant programme is an opportunity to strengthen organisations that are already working directly with people in their local communities and have a good understanding of their needs. We have supported a wide variety of initiatives, but all these projects share a common goal — to ensure that people with disabilities can access the services they need right where they live, rather than being left to cope with their problems on their own,” said Bohdan Kokhan, Programme Director at “The League of the Strong”.
Following a competitive selection process, eight civil society and charitable organisations will receive sub-grants of US$25,000 to implement their own humanitarian initiatives, whilst one further organisation will receive US$50,000 for a large-scale project supporting people with disabilities. The decision was taken by the selection committee of the “League of the Strong” public association. A total of 86 applications were submitted for the competition.
The following organisations will receive sub-grants of US$25,000:
- NGO “Institute for the Socio-Cultural Development of Young People with Disabilities and the Protection of Their Rights “Step into the Future”’;
- NGO “Motivational Circle”;
- NGO “Educational Assistance”;
- the NGO “INCLULIFE”;
- the Charitable Organisation “Charitable Foundation “Development and Social Justice of Ukraine”;
- the NGO “Support and Development “PROzhyttia UA”;
- the Charitable Organisation “Charitable Foundation “ORFANNI SYNYTSI”;
- the NGO “Studio of Public Women’s Initiatives”.
A sub-grant of US$50,000 will be awarded to the NGO “All-Ukrainian Association of Persons with Disabilities “Active Rehabilitation Group”’.
What changes are they aiming to achieve in local communities?
In the Odesa region, the aim is to make psychological, legal and social support more accessible to people with disabilities and their families. To this end, individual counselling sessions, mutual support groups, socialisation and resource-building events will be organised, along with a dedicated support programme for parents of children and young people with disabilities. The project is being implemented by the NGO ‘Institute for the Socio-Cultural Development of Young People with Disabilities and the Protection of Their Rights “Step into the Future”’.
The organisations will also work to ensure that people with disabilities can receive support tailored to their individual needs. To this end, they will introduce needs assessments, individual and group psychological support, case management and collaboration with local communities to develop sustainable support services. The “Space for Action” project is being implemented by the NGO “INCLULIFE”.
In the Kirovohrad region, efforts are being made to involve people with disabilities, veterans and internally displaced persons (IDPs) themselves in promoting accessibility within their communities. To this end, a network of 300 accessibility ambassadors will be established, 60 social sector specialists will be trained, and support will be provided to develop 12 micro-projects, which will be presented to local authorities for further implementation. The project is being implemented by the NGO “Motivational Circle”.
In the Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv and Kharkiv regions, there are plans to make vital information more accessible to people with hearing impairments. To this end, a series of sign language videos will be produced on first aid, mine safety, legal rights, mental health and other important topics, and information events will be held to disseminate this material. The project is being implemented by the NGO “Educational Assistance”.
In the Myrhorod community in the Poltava region, there are plans to establish a comprehensive support system for veterans and people with disabilities. This will include case management, psychological and legal support, accessible facilities, training for professionals in accessible communication, and strengthened cooperation between the community, healthcare institutions and the voluntary sector. The project is being implemented by the NGO ‘Studio of Women’s Community Initiatives’.
In the Kremenchuk community in the Poltava region, efforts are being made to make social support more accessible to people with disabilities and their families. Participants will be able to receive psychological and legal advice, information support and take part in group psychosocial activities for children, parents and carers. The project is being implemented by the NGO ‘Support and Development “PROzhyttia UA”’.
In Kharkiv, efforts are underway to create a place where people with disabilities can receive comprehensive support in a single location. The centre will offer legal advice, psychological support and art therapy, whilst a mobile team will visit local communities and people with reduced mobility. An information campaign on rights and accessible services will also be launched. The project is being implemented by the charitable organisation “Charitable Foundation “Development and Social Justice of Ukraine”’.
At national level, there are plans to expand support for people with orphan (rare) diseases and disabilities. They will be able to receive humanitarian aid, psychological support and assistance with costly treatment and in coping with the consequences of the war. The project is being implemented by the charitable organisation “ORPHANED SPARROWS Charitable Foundation”.
Another nationwide project aims to help people with spinal cord injuries and other severe musculoskeletal disorders in the Dnipropetrovsk, Poltava and Kirovohrad regions (through on-site visits), as well as in the Mykolaiv and Kherson regions (remotely), to live more independently. To this end, the project will provide case management, psychosocial support, assistance in accessing medical, social and legal services, as well as support for developing an independent life within the community. The project “Together Towards Independence: Comprehensive Support for People with Disabilities in Wartime” is being implemented by the NGO ‘All-Ukrainian Association of People with Disabilities “Active Rehabilitation Group”’, which received the largest sub-grant – 50,000 US dollars.
Grant agreements have already been signed with all nine organisations.
The sub-grant programme forms part of the humanitarian project “Comprehensive services to protect civilians affected by hostilities and improve the resilience of first responders”, which we wrote about previously. Its aim is to help people with disabilities and their families access the necessary services and support, as well as to strengthen the capacity of local organisations to work directly within communities.
This project is being implemented as part of a sub-grant programme run by “The League of the Strong”’ public association, coordinated by the ‘Right to Protection’ Charitable Foundation.
The project has been made possible thanks to the generous support of the Government of the United States of America. “The League of the Strong”’ is responsible for the content, which does not necessarily reflect the views of the Government of the United States of America.