The photo exhibition “Time to Step into the Light” will be on display at the Kolomyia railway station in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast until August 8. This marks the eighth community to host an exhibition by the League of the Strong public union, as announced by David Davtyan, project manager of the League of the Strong.
“The exhibition ‘Time to Step into the Light’ has already visited various cities in the Cherkasy, Ternopil, and Ivano-Frankivsk regions. We did not choose these regions by chance. As part of the Empower Ukraine project, we support people with disabilities and their families through direct assistance. However, it is equally important to provide other forms of support—raising awareness about these individuals, encouraging them to accept themselves, and helping them overcome internal barriers to lead active and fulfilling lives. This is the goal of this exhibition,” emphasizes David Davtyan.
The “Time to Step into the Light” campaign features 10 people with disabilities from the Ivano-Frankivsk, Ternopil, and Cherkasy regions. Each exhibit includes a short story of self-acceptance and a photograph that uses light and shadows to highlight the subject. Additionally, the campaign heroes participated in the filming of video stories about their lives, which can be viewed on the League of the Strong’s YouTube channel.
In August 2023, the League of the Strong conducted the first national sociological survey on the perception of people with disabilities in Ukraine. The survey revealed that 50% of Ukrainians rarely or never see people with disabilities in public places.
Based on the results of this study, the League of the Strong launched the “Time to Step into the Light” information campaign. This campaign aims to help people with disabilities accept themselves, motivate others, overcome internal barriers, and advocate for their needs and rights.
The “Time to Step into the Light” campaign is part of the Empower Ukraine project, which is funded by the German Federal Foreign Office (GFFO), CBM, and the European Forum of People with Disabilities. The project aims to improve living conditions for people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups in the Ternopil, Cherkasy, and Ivano-Frankivsk regions.
The views expressed during the campaign are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position of the financial partners.