Інклюзивні громади. Що вдалося за 4 місяці? / Inclusive communities. What we have achieved already in 4 months?

#НАІУ #GFFO #CBM #EDF #інклюзивні_громади

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Inclusive communities. What we have achieved already in 4 months?

In September 2023, the National Assembly of People with Disabilities of Ukraine started the implementation of the project ” Multisectoral humanitarian assistance for IDPs, returnees, veterans and host communities in Ukraine”. Six communities from the Volyn, Poltava and Chernivtsi regions were chosen which include 138 settlements.

Every day for four months, coordinators in the regions, consultants, and the team of the NAPD Secretariat worked diligently to ensure that the implementation of the project benefited the communities and people living there.

What did we manage to do?

• They collected a team of like-minded people: residents of communities, experts, representatives of local self-government bodies, community organizations, people with disabilities, families who care for children and youth with disabilities;
• carried out a mapping of the community and tracked how many people with disabilities live in dense areas and the social services, transport, medicine, etc. available to them;
• analyzed the state of existing institutions in the field of mental health;
• targeted penny assistance was provided to more than 1000 individuals of the target group, another 400 people were provided with assistive technologies;
• launched an advocacy campaign “Inclusive Communities – United Actions to Protect the Rights of People with Disabilities for Their Participation” among local communities;
• promoted the capacity of member organizations and partners of NAPD, initiated nutritional inclusive humanitarian response, safety, first medical and psychosocial assistance;
• supported the work of social workers in small settlements and provided them with bicycles.

We believe that changes for the better in communities are possible if we work as a team. We know that thanks to the specialists of NAPD, those who need it the most, the most vulnerable among the most vulnerable, get help and that we will reach every home.

Here is what people who have already received financial assistance from us write to us:

“I move around in a wheelchair, I live in a small town in an apartment. With the funds received, she bought medicine and also bought products.”

– Nina, Poltava region

“We have been IDPs since 2014. There are not enough funds for the permanent treatment of my son, he has a complex disease. I can’t leave him alone, so I can’t get a job. I used the money for treatment.”

– Natalia, Poltava region

“I have the first group of disabilities. I spent the money I received to buy firewood to heat the house in winter. Big thanks.”

– Ivan, Poltava region

“I have a disability, I move around in a wheelchair. I live in an apartment with my wife. I spent the aid on hygiene products.”

– Vasyl, Chernivtsi region

“I have been disabled since childhood. I live with my wife and children in the village. He spent the aid on clothes for himself and his children. Thank you”.

– Dmytro, Chernivtsi region

We believe we will overcome the barriers to creating inclusive communities as we work to rebuild our country.

The project and our cooperation with communities will continue in 2024.

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This publication was produced with the financial support from the German Federal Foreign Office (GFFO), CBM, and EDF. The views expressed in the material belong to the National Assembly of People with Disabilities of Ukraine and therefore cannot in any way be considered the official opinion of the financial partner, CBM, and EDF.