Stronger Together: A training camp that united leaders and empowered action

Five days passed quickly, but they left behind a lot – knowledge, friendships, confidence, and a sense that change is possible. At the Western Rehabilitation and Sports Centre of the National Paralympic Committee of Ukraine, the training camp “ Developing the Capacity of Public Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs): Advocacy — Theoretical and Practical Aspects”, which took place from 6 to 10 October 2025 within the “ Together We Are Powerful” project, has come to an end.

The participants arrived from seven regions – Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Kharkiv, Ivano-Frankivsk and Lviv regions. People of different ages, with different stories, yet united by the same goal – to learn how to defend the rights of persons with disabilities in their communities and influence decision-making.

“When I was on my way here, I thought I would simply learn something new. But it turned out to be much more: we became a team. For the first time, I realized that advocacy is not about ‘writing letters’ – it is about confidence, strategy, and building relationships with people,” said Olesia, a participant from Mykolaiv region.

“Here we talked about what hurts. And we did not just complain – we looked for solutions. I realized we cannot sit and wait for someone ‘from above’ to do something. If we don’t articulate our needs, no one will hear them. That’s the main thing I’m taking home,” highlighted Valentina, a participant from Dnipropetrovsk region.

During the camp, participants took part in sessions on advocacy, strategic planning, and organizational capacity development. They worked in groups, discussed real challenges, modelled solutions and exchanged personal experience.

“The strongest moment for me was when each group presented its advocacy plan. It was clear that these were not just ideas, but real initiatives that already have their first steps. That means we weren’t just studying – we were generating change,” said camp trainer Larysa Baida, Programme Director of NAPD.

Besides the learning activities, there was another crucial component – recovery. A solar relaxation room, swimming pool, group exercises, and boccia games became not just leisure activities but an integral part of the process: decompressing, rebooting, and rediscovering one’s strength.

“To me, this format is perfect. You don’t just sit and take notes—you live each day with people who understand you. We talked, laughed, and supported each other. And that made everything warmer and lighter,” commented Oleksandr, a participant from Kharkiv region.

“After these days, you just want to act and keep going. We agreed to create a shared chat to stay connected and support one another in implementing our initiatives. We have truly become a team,” emphasized Natalia, a participant from Mykolaiv region.

The final day brought certificates, hugs, warm words and emotions that could not be hidden. Because everyone took home something more than knowledge.

“We see how knowledge turns into action. And that is the core purpose of such activities – so that learning leads to change, and words turn into action,” summarized NAPD project coordinator Yurii Vasylchenko.

Together We Are Powerful is about action

This training camp became another step toward building a strong, educated, and united network of OPDs ready to take responsibility for change. And it seems clear that after these five days, everyone knows one thing: together, we can do more.

This event was held within the project “Together We Are Powerful: Capacity Building of Public Organizations of People with Disabilities” is implemented by the National Assembly of People with Disabilities of Ukraine (NAPD) in partnership with the humanitarian organization “People in Need” and with financial support from the people of the Czech Republic.