A Training Camp “Together We Are Powerful”: Advocacy, Leadership and the Power of Community Starts in Yavoriv
October 7, 2025
Share:
A training camp titled “Developing the Capacity of Public Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs): Advocacy — Theoretical and Practical Aspects” was launched in Lviv region.
During five days, leaders and activists from different regions of Ukraine will immerse themselves in advocacy practice — from theory to developing their own action strategies for their communities. The camp is part of the project “Together We Are Powerful: Capacity Building of NGOs of People with Disabilities,” implemented by the National Assembly of People with Disabilities of Ukraine in partnership with the humanitarian organization People in Need and with the financial support from the people of the Czech Republic.
“Our objective is not just to provide knowledge, but to create a space where ideas, partnerships, and mutual support can emerge. Advocacy is not about slogans — it is about systemic work and a team capable of changing reality in their communities,” emphasized Yurii Vasylchenko, the Project Coordinator, during the camp opening.
Camp participants represent seven regions of Ukraine — Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Kharkiv, Ivano-Frankivsk and Lviv. For many, this is not the first training experience, but it is an important stage in strengthening their organizations.
“We are starting with fundamentals – understanding that advocacy begins with the awareness of rights and responsibilities. It is essential that organizations of persons with disabilities not only participate in decision-making processes, but become full actors in them,” highlighted Larysa Bayda, camp trainer and NAPD Programme Director. “We will be talking about tools for influence, partnership, and above all – trust as the foundation of advocacy.”
In addition to training sessions, the programme includes well-being activities: morning exercise, boccia, and swimming. This approach combines learning with recovery — something especially important for people working daily in the field of rights protection and support.
“There are no lectures here in the traditional sense — there is teamwork, discussions, case studies, and hands-on exercises. And from day one, it is clear that a strong network of like-minded people is shaping,” added Yuri Vasylenko.
The camp will run until 10 October. On the final day, participants will present their own advocacy initiatives they plan to implement in their communities upon returning home.
The birth of their first child, a girl, was a great joy for the Dobrynin family. A sweet, cheerful, playful child - and no suspicions, neither from parents nor from doctors... Only later did her mother, Olena Vasylivna, begin to notice alarming signals - a speech delay, difficulties in social interaction. ...Katia always perceived the world in a childlike way. It was difficult for her to feel the boundaries - what [...]
A public dialogue with the management of the Storozhynets Multidisciplinary Intensive Care Hospital was held in the Storozhynets community to discuss accessibility of medical services for people with disabilities and other low-mobility groups. The meeting was attended by representatives of public organizations of people with disabilities, veterans« organizations, community members, representatives of the Storozhynets City Council, as well as hospital management and staff. The format of the open dialog [...]
- Going outside, going on business, taking a walk with friends - all these simple things that until recently were so easy suddenly became enormous, almost insurmountable difficulties," recalls Olga Vinogradova, a civil activist from Mykolaiv, recalling the events of long ago. It happened when she had just turned sixteen. An injury sustained in a car accident changed her life significantly, [...]
Safety should be accessible to everyone. During a full-scale war in Ukraine, with constant air raids, a shelter is not just a technical room, but a space that saves lives. And if some community members are physically unable to get there or navigate inside, it means unequal access to safety. On February 26, in Opishne, Poltava region, [...]
We bring to your attention the recording of a webinar held by the National Assembly of People with Disabilities of Ukraine within the framework of the project «Strengthening the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Humanitarian Response and Recovery in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities». The speaker of the event is Yaroslav Taranets, Head of the Advocacy Team at the Vostok SOS Charitable Foundation. You will hear an analysis of support programs, [...]
For over forty years, he has been using a wheelchair. But for a long time now, he has not perceived it as a symbol of limitation, but rather as an element of forward movement. The path to the goal, on which he has to overcome barriers and solve very difficult everyday tasks. ...The trauma happened when I was a teenager. At a time when most people are making their first plans for adulthood, Oleh had to [...]
