REGION OF IMPLEMENTATION 

Grodno, Grodno region

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT TOPICS

Housing and urban environment
Social Development

CONTENTS OF THE ACTIVITY

The children’s inclusive center “Vera” offers a wide range of free services, including specialized educational and rehabilitation programs. The Center conducts classes in art therapy, Montessori therapy, sand therapy, sensory therapy, theater and play therapy, recreational swimming, and also provides online classes for children who cannot come from the regions. The objectives of the children’s inclusive center “Vera” are:

• Ensuring access to quality education and rehabilitation. The activities of the Center are aimed at providing free opportunities for education and rehabilitation of every child, regardless of the characteristics of his psychophysical development.
• Development of independence and socialization skills. The Center strives to promote the full integration of children with disabilities into the social environment, creating the necessary conditions for this and destroying stereotypes of disabilities.
• Psycho-emotional support for children and their families. An important task is to provide psychological support to children and members of their families who are in difficult life situations.

KEY STEPS OF IMPLEMENTATION:

• Recruitment and training of specialists. Attracting qualified specialists in the field of psychology, pedagogy and rehabilitation, as well as improving their qualifications to work with children with psychophysical developmental disabilities and their parents.
• Creation and equipment of accessible and safe educational and gaming infrastructure. Creation of an accessible and safe environment for all types of activities, including phased renovation and adaptation of the premises of the inclusive Center to the specific needs of children with special needs of psychophysical development. Development and adaptation of educational and rehabilitation programs that meet the individual needs of each child.
• Involving and supporting families of children with disabilities. Organization of work with parents and families of children, including consulting support and training in methods of raising and developing children with psychophysical disabilities.
• Expanding cooperation with partners. Active collaboration with public, non-profit and government organizations to share resources, knowledge and experience in the field of inclusive education and support. Conducting educational campaigns to raise public awareness of the importance of inclusion and support for children with disabilities.
• Development of an online support system. Introduction of online formats to ensure accessibility of educational programs for children with psychophysical disabilities from different regions.

The help center “Vera” is faced with problems, the key of which are: monthly expenses for maintaining activities, payment for the services of specialists, and complete dependence on charitable donations without guaranteed funding. This requires continuous efforts to seek additional sources of support from individuals, businesses and organizations to ensure the continuation of the organization’s important mission.

One of the ways to increase financial stability is “relief baskets” and “piggy banks”. Placed in public places, “help baskets” collect donations of items for the daily needs of children with special needs, while “piggy banks” allow them to accumulate necessary funds. These tools directly support the center’s educational and rehabilitation programs, providing the necessary resources for its clients.

RESULTS AND IMPACT OF THE INITIATIVE

Over the three years of operation, the children’s inclusive center has achieved significant success in providing assistance to children with special needs.

More than 189 children used the services of the Center.

Almost 1,500 educational and rehabilitation classes were conducted, including 106 classes in hippotherapy, hundreds of classes in art therapy, sand therapy, educational courses and in the music and dance studio “Oblaka”.

The theater studio “Raduga”, with performances by disabled children, brought fame and recognition to the Center and won several significant awards at international competitions and festivals.

The Сenter has expanded the range of services and programs offered, including the organization of child-parent leisure groups, cultural and entertainment events and educational master classes.

To create a more accessible and friendly environment, it is planned to build an inclusive children’s sports and playground.

The number of  “help baskets” and “piggy banks” has been increased throughout the country, which has made it possible to attract additional funds to support the center’s activities. In 2022, 51 new “help baskets” was set. The total number of “help baskets” reached 178, and “piggy banks” — 367.

The Center’s successes highlight the importance of an inclusive approach in the education and rehabilitation of children with special needs, demonstrating that with the right support, these children can achieve significant success and integrate into society.

Information sources:

1. vera.by
2. orshanka.by
3. lidanews.by