10 November 2025
In Belarus, the Joint Project “Support to the Efforts of the Republic of Belarus in Nationalization and Localization of SDGs” supported studios are turning barriers into opportunities through 3D printing and animation.
Despite global efforts to build an accessible, inclusive world in line with the core principle “Leaving No One Behind,” people with disabilities still face barriers to meaningful employment. Worldwide, they are twice as likely to be excluded from education and work. In Belarus, where overall unemployment is about 3.5%, the rate among people with disabilities is 16.5% — nearly five times higher.
Addressing this disparity requires more than policy reform; it demands targeted interventions that equip people with relevant, modern skills. As the UN’s Disability and Development Report 2024 underscores, integrating people with disabilities into the digital economy is crucial to reducing inequality and unlocking their untapped potential.
In Belarus’s regions, this vision is taking shape. Through two pilot initiatives on the SDG, implemented by regional public organizations in partnership with local authorities and with the Joint Project support, inclusive learning spaces provide digital skills and creative tools to people with disabilities, opening pathways to economic independence and social inclusion.
In the town of Luninets, Brest Region, the need is clear. Of the 1,500 working-age people with disabilities in the district, only 514 are employed – leaving nearly two-thirds without work or prospects.
“That leaves a huge number who can’t realize their potential,” says Elena Lavrenchuk, Coordinator of the “Technologies Takeoff” initiative.
“When this project came along, it was such a brilliant chance – I didn’t even hesitate,” says Marina.
With the Joint Project support, the initiative provided specialized training and established a classroom with the equipment needed to learn and practice 3D‑printing technologies. Here, participants like Marina turn ideas into tangible products.
“It’s an amazing process,” Marina explains. “When you start with what seems like nothing, just a spool of plastic filament, and after a couple of hours you have a finished product you can actually admire.”
This is more than a skill. It is a gateway to self-employment. New competencies open opportunities to earn income: participants design and sell custom products, from assistive devices (adaptive grips, key turners) to decorative items.
“It’s definitely a new opportunity for learning and growth,” Marina adds. “My chances of employment have increased. 3D printing is a modern and promising field. This project is enabling us to keep up with the times.”
The initiative reflects the broader push for digital inclusion. Globally, 3D printing is expanding access to assistive technology, enabling custom prosthetics and adaptive tools at a fraction of traditional costs. In Belarus’s districts, where conventional employment options are limited, such efforts also reduce isolation by building communities around shared learning.
In Grodno, digital creativity takes a different form. The Joint Project-supported Animart studio helps young people with intellectual disabilities learn animated video production. The studio is a place for learning, socialization, and creative expression.
“This is an unusual studio – it’s inclusive,” says Karyna Nasytko, one of the 12 students. “It helps people with disabilities realize their potential through creating animated films. Some may even go on to become bloggers.”
Beyond technical skills, students improve teamwork and build social connections. “Our studio helps with socialization,” notes volunteer Elena Kondratova. “When our students gather, they have a reason to communicate.”
Together, they create videos on important social topics such as child protection, inclusion, and environmental awareness. Looking ahead, they plan to produce social advertisements for local organizations and businesses.
The process itself is empowering. “Usually, if a process is long, it becomes boring, but with animation it’s completely different – it’s very engaging,” shares Karyna.
From 3D‑printed prototypes in Luninets to animated films in Grodno, these initiatives are doing more than teaching skills – they are rewriting assumptions about who can participate in the digital economy. The question is whether such pilot projects can be scaled, transforming not just individual lives but also stereotypes that have long excluded people with disabilities from economic life. In an era of rapid technological change, Belarus’ story suggests that the tools for inclusion already exist. What remains is the will to deploy them widely.
The pilot initiatives on the SDG are implemented under the Joint Project “Support to the Efforts of the Republic of Belarus in the Nationalization and Localization of the Sustainable Development Goals” funded by the Government of the Russian Federation.
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