Nizhyn has a day care centre for children and young people with disabilities, which has become an important place of support and development for families in the community. The centre has been operating since 2022 on the basis of the Territorial Social Services Centre and accepts children from the age of three, as well as people with disabilities up to the age of 35.
The initiative is being implemented by the charitable organisation Ukrainian Educational Platform with the support of UNICEF.
Here, they help develop self-care skills, support physical development, conduct artistic and health-improving activities, and provide psychological assistance not only to children but also to parents. The department has a dance club, individual classes, and daily work with specialists.
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‘Daria’s memory and calligraphy have improved. She started drawing and cutting out paper herself. These are the changes that make me very happy,’ says Iryna Alekseeva, a social worker at the centre. Her 12-year-old daughter also attends the centre.
Iryna teaches choreography in the Vira club, which has eight children. According to her, dancing not only helps develop flexibility, but also teaches communication and self-confidence. ‘The children become friends and more attentive. It is important for them to have a place where they can fulfil themselves,’ she says.
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The centre operates on a daily care basis. Throughout the day, children participate in classes, communicate with each other and receive support from specialists. For many families, this is an opportunity not only to help their child develop, but also to find understanding and support.
‘I used to be afraid to leave my son for a few minutes — I was always nearby. Here, he has learned to be independent. And I can breathe a little easier,’ says the mother of one of the participants in the department.
Information meetings and psychological support are also provided for parents. All of the centre’s equipment has been updated, specialists have undergone special training, and another social worker has joined the department.
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