Rise for Communities: creating support spaces for children in communities

The Rise for Communities project is already in action. After the preparatory stage, we have moved on to active action in the communities of Kryvyi Rih district of Dnipro region, where children and families especially need safe spaces for support and development.

As part of the project, we are creating four specialised spaces for children with learning disabilities and speech impairments:

• two psychological relief rooms;
• two speech therapy rooms.

They are being set up on the basis of the SHANCE Inclusive Resource Centre of the Apostoliv City Council and in the Vakulivska community. This is where children who need extra attention, peace of mind, and professional support are treated every day.

Where we are now:

The project is currently in its active phase: we are already handing over the purchased equipment and materials and gradually arranging the spaces. Work is underway in several locations at once:

• at the Zhovtiany Lyceum of the Vakulivka Village Council, where a psychological relief room is being created;
• at the Inclusive Resource Centre of the Vakulivka Village Council, where a speech therapist’s office is being set up;
• at the SHANCE Information and Resource Centre of the Apostoliv City Council, where both a psychological room and a speech therapy room will appear.

Recently, the Rise team visited these locations to see how the work is progressing, to talk to the specialists on the spot and make sure that everything is moving in the right direction. It is important for us that these spaces are really comfortable and useful for children and professionals.

Such spaces are about the opportunity for a child to calm down, be heard, receive support and develop in a comfortable environment. For parents, it is a feeling that they are not left alone with challenges. And for the community, it is a step towards a more responsive and accessible child support system.

Every year, at least 440 children and their families will be able to receive assistance under the project. And for us, this is not just a number, but specific stories that begin with a safe space.

We continue to work and will share how these spaces come to life and are filled with meaning together with Rise 💙💛

Assistance is provided within the framework of the project “’SHLYAH: Protection, Assistance, Unity and Hope”’ by the Right to Protection Charitable Foundation with the support of the Humanitarian Foundation for Ukraine (GFU/UHF).