At the invitation of the Franciscan brothers, on May 21 I had the honor to take part in the 16th “Marathon of Hope” in Klaipeda. The idea of founding the race, which aims to support people who are fighting cancer, belongs to brother Benedict. All funds collected during the Marathon are directed to the Franciscan Cancer Center. This year, many participants of the “Marathon of Hope” dedicated their race to Ukraine. Today, it is my people who give hope to the entire civilized world, for the inevitable victory of good over evil, light over darkness, humanity over cruelty. For me personally, the race was important, because oncology took away my dearest person – my mother – quite early. In addition, I see one of the meanings of my post-war life in supporting people who are losing hope.

Almost 28 years ago, Signatory Medard Chobot founded theMedardo Čoboto Trečio amžiaus universitetas (University of the Third Age) in Vilnius, Lithuania. This is a university for people who have decided that life does not end at retirement, but rather the opposite. Here they can study and do what they dreamed of in their childhood, but for which they never had time enough. They are creative, they travel, they understand the intricacies of modern politics, and so on. And moreover, most of the students of this University know from their own experience what the “Russian peaceful world” (Ruskyj Myr) actually brings to the world.
However, simply to know and to talk about this threat is not enough. That is why the University announced the funding campaign to help the Armed Forces of Ukraine. As a result, one of the very combat units of the 28th separate mechanized brigade named the Knights of the Winter Campaign will receive a quirky “baby” DJI Mavic 3 with three additional batteries to it.
TAU is the abbreviation of the Third Age University, and in Lithuanian it means “for you”. Therefore, in this case, this drone is for you – the Defender of Ukraine and the entire civilized world.
As a sign of our sincere gratitude to the University of the Third Age – a pair of author’s swaddle dolls from Natalia Volobueva, donated to us by the ICF Foundation “Family CLUB Matusia”.
For our and your freedom!
https://otereshchenko.com/

Our first course of social rehabilitation for veterans who lost their sight defending Ukraine – “Life after the war” has ended. In two stages, 8 veterans and members of their families, from April 1 to 12 in the Lviv region and from April 12 to 18 in Rivne, mastered an intensive program of independent living and social integration developed and implemented by specialists, partners of the project, Organization “Contemporary view “. We sincerely thank the Ukrainian Center for Physical Culture and Sports of Persons with Disabilities “Invasport” and the National Committee for Sports of Persons with Disabilities of Ukraine for effective support in the first stage of rehabilitation!

Infinite gratitude to everyone who contributed to the implementation of this extremely important social project!

However, this is only the beginning. We are already forming the next group of veterans to help them return to an active independent life.

#Life_after_the_war_must_go on!

It will soon be 9 years since my country holds a defensive fight for independence against brutal invasion. A year of which this is real hell. We have yet to realize the extent of the destruction caused by the occupiers. And if the destruction of critical infrastructure, housing, schools, and hospitals can be measured in terms of money, then how can we evaluate the crippled destinies of people? However, we must rise from the ashes and learn to live after the war. That is how we named the direction of the fund’s activities for the rehabilitation of veterans who received serious injuries while defending Ukraine – “Life after the war”. I myself have gone through this path and am convinced that life does not end after the war.

The first project of this direction will be the rehabilitation of war veterans who lost their sight while defending Ukraine, aimed primarily at their return to a full-fledged, independent, active life.

Currently, the number of people who have completely lost their sight and with whom we communicate already reaches more than 40 people. Unfortunately, the war continues and this number is not final.

The first level of the program is an 18-day, intensive course of primary rehabilitation with a large number of individual classes, for 8 veterans who have lost their sight and 8 family members who constantly accompany them. 15 experienced trainers, the vast majority of whom have partial or complete sight loss on a peer-to-peer basis, during the first 12 days, will conduct classes on social and everyday orientation, spatial orientation, physical culture and sports rehabilitation, social adaptation and professional orientation. The purpose of the second 6-day stage, which will be held in the city of Rivne, is to practice practical classes on orientation and mobility close to real life. A combination of cane and smartphone practice with various mobile navigation applications. Study of the city’s infrastructure, pedestrian crossings, regulated and non-regulated intersections, traffic lights with and without sound output, public transport, its independent use and with an accompanying person. Formation of skills and abilities to use public places, shops, pharmacies, shopping and entertainment centers, coffee shops, etc. Acquaintance with the possibilities of the modern regional library, a computer class with screen access programs for the blind, voiced books in various formats, films with audio description and their viewing, familiarization with writing aids, relief drawings, maps, three-dimensional paintings, models of castles , board games, etc. Cultural and creative development of individuals using walking, bus and audio tours.

The partners of the project are the All-Ukrainian League of Blind and Visually Impaired Organizations “Contemporary view”