The League of the Strong

It has been three years since The League of the Strong was officially established. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has contributed to building the League: our founders, the Board, the dedicated team, the organizations within our community, and the partners who continue to support our initiatives: European Disability Forum, CBM Christian Blind Mission, UN Women, Women's Peace & Humanitarian Fund (WPHF), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and so on. Together, we are stronger. Together, we are driving systemic changes to create opportunities for every person with a disability to live a dignified life. Some of the milestones we have achieved so far are highlighted in the photos—and there’s much more to come.

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year ✨ May the light of this holiday fill our hearts with hope, joy, and love. Even in the darkest of times, may our faith in a brighter future remain steadfast. We extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who stood by us in 2024. We firmly believe that only by uniting our efforts can we endure these challenging times. Together, we can create the conditions for a dignified life for every person in Ukraine. Together, we can achieve the long-awaited victory for our country. Our heartfelt thanks go to all our partners for their unwavering support. We honor and thank the defenders of Ukraine for granting us the opportunity to live and work in freedom. We bow our heads in memory of the fallen soldiers and await the safe return of those celebrating Christmas in captivity or on the front lines. May this Christmas be warm and filled with love, and may the New Year bring peace to us all.

Ukraine continues its efforts to implement the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, even amid the challenges of war. The priorities and strategies for addressing the most pressing needs in 2025 were discussed at an event organized by World Health Organization Ukraine. The League of the Strong team actively participated in the discussion, represented by Executive Director Daria Sydorenko, Board Chairperson Uliana Pcholkina, and board members Kateryna Daineko and Віталій Пчолкін. Key topics addressed: 👉 Ensuring a coordinated approach from humanitarian response to recovery for effective implementation of the Convention in Ukraine. 👉 Transitioning from institutional care systems to community-based support services. 👉 Overcoming stigma and creating employment opportunities for people with disabilities. 👉 Promoting inclusive recovery to ensure no one is left behind. The conference also highlighted recommendations based on situational analysis, with a focus on coordinating efforts and supporting the reintegration and retraining of people with disabilities. 💬 “This event is another significant step for the community of people with disabilities and organizations working in this field. It is crucial for us to avoid working in isolation, but instead, unite to coordinate efforts, jointly set priorities, and determine the next steps,” emphasized Daria Sydorenko, Executive Director of The League of the Strong. We extend our gratitude to our colleagues from World Health Organization, the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in Ukraine, and the UN Partnership on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities for the invitation. Together, we are driving meaningful change 🤝

Right now, Uliana Pcholkina, Head of the Board at The League of the Strong, is representing Ukraine at the European Regional Disability Summit 2024⚡️ During her speech at the panel discussion “The Rights of People with Disabilities in Times of Crisis,” Uliana shared her personal experience of being under occupation in Bucha. For an long period after Russia’s full-scale invasion, she and her ex-husband were unable to leave the city due to destroyed roads and the absence of evacuation transport for people with disabilities. 💬 “As soon as we reached relative safety, we knew we had to act. Together with our team and partners, we began assisting other Ukrainians with disabilities. We provided humanitarian aid, medicines, and other needs. We evacuated people from war zones and secured affordable housing abroad” said Uliana. With the support of the European Disability Forum, the League of the Strong launched two key initiatives: “Unite and Help in Time of War” and “Empower Ukraine.” Through these projects, the organization continues to deliver assistive technology, transportation, legal aid, and psychological support to people with disabilities. 💬 “We have supported over 25,000 people with disabilities. Behind every number is a person with their own story and hope. What’s next? The most crucial thing for every Ukrainian is peace – a chance to live, grow, and build a future. Achieving these things is incredibly challenging amid daily rocket attacks, which leave people without electricity and communication,” added Uliana, the Head of the Board of the League of the Strong. Uliana also highlighted the pressing challenges Ukraine faces, including reconstruction and the creation of an accessible environment for everyone: “We must support veterans, children, and youth with disabilities, ensuring they have a bright future. That’s why international support and expertise are critical. Standing with Ukraine now is not just about relief – it’s about building a better society where everyone’s dignity is respected.” She concluded her speech by expressing gratitude to the Armed Forces of Ukraine for making it possible for her to attend the summit. We extend our thanks to our partners from the European Disability Forum for their steadfast support of people with disabilities in Ukraine 🤝

The National Forum on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities ‘On the Road to the EU’ officially started yesterday. The participants were greeted by the leaders of Fight For Right and The League of the Strong. ‘In fact, 2024 was a very important year for people with disabilities in Ukraine and the world. A lot of changes have taken place. As a community, we grew and united. The word ‘disability’ has never been used so often in the history of Ukraine because of corruption. It is a very negative experience, but it is a challenge that our government and we, as a civil society, are now overcoming,’ said Yuliia Sachuk 🇺🇦, head of OPD Fight For Right 🇺🇦 . She added that ‘we want our voices to be stronger, to be heard, to change lives and fight for the rights of every person with disabilities in Ukraine.’ The Forum brought together activists and representatives of public organisations of people with disabilities from all over Ukraine. During the Forum, they will work on the development of the Agenda for 2025. ‘We will develop the Agenda for 2025, review the problems and challenges we face, and propose solutions so that we can prepare an action plan for implementation in 2025. We already have some results of our work. Unfortunately, they are not enough, and we must continue to unite in order to implement the agenda we set for ourselves,’ said Daria Sydorenko, executive director of The League of the Strong. The National Forum on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was organised by The League of the Strong and the OPD Fight For Right 🇺🇦 with @UN Women Ukraine, the International Renaissance Foundation, the EU Delegation to Ukraine, and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES Ukraine), National Democratic Institute (NDI), MacArthur Foundation, New Democracy Fund, Kvinna till Kvinna and with funding from the Women's Peace & Humanitarian Fund, USAID - US Agency for International Development and British aid from the UK Government. The views expressed during the event are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the partners or donors.

Inclusion Space at the XIII Civil Society Development Forum (with)STAND A truly fair society, where everyone's rights are respected, cannot exist without a strong foundation of inclusion. The war has made this issue even more urgent, as it often results in disabilities among both defenders and civilians. At the XIII Civil Society Development Forum (with)STAND, The League of the Strong will create a unique inclusion space to spotlight the challenges faced by people with disabilities in Ukraine. The space aims to unite and empower disabled individuals to advocate for their rights and improve their quality of life. In collaboration with partners – Museum in the Dark "03:00", Active Rehabilitation Group, and the social project Inclusively Friendly – the League of the Strong will present the photo exhibition Time to Step into the Light. It features ten inspiring stories of people with disabilities, highlighting their daily challenges and emphasizing the importance of visibility and inclusion in society. The Forum participants can take part in the inclusive quest Everyone Should Be Seen, where they will face obstacles that people with disabilities encounter daily. They will also learn the sign language basics, test their knowledge of accessibility in a quiz, and enjoy cookies with unique fortunes. The highlight of the inclusion space will be the flash mob Make Inclusion Visible. To join, simply take a photo at the location, share your personal experience, or suggest ideas for improving accessibility and protecting the rights of people with disabilities. We look forward to seeing you at the Forum on December 5. Together, we will withstand and make this day unforgettable. Learn more about the Forum at https://forum.ednannia.ua/ Important: Next week, all registered participants will receive an email containing a QR code to scan before entering the Forum. Please note that the email with the QR code will not come from ISAR Ednannia's address but from an automated mailing service. Be sure to monitor your inbox and check your Spam or Promotions folders if the email does not appear in your main inbox.

On the occasion of the European Day of Persons with Disabilities (EDPD) conference in Brussels, Iryna Bereziuk, Project Manager of The League of the Strong, had the honor of representing our organization at this event. This year's conference focused on employment, independent living and transport, with a strong emphasis on urban accessibility. Key discussions included integrating international recommendations into national strategies to promote equal opportunities for all. There are a few Iryna's notes from the conference 👇 ◾ The second phase of the European Disability Strategy was announced, focusing on: ▫️ Strengthening independent living and accessibility. ▫️ Guaranteeing the rights of people with disabilities. ◾ The low employment rate of people with disabilities remains a major challenge for all EU countries. Urgent action is needed to combat discrimination in the workplace. ◾ Accessibility remains a key priority for the EU. From 2025, all new products and services in the EU must comply with the European Accessibility Act. By 2028, the European Disability Card will be introduced to facilitate the mobility of people with disabilities across EU Member States. ◾ Adequate funding is essential to develop community services and ensure that every person with a disability can live in their community with access to quality services. We are grateful to our partners, European Disability Forum, for facilitating such powerful dialogues 🤝

Maryna is 22 years old. Every day she attends the day care center of the Dream Workshop NGO. Here, young people with mental disorders learn to be independent: they develop skills to interact with others, perform household tasks and engage in creativity. And most importantly, they get the right to a decent life ✨ Since her childhood, Maryna's life was spent constantly moving between institutions. Until she met the helpers of the Day Care Center. Today, thanks to the support of the center, she feels comfortable, has friends and is engaged in creativity 🧵🎨. 💬 "I like everything here. And I like all the assistants. I'm friends with all of them," says Maryna. For a long time, Maryna was afraid to trust people and felt uncomfortable in the new community. But a calm environment that accepts and respects everyone has helped her recover. At the center, students have a clear daily schedule, a list of responsibilities, and their own rules. According to the counselors, this predictability gives them a sense of security. 💬 "In the afternoon, we have free time. I will play a game, a farm game. At four, I go home," says the girl.   Thanks to her acquaintance with the organization, Maryna was able to find a new home in an assisted living facility. There she lives with her friend Anzhelika. The girls enjoy spending time together, doing puzzles and listening to music. The project is supported by the League of the Strong, the European Disability Forum and the CBM Christian Blind Mission. Read Maryna's full story on the League of the Strong website: https://lnkd.in/dGQsSM7e

Ukraine needs independent monitoring of the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, – said Daria Sydorenko, CEO The League of the Strong. 📢 Our latest report by The League of the Strong and partner organizations highlights the pressing issues faced by people with disabilities in Ukraine amidst the full-scale invasion by Russia. We analyze the challenges, reforms, and provide crucial recommendations for improvement. 🗣️ "Ukraine needs independent monitoring of the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The lack of such a mechanism results in fragmented and incomplete data on the needs of people with disabilities. A separate issue is the situation in the temporarily occupied territories and combat zones. In this report, we aim to outline the existing challenges and problems to create the foundation for developing a mechanism to improve the situation," – said Daria Sydorenko. 📊 Key areas covered in the report: General principles and obligations; Rights of women and children with disabilities; Accessibility, equality, and non-discrimination; Situations of risk and humanitarian crisis; Access to justice and independent living; Freedom of expression and access to information; Education, health, labor, and employment; Social protection and participation in political and public life. 🔍 Developed with the standards of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and supported by the European Disability Forum, CBM International, and the Disabled People Organization Denmark. Stay tuned for the full report on our website! #PeopleWithDisabilityRights #Ukraine #HumanRights #Inclusion #Accessibility #TheLeagueOfTheStrong

"Choose a job you love, and you'll never have to work a day in your life." This catchphrase describes the story of Lyudmyla Reshetnyak, a crafter from the Vinnytsia region. Her hobby not only brings her pleasure and inner balance, but is also a source of income for her family. It all started with an acquaintance with Harmony NGO. They are a partner of The League of the Strong in the project “Uniting and Helping in Time of War” thanks to a grant from the European Disability Forum and CBM Christian Blind Mission. "The Harmony NGO had various needlework groups. I learned to knit toys there. I knew how to knit before. I could just make something for myself. But here I was taught to knit toys," the woman says. Later, the organization launched an employment project for people who cannot go to work but can do something at home. Then, Lyudmyla was offered to put her knitted toys on sale at the inclusive coffee shop. She agreed. Lyudmyla creates about 20 toys a month. Each of her products is unique and inimitable. She mostly knits animals - striped cats, red cows, gray mice... "I love knitting very much. For me, it's two in one: a hobby for my soul and my own business that helps our family financially. I am grateful to the Harmony NGO for the opportunity to do what I love and realize myself as a craftswoman," adds Lyudmyla. Read more: https://lnkd.in/dnxHZ9aZ #Disability #Ukraine #PeopleWithDisability