Solutions from Ukraine: Kyiv region unveils new rehabilitation module for war victims

This is the Mindy Charity Foundation's second social franchise project. Its goal is to provide rehabilitation and psychosocial services to veterans and civilians nationwide.

The press service of the Mindy Charity Foundation reported that.

What is the problem?

The issue of rehabilitation and restoration of the health of both veterans and civilians affected by the war is one of the priority challenges for Ukraine.

That is why rehabilitation services should be available to everyone, regardless of where they live, including the most remote communities. Ukrainian citizens should not go to regional centers to receive these services.

What is the solution?

A new rehabilitation center was opened in Vasylkiv, Kyiv region, on October 16, 2024, specifically designed for those who were affected by the full-scale Russian invasion – including veterans, their families, and civilians.

The mobile rehabilitation unit is a 72-square-meter state-of-the-art, wheelchair-accessible space that offers complimentary psychosocial support and physical rehabilitation services. It is fully equipped with all the necessary rehabilitation equipment, Wi-Fi, a TV for virtual classes, climate control, and other essential technical features.

"We are proud that the idea of ​​creating mobile rehabilitation modules, which we initiated within the framework of our fund, is being successfully scaled up and is already being implemented in new cities of Ukraine. The first module in Ovruch showed a great need for such services, and based on the experience gained, we improved our approaches for further projects, such as the rehabilitation module in Vasylkiv. This is not just a medical facility but a place where people get a chance to recover and return to normal life fully. We, together with our partners, continue to make such opportunities available to every region that needs it," Taras Yermakov, head of the Mindy Foundation, said.

The mayor of Vasylkiv, Nataliia Balasynovych, also noted:

"The creation of a rehabilitation center for veterans in the Vasylkiv community is a crucial step in the realities of our time. Helping war veterans and military members who are returning to civilian life is issue No. 1 for all of us today. Our common duty is to stand by them in this difficult time. We thank everyone who joined such an important cause. Creating such centers is not only rehabilitation but also adaptation to new living conditions."

How does it work?

The social franchise format also involves the work of a multidisciplinary team of specialists in each module, which makes the rehabilitation process as effective as possible.

This team includes a case manager, a psychologist, a doctor of physical and rehabilitation medicine, a physical therapist, a speech therapist, and specialists from partner organizations that provide other social services.

^{Photo: Mindy Charity Foundation}

"Supporting social initiatives is one of Visa's strategic priorities, and these efforts become even more relevant in the conditions of a full-scale war. We are glad that the social franchise from the Mindy Charity Foundation is successfully scaling up, creating full-fledged rehabilitation conditions for war victims in new for this project in cities of Ukraine," Svitlana Chyrva, Vice President, Regional Manager of Visa in Ukraine and Moldova, commented. "We are proud to continue to support this important initiative, which helps Ukrainians to return to a full life, fulfilling our global mission – to expand the opportunities of local communities."

This is the second project of the Mindy Charity Foundation's social franchise, which seeks to provide rehabilitation and psychosocial services to veterans and civilians in small communities, eliminating the need to travel to regional centers.

To expand the social franchise under the All-Ukrainian mental health program, various organizations, including the Mindy Charity Foundation, the Coordinating Center for Mental Health of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, NGO "Bezbarienist," the Kyiv Regional Military Administration, and members of the "Business without Barriers" community came together in a consortium alongside Visa and Oschadbank. This project was carried out as a part of the program "How are you?" which has been spearheaded by First Lady Olena Zelenska.

Rehabilitation clusters have already been developed, which consist of a rehabilitation module, a module for temporary accommodation of veterans, patients, and doctors, and a module with a rehabilitation pool.

To become a patient in the rehabilitation module in Vasylkiv, you need to fill out the online form using the link.

The social franchise's first rehabilitation module was opened in Ovruch, Zhytomyr region, in January 2024. As part of the franchise's expansion, the rehabilitation space in Vasylkiv has been improved based on feedback from Ovruch specialists and patients.

For reference:

It should be noted that thanks to the assistance of the US Embassy in Ukraine, Mykolaiv veteran Oleksandr Tereshchenko and his fellow collaborators successfully carried out a project focused on aiding the social integration of individuals with amputations.

In addition, the Princip Human Rights Center's lawyers have developed typical service provider schemes for military personnel, veterans, and their families.