United to win: Japanese partners donate equipment for rehabilitating veterans and visually impaired people in Kyiv

Under the international technical assistance program known as the "Emergency Recovery and Reconstruction Project," Kyiv has received the initial set of equipment worth over 3 million hryvnias. The set includes 34 computers donated by the Japanese government through the International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The Deputy Head of the Kyiv City State Administration for the Exercise of Local Government Powers, Maryna Khonda, announced that.

As she noted, the equipment, worth over 3 million hryvnias, will be used to rehab veterans and people with visual impairments.

"All equipment is aimed at supporting people with visual impairments, veterans, people with disabilities, and older people so that they receive new opportunities for integration," Khonda emphasized.

Khonda specified that the capital received ten sets of computer equipment for the Kyiv Military Hub.

"10 sets of equipment were transferred to the Kyiv Military Hub, where there will be a spacious hall for practicing e-sports after the reconstruction. This is an important element of the rehabilitation of veterans because video games help improve concentration, coordination of movements, and communication skills," the official explained.

In addition to computers, Kyiv received 24 laptops with a built-in NonVisual Desktop Access (NVDA) system. This system allows people with visual impairments to use a computer without assistance. This program voices everything that happens on the screen, making the device convenient for people with low vision and the completely blind.

"Such a system allows children and adults with visual impairments – both with low vision and the completely blind – to use a computer without additional special programs.

When you hover the cursor, the program voices everything on the desktop in all applications. This allows you to use the laptop independently, without assistance," Maryna Khonda said.

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On November 16, the Prime Minister of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Takeshi Iwai, met and signed the Agreement between the governments of Ukraine and Japan on information security. The agreement creates a legal framework for the exchange of information between the state bodies of the two states.

In addition, Ukraine will receive 100 generators from Japan in 2024, some of which were handed over on November 16.

In addition, Prodrone, a Japanese manufacturer of industrial drones, is preparing to supply its products to Ukraine for use in humanitarian demining operations.

It is worth adding that Japan will provide Ukraine with $4.5 billion this year and will continue to assist throughout the entire ten-year term of the agreement. The total amount of assistance from March 2022 will exceed 12 billion dollars.