What is the problem?
Imagine having an idea that could transform lives—not just your own, but your entire community. You envision it solving a pressing problem, inspiring others, and creating jobs for those in need. Yet, instead of progress, you encounter barriers: no support, insufficient knowledge, isolation, and limited access to resources or a supportive network. This is the stark reality for many people with disabilities, particularly girls and women.
What is the solution?
The NGO Fight For Right is dedicated to empowering women and girls with disabilities in Ukraine by fostering unity, strength, and expanded opportunities. This year, they organized the "Be Your Own Goal" camp, a space where participants with project ideas received expert advice on strategy and project management, shared experiences, and drew inspiration from success stories. Set in the natural beauty of the Carpathians, the camp provided not only valuable support and knowledge but also the emotional energy needed to bring their ideas to life.
The camp was part of the "Leadership of Women with Disabilities in Communities" project, which is being carried out by Fight For Right with technical support from UN Women in Ukraine and funding from the UN Women's Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF).
How does it work?
"To have the freedom to be your own goal!"
Participants, experts and organizers of the camp "Be Your Own Goal." Photo: Fight For Right
The NGO Fight For Right is a human rights organization established in 2017 by women with disabilities. Its mission is to develop initiatives that empower girls and women with disabilities, enhance their visibility, and promote their active participation in society.
During the war, Fight For Right introduced the "Strengthening" development program, which offers educational opportunities, engaging online and offline events, and grant support tailored for girls and women with disabilities. The "Be a Goal for Yourself" camp was a key part of this program.
"We are always seeking ways to empower girls and women with disabilities," says Iryna Demkovych, project manager of Fight For Right. "Through our initiatives, we aim to create spaces for mutual support, experience sharing, and meaningful communication. This led to the idea of gathering women with disabilities who have their own project ideas in a safe environment. Here, they can receive mentoring support, be inspired by successful women with disabilities, connect face-to-face rather than online, and enjoy an emotional retreat in the Carpathians."
The name of the camp carries significant meaning. It is inspired by a quote from Olha Kobylianska, a Ukrainian writer, feminist, and trailblazer of her time who lived with a disability. The quote, taken from her work Tsarivna (The Princess), states: "To have such freedom as to be a goal for yourself! First of all, to be a goal for yourself…" According to the camp organizers, these words perfectly capture the essence of self-development and the importance of unlocking one's own potential.
"We did not expect such a large demand for participation in the camp"
Camp participants during an information session. Photo: Fight For Right
The organizers received over 200 applications from across Ukraine for the "Be a Goal for Yourself" camp. Girls and women with disabilities submitted project ideas designed to support the disability community, create new job opportunities, and contribute to the development of their local communities.
Fight For Right acknowledges that choosing just ten participants from the 200 applications was a challenging task, as many strong and promising projects were submitted.
The selection criteria for participants included a solid, realistic project idea with the potential for impact, with a focus on empowering women with disabilities.
To ensure the event was as comfortable and enriching as possible for participants, the organizers at Fight For Right took comprehensive measures. They chose an accessible location in Bukovel, the largest ski resort in Eastern Europe, carefully evaluating not only the hotel's accessibility for people with disabilities but also the surrounding infrastructure. This ensured participants wouldn't feel confined to the hotel, allowing them to freely explore and draw inspiration from the beauty of the Carpathian mountains. They also invited engaging speakers with extensive experience in human rights, activism, and project management. Additionally, the camp's activities were thoughtfully designed to help each participant recharge emotionally and psychologically.
Equal opportunities are everyone's right
"Most girls and women with disabilities do not have equal access to employment. It is crucial for us to support initiatives that demonstrate how girls and women with disabilities can succeed in any field and hold positions across all sectors," said Yuliia Sachuk, head of the Fight For Right, during the camp's opening.
Over the three-day camp, participants learned how to:
- Develop their leadership skills
- Implement socially impactful initiatives in their communities
- Unite like-minded individuals around their causes
- Understand the importance of participating in community decision-making and how to put this into practice
The event also featured informative educational sessions on human rights, the human rights approach in project implementation, project management, advocacy, and communications.
Expert Oksana Bryndzak discusses how to navigate the journey from idea to project implementation. Photo: Fight For Right.
The purpose of the meeting with Kateryna Konstantynova, a consultant for non-governmental organizations, business, and government, was to develop clear advocacy strategies at the local level. She covered everything from identifying stakeholders and assessing their influence to addressing potential risks, providing practical examples from her own advocacy campaigns.
Oksana Bryndzak, a social entrepreneur, head of the Teple Misto social transformation platform, and a UCU lecturer and psychologist, also shared her expertise with the camp participants. She emphasized that the success of a project relies on setting clear deadlines for each stage, sticking to the budget, and ensuring that the outcomes align with expectations.
The participants also took note of key points from the speech by Maryna Govorukhina, an expert in strategic communications, as everyone aimed to enhance their personal brand.
Another vital aspect of the camp was the presentation and discussion of project ideas, followed by collaborative work with mentors.
Camp participant Eva Kalinina choosing a mentor for her project. Photo: Fight For Right
Each mentor worked one-on-one with the camp participants, helping them refine their projects, discuss potential risks, and evaluate the project's impact. In some cases, the project idea only underwent slight changes, while in others, the concept shifted significantly. One participant shared, "After speaking with my mentor, the vision for my project changed drastically, and most importantly, its future direction."
A delightful bonus of the camp was the chance to walk through the autumn Carpathian forest and unwind at the spa. The project manager recalled that one of the most memorable moments was a morning hike to witness the sunrise. The group chose the picturesque Tomnatyk meadow, on the way to Mount Syniak's summit, where they were greeted with a stunning panoramic view of Petros and Hoverla.
Sunrise in the Tomnatyk Valley. Photo: Fight For Right
"The moment of sunrise was deeply symbolic for the participants. Some shared that they were experiencing such emotions for the first time in their lives, as they had never been to the mountains before—many due to the inaccessibility of mountain tourism for people who use wheelchairs or have other physical disabilities," recalls Iryna Demkovych.
Does it really work?
According to Demkovych, the positive and creative energy among the participants at the camp exceeded all expectations. Feedback from the participants revealed that they were able to view themselves and their ideas from a fresh perspective, leading them to radically reformat their strategies and make their projects more effective.
Nataliia Martynova. Photo from the participant's archive
Natalia Martynova, one of the participants of the "Be Your Own Goal" camp, has lived with a systemic autoimmune disease since the age of three, which has caused significant musculoskeletal disorders. Despite these challenges, Martynova is highly creative—she writes prose and songs and runs her own YouTube channel. She works at the NGO Family for People with Disabilities, where she began as a volunteer. There, she conducts singing lessons, runs a media club, and participates in the Self-Advocates project, which helps young people with intellectual disabilities learn to defend their rights and advocate for themselves.
Martynova came to the camp with a project she had been contemplating for a long time. Its goal is to show that creativity has no limits and that people with disabilities can pursue it at a professional level.
"Unfortunately, I know many cases where health issues become a barrier to realizing creative ideas and dreams. Some don't even try because of the stereotypes and complexes imposed on them. I don't have to look far—I myself didn't attempt to enter creative fields, believing I didn't belong there because of what I heard from everyone around me," the volunteer shares.
Camp participants during one of the information sessions. Photo: Fight For Right.
Martynova can speak at length about the barriers that exist everywhere. She says they are present from the very moment a person with a disability tries to leave the house, and they extend to the lack of belief others have in their abilities.
"There were times when the audience laughed as I limped slowly onto the stage. They would say, 'What can this small, thin, and unhealthy girl possibly present to the audience?' On top of that, I received insulting comments on social media. So, I have to prove not only to others that I am strong and capable, but also to myself. And that's probably the hardest part, because the complexes society imposes are incredibly damaging," Martynova reflects.
In her view, this camp is definitely "not just about business." It's about the strength of women—real leaders who can achieve their goals and bring good to others. It's about inspiration, believing in one's own strength, and overcoming fears. It's also about breaking through barriers, even those that exist within our own minds.
Support in action
Statistics show that women face more challenges in realizing their potential than men, and it is even more difficult for women with disabilities. Therefore, discussing these challenges, creating equally accessible conditions for their development, and providing support to women with disabilities is crucial not only for them but for society as a whole.
In early December, the implementation of grant projects for five participants of the "Be a Goal for Yourself" camp began. The most active and promising participants who presented their ideas at the camp received grant support from Fight For Right, with funding of up to 270,000 UAH each (around $6,400).
Among the winners are:
- A project focused on women with disabilities who have survived gender-based violence. The project will offer training to develop psychological resilience, physical self-defense skills, and legal awareness (Dnipro).
- An exhibition showcasing paintings by eight artists with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities (Lviv).
- A project supporting business initiatives for women in a community in Poltava region.
- A project to teach craft arts (specifically jewelry making) to women with disabilities and internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Luhansk region, helping them start their own businesses (Chernivtsi).
- A project to create a social video about the life of a vocalist with disabilities, aiming to raise awareness about discrimination in creative fields (Kyiv).
Fight For Right team is confident that these projects will empower women with disabilities and will directly or indirectly promote employment opportunities or the creation of their own businesses.
Even more useful solutions!
Camp participants in the Tomnatyk Valley. Photo: Fight For Right
During the camp, participants discussed the stigma surrounding disability extensively. Many shared that negative stereotypes had made it difficult for them to accept their own disabilities. For instance, one participant revealed that she only told her husband about her disability several years into their marriage. Another admitted that it was during the camp that she realized how crucial community support is and how important it is to feel a sense of belonging.
Isolation, particularly social isolation, was another common issue discussed. People with disabilities are still rarely seen as full members of society. One participant's statement, "I don't want to feel isolated," resonated deeply with everyone, as all of them had experienced moments of loneliness, lacking support, and understanding how discouraging it could be. However, the collaboration during the camp highlighted that girls and women with disabilities are eager to work together to strengthen the disability community, promote social integration, and set positive examples for others.
The camp also addressed inaccessibility—both informational and spatial—which significantly limits the potential of women with disabilities and leads them to believe they are incapable of achieving certain things due to their disability.
"This is far from the truth, and we are gradually working to ensure as many women with disabilities as possible reject these limiting attitudes. Women with disabilities can do absolutely anything if the right conditions are created," emphasizes Demkovych.
In response, Fight For Right is developing a new campaign called Disability, aiming to normalize disability among people without disabilities. The goal is to help society understand that disability is just one aspect of a person, like having a dominant left hand or red hair, and certainly not a sentence.
