Partnering with local organizations
World Jewish Relief, in partnership with local organizations, is supporting Jewish adults with disabilities in Ukraine. People with disabilities in Ukraine often face barriers to inclusion due to persistent stigma and discrimination rooted in Soviet-era attitudes. The 2022 Russian invasion has exacerbated the situation, creating extreme psychological and financial stress for an already vulnerable and isolated group of people.
Our approach
Our programs aim to empower individuals in eastern and southeastern Ukraine to enhance their well-being, and promote independence. They take a person-centered approach, addressing individual needs with targeted interventions, with a specific focus on challenges in wartime. Our local partner staff offer medical support, including providing medications, specialist therapies (speech, physical, psychological), and medical consultations. We also focus on enhancing wellbeing through socialization, independent living skills, and meaningful activities, while also providing war-specific survival skills and training. Additionally, our partners offer support to access social benefits and financial assistance to ensure participants can live independently.
Promoting Equal Opportunities: case study
The “Strive for Independent Living” project in Zaporizhzhia provides funding to facilitate an “Equals Opportunities” theater group led by and for people with disabilities. They rehearse and put on performances for charity, with accessibility adaptations such as sign language interpretation. The plays often play a role in inclusion and empowerment of participants, emphasizing the role people with disabilities can play in society, raising awareness of accessibility barriers, and fighting stigma. You can watch their recent performance “Light in the Dark” with English subtitles. They also took this production to nearby Dnipro in Eastern Ukraine to perform at the Regional Philharmonic Theater there.
