In the small town of Kazanka, Mykolaiv Oblast, children with disabilities and special needs find not only support but also hope at the Inclusive Resource Center of the Kazanka Settlement Council. Experienced psychologists, speech therapists, and other specialists work at the center, offering free corrective and developmental sessions for children aged 3 to 16. Currently, about 60 children regularly attend the center after school.
The Inclusive Resource Center of the Kazanka Settlement Council is the only facility of its kind in the area. Families from neighboring villages often travel long distances to bring their children here because such services are not available elsewhere. In winter, temperatures here can sometimes drop to 16 degrees, so the team used an electric heater to warm the room to a comfortable 20 degrees for the children. This made it crucial to support the project by insulating the walls and replacing the doors, with the support of the NGO “Youth of Ukraine” ensuring the space stays warm and comfortable for the children during the winter.
“At the center Bohdan fells free”
Eleven-year-old Bohdan is a frequent visitor to the center. After school, he likes to play with sand, but after five minutes he can get bored and goes to another room to soak in the dry pool. It is favorite place in the facility. Bohdan has special needs and is diagnosed with autism. He and his mother, Natalia, have been visiting the center since it first opened six years ago. Over time, it has become a crucial part of their lives.
“I came here for the first time with tears in my eyes because it was hard for me to talk about it with anyone. But now, these are our people, our close ones. The Inclusive Resource Center is our lifeline here in Kazanka”.shares Bohdan’s mother, Natalia
She recalls how she once feared whether her son would be able to make friends and adapt to learning.
“Bohdan is very emotional; sometimes, he is hard to understand. But here, at the center, he feels free. He knows which days to come here and is always happy for the opportunity,”Natalia adds.
The professional team at the center works hard to create a safe and welcoming environment. Lesia, one of the psychologists, emphasizes that such an environment is crucial for children with special needs. They may want to lie on the floor or strip down to their underwear, and they should not feel cold.
“Bohdan loves to feel warmth. He might sit on the floor with a puzzle or just stretch out in his favorite corner. And these moments are very valuable because they mean the child trusts this place,” Lesia explains.
From fear of speaking to smiling and openness
In another room, eight-year-old Vitalia hugs her psychologist before starting physical exercises that help her relax and prepare for her upcoming session with the speech therapist. Though a little shy, her bright smile reveals how happy she is to return to the center after school. For her, this place represents peace, quiet, and support. Vitaliya has been struggling with stuttering since 2022.
“Some say it’s a complication from COVID-19, others believe it’s because of the war. Everyone has been in difficult, anxious situations, and so were the children. Even if you don’t explain to them what war is, they feel the tension. They absorb it,”says her mother Iryna.
When Iryna first brought her daughter to the center, she wasn’t sure it would help. Vitaliya was withdrawn, quiet, and had trouble expressing her thoughts. But now she is gradually opening up and feels supported here.
The center’s specialists, like Lesia, provide Vitaliya with a holistic support system, combining speech therapy with activities designed to reduce anxiety.
“When Vitaliya first came here, she was afraid to speak and worried about making mistakes. Now she is much more confident and tries to express her thoughts. The key is creating an environment where children feel safe, warm, and understood,”the center psychologist Lesia says.
About the project:
The project “Winterizing Frontline Communities and Increasing Resilience” is aimed at supporting communities in Mykolaiv and Kherson Oblasts to ensure they have access to essential services during the winter months. The goal is to assist local communities in implementing projects that will improve infrastructure, enhance safety, and ensure access to critical services such as heating, water, and gas. Additionally, the project promotes the use of sustainable energy solutions like solar panels and trailers to provide energy independence. The project is supported by the NGO Youth of Ukraine and funded by the European Union.
