The ongoing war is ruthlessly destroying the land, destroying cities and industrial facilities, crushing and grinding human destinies, and taking the best with it. And those who have escaped its clutches need social support and reintegration into society.
Unfortunately, many of our compatriots who have been injured, contused, maimed, or suffered illnesses while defending their homeland in this war, are now facing restrictions on unimpeded access to infrastructure, transportation, employment, education, public information, services, etc. That is why the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved the National Strategy for Creating a Barrier-Free Space in Ukraine. The goal of this strategy is to make accessibility the norm for everyone, regardless of their age, health, social status or place of residence. To implement it, the Ministry of Veterans Affairs of Ukraine is creating Veteran Development Centers.
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We are talking about the organization of such a center at Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute with the Assistant Rector for Veteran Policy Andrii Havrushkevych.
Andriy Havrushkevych, a graduate of Kyiv Polytechnic, now an associate professor at the School of MMI, needs no introduction. An activist of the youth and trade union movements, a participant in the Revolution of Dignity, he volunteered to defend the country on February 24, 2022, fought as a scout and was awarded the Order of Merit, III degree. So he knows the problems and needs of veterans like no other.
- Andrii Yuriiovych, we know that Veteran Development Centers are part of the state policy in the field of professional adaptation and employment of war veterans, their families and families of fallen defenders. Can you name the areas of activity that are planned to be implemented at the Center on the basis of Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute?
- These are, first of all, social and psychological adaptation, legal assistance, professional development, obtaining a second higher education, employment assistance, career guidance for admission to Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute. Another important area is physical rehabilitation and prosthetics, as well as cultural and sporting events. To implement our plans, we will cooperate with public authorities, charitable foundations, public, military, veteran organizations, etc.
- I would like to know which KPI departments are or will be involved in working with veterans.
- Almost any department can join this activity. I will name only a few. For example, the FSP. It trains future social workers and employs military psychologists. The FBMI trains very scarce physical rehabilitation specialists and already provides such services. Veterans undergo rehabilitation at the Sports and Recreation Complex (formerly known as the Center for Physical Education and Sports), and swimming pool classes are particularly effective. The Institute of Postgraduate Education has launched a Center for Advanced Training in the Defense Sphere, where, with the participation of faculties/institutes, veterans acquire new competencies in their respective fields and are able to work for the defense.
The IPE also introduced a training course “Adaptive trainer-instructor for military personnel, war veterans and their families”. Upon graduation, the graduates will receive a state license with the right to work with veterans with disabilities. Currently, coaches representing various sports federations are studying. In the future, we plan to train Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute coaches so that they can not only provide physical rehabilitation services at the Sports and Recreation Complex, but also skillfully communicate with their wards. I would like to note that high-level specialists from various departments, including representatives of Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, teach the classes.
In addition, the university has a Research and Innovation Center for Prosthetics and Rehabilitation, which cooperates with the FBMI and the Institute of MMI. But this is a topic for a separate conversation.
By the way, in the future we plan to use our recreation centers for physical and psychological rehabilitation of the military.
- The war will be over, and people with disabilities, low mobility, and special needs will come to work and study at Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute. What is being done to ensure that they have access to the services provided by the university?
- This is an issue that definitely needs to be addressed and is difficult to solve. It is quite obvious that a barrier-free environment allows people with special needs to get an education, find a job, communicate, live a full life, and benefit people and the state. We can say that a barrier-free environment means attention to people and respect for their dignity. This is a new social norm, a new step towards a human-centered society.
Unfortunately, all our buildings are designed without taking into account accessibility requirements. Today, the university has set up a commission on inclusion and barrier-free accessibility to provide recommendations on this issue. Perhaps a part of building 7 (the entrance from the stadium) can be converted for the needs of people with disabilities. But let's not forget that this is a task for all university buildings.
- And here a natural question arises: creating a new one, let alone reconstructing an old one, requires considerable funds.
- Indeed, to purchase the necessary equipment, make repairs, organize inclusive spaces, train the necessary specialists, etc., we learn to raise funds from sponsors, charitable foundations, and receive grants, including international ones. We are also studying foreign experience, communicating with experts, developing contacts and experience.
- We talked about the opportunities that Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute provides/could provide to the military. What is the most pressing problem for veterans and their families today?
- Based on my own experience and the experience of my comrades, I believe that one of the biggest problems is the lack of a “single window” where you can address any issues and get full support until they are resolved. Of course, veterans have different problems - medical, psychological, legal, and employment. And now they are collecting certificates and documents in different places on their own, fighting for themselves, because the specialized ministry works mainly as a reference service. But it should be different: once a veteran applies to the Ministry of Veterans, all further document flow should take place without his or her participation. I spoke about this at a meeting at the Presidential Office and with representatives of the Ministry.
- Another topic I would like to mention is the rules of ethical communication with the military and veterans.
- First of all, we have not been taught since childhood how to communicate and live with people with special needs. This is also the topic of a separate big conversation. But there is only one conclusion: to communicate, be delicate, empathetic with each other and remember that the military has traumatic experiences that ordinary citizens have no idea about and are better off not knowing about. We have to recognize this and be ready for a dialog. In general, the reintegration and inclusion of veterans in public life is very difficult.
- What would you like to say to the readers at the end of the conversation?
- I would like to emphasize two points.
I consider it my duty to honor the memory of my comrades-in-arms by contributing to the creation of the Alley of Fallen Heroes at Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute (there are already many similar ones in regional centers of Ukraine and other cities). After all, today we know more than a hundred names of graduates, employees and students of the university who gave their lives in battles with the enemy for the independence and integrity of our country.
And the following. As long as Russia is in the organizational and legal structure as it is, the truce is a short period of time that will get my son. I have done, am doing and will do everything possible to prevent this from happening to my son. We have to appreciate every day that our defenders give us - to get an education, to grow, to create and develop.
- And of course, we must remember who we owe our morning coffee, sunset, and the opportunity to speak Ukrainian to.