Tikvah & Yedid Programmes for Children with Special Needs - Dnepropetrovsk, KrivoyRog, Lugansk, & Zaporozhye

KEY FACTS

The programme runs in Dnepropetrovsk, Zaparozhye, Lugansk and Krivoy Rog

Around 300 children and young adults from eastern Ukraine attended summer camps in 2007

Tikvah and Yedid programming work with children up to 18(Tikvah) and young adults (Yedid) with mental and physical disabilities. The programme runs in Dnepropetrovsk, Zaparozhye, Lugansk and Krivoy Rog and allows the children to gain a sense of normality in their lives.

The majority of the children on this programme will attend their regular schools (usually state run schools for children with disabilities) during the day before coming to the club for a few hours most evenings. Not only does this assist children and youth by hosting their programme in a building open to all and thus advancing their socialisation, but it also complements that which they might be learning in their state schools.

Both Tikvah and Yedid programmes offer summer camps. Around 300 children and young adults from eastern Ukraine attended these camps in 2007.

At the day centres, at which the children meet two-three times a week (more if necessary), children and youth/young adults meet with social workers, physiotherapists, psychologists, tutors, masseurs and speech therapists. In addition they learn about Jewish culture and traditions, take part in a weekly Kabbalat Shabbat.

Yedid was established for the graduates of the Tikvah programme (between 18-40). The primary goal of the programme is to provide support to individuals and to help them to adapt to social situations through the teaching of basic living and communications skills that allow them to develop their talents.

Children with disabilities too severe for them to take part are provided with assistance at home. This assistance takes the form of psychology and physiotherapy. Very few children require this sort of assistance and as such, WJR is currently only supporting one child to receive home care.