Kyiv Launches Summer Camp Program for Children with Disabilities

Pilot Project Offers Temporary Respite Care for Families

According to Главком: Starting July 1, Kyiv will roll out a pilot program providing short-term respite care for parents of children with disabilities. Operating out of the city’s social services center in Pushcha-Vodytsia, this initiative functions as a dedicated camp where children can stay for three to thirty days per year, giving parents or guardians a much-needed break.

Eligibility and Activities

In its initial phase, the program is open to families raising children aged nine to fourteen. Each session will accommodate up to twelve participants at a time. Based on demand, officials plan to expand the program to serve more families in the future.

This initiative aims to support parents who have spent years in a cycle of nonstop caregiving. According to Maryna Khonda, the project was specifically designed to assist families raising children with special needs.

What does the camp include? Participants will receive:

• Supervision and personal assistance;
• Help with daily activities;
• Recreational activities and developmental programs;
• Maintenance of their usual daily routine;
• Access to medical and social services as needed.

To register, families must submit a set of documents. Required personal documents include:

• A written application;
• Passport of a parent or legal representative;
• The child’s birth certificate or ID card;
• Tax identification numbers for both the applicant and the child;
• An internally displaced person (IDP) certificate, if applicable;
• Guardianship documentation, if the applicant is not the biological parent.

Medical documentation is also mandatory:

• A copy of the child’s disability medical certificate;
• An individual rehabilitation plan from a medical commission;
• A medical history extract (Form 027/o);
• A certificate confirming no contraindications for group stays;
• A certificate of epidemiological environment, valid for only three days.

Applications can be submitted in person at the Kyiv City Center for Social Services, located at 32/11 Mykhaila Kotelnikova Street. For inquiries, parents can call 044-500-75-82 or 044-450-91-66.

This temporary respite care service has the potential to significantly improve the quality of life for families of children with disabilities, offering them a chance to rest and recharge. Starting as a pilot, the project is tailored to the needs of these families and could lay the groundwork for expanding social services in this area.

For context, Kyiv’s initiative is part of a broader effort to address the lack of specialized support services for families raising children with disabilities in Ukraine. The program’s camp-based model is a novel approach in the region, aiming to combine professional care with a safe, engaging environment for children.