By Mariia Buleiko (Markovska)

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In the Rohatyn urban community in the Ivano-Frankivsk region, the creation of an inclusive resource centre and the development of an understanding of its functions can be divided into two stages.

‘Before the community was formed in 2018, the need for an Inclusive Resource Centre (IRC) was not widely recognised, and few people understood why such a centre was necessary. Specialists had premises that were unsuitable for their needs. When the question of forming the Rohatyn community arose, we assessed all our capabilities very seriously: our tax capacity, territory, finances, resources and human potential. The issue of inclusion was not even raised. The IRC had to be established, and we were able to maintain it,’ says Mykola Shynkar, the Rohatyn community’s First Deputy Mayor.

At that time, the decision was made not to pursue succession, but rather to establish an IRC based on its objectives, statutory documents, human and material resources, and so on. The IRC was provided with new premises and work began on refurbishing them, as well as providing material and technical support, to make the centre comfortable for specialists and children.

Consequently, the Rohatyn community became one of 23 out of 62 communities in the region with an IRC. This highlighted a new need: many neighbouring communities were left without such a centre. Therefore, cooperation is essential.

 

IRC consultant with a boy at the Centre

 

The neighbouring Bukachivtsi community, whose territory was part of the former district, was offered cooperation. This cooperation began without any conditions or documentary evidence.

In 2023, the Swiss-Ukrainian DECIDE project helped two communities formalise their cooperation by signing a community cooperation agreement. Read on to find out how this was achieved and what the benefits are.

 

How and why the cooperation agreement was signed

 

In October 2023, the Bukachivtsi community received a proposal from the project manager of the Rohatyn community, suggesting that the two communities sign a cooperation agreement.

‘Before this, we had no cooperation agreement or memorandum, but we wanted to ‘legalise’ our friendship. Experts from the DECIDE Project explained to us that this is how communities can strengthen each other. If one community lacks a certain service, it can always turn to a neighbouring community for support. There is also the possibility of applying for grants together or creating joint initiatives with co-financing. This is a win-win solution for everyone,’ says Tamara Harhat, Head of the Department of Socio-Economic Development, Investment and Health Care.

With the help of DECIDE Project experts, the Rohatyn and Bukachivtsi communities finally developed a cooperation agreement in the form of a joint project. The document was approved by a session decision and signed at the joint meeting by the leaders of the two communities.

‘We were not supposed to have any challenges, and we did not have any. Our community is huge, covering practically the entire former Rohatyn district – an area of 640 square kilometres. The Bukachivtsi community is much smaller in terms of territory and therefore has fewer resources. So, we are obliged to help them,’ believes Mykola Shynkar.

There are also practical reasons involved: the localities of the Bukachivtsi community are closer to the IRC in Rohatyn.

‘Halych is also nearby, but Rohatyn is closer logistically. Historically, children from our community received services from this inclusive resource centre. Everyone was and remains satisfied,’ explains Mykhailo Kuts, Deputy Mayor of Bukachivtsi.

 

How it works and what people say

 

A total of 5,426 children live in the IRC’s service area, and their families can turn to the centre for assistance if necessary. Of these, 169 are registered with the centre from both communities.

The centre employs six teachers, an accountant, and a cleaner.

‘The war has certainly brought about some changes. There are fewer of us now, but we believe that more specialists who want to work at the IRC will come forward,’ says Mariia Zhenchuk, IRC director.

 

IRC team

 

According to Ms Zhenchuk, the main task of the IRC is to conduct a comprehensive assessment of a child’s development, ensuring their right to an education, particularly for those with special educational needs. Specialists provide qualified support throughout a child’s education, make recommendations for creating inclusive classes at school or nursery groups, draw up individual development programmes and conduct remedial and developmental classes.

 

IRC consultant during a class (here and in the photos below)

 

Specialists also participate in meetings of the psychological and pedagogical councils of special schools. Around 26 children visit the IRC each year to receive services.

‘Each of our specialists has their own area of expertise, enabling us to provide comprehensive assistance to every child with specific needs. Our team includes a speech therapist, a defectologist, a rehabilitation specialist and a practical psychologist. We work closely with parents from both communities, helping and informing them about their child’s potential and prospects in various aspects of life, as well as providing training. Many of our tasks also relate to the methodological work of teachers in schools and kindergartens, and we advise them as needed. Overall, we have close ties with all stakeholders, including the IRC, schools in both communities and parents,’ explains Mariia Zhenchuk.

One striking result of the collaboration between the communities is that people who have not received the services they need do not complain to the Bukachivtsi community leadership. So, everything is working well. Yet the most remarkable aspect is the personal stories of the children who have received help, in one form or another.

‘For example, there was a girl living in our community. She was in the third year of primary school and had difficulty communicating with her peers due to a speech impediment. Her family started attending the IRC, which also sent specialists to visit us three or four times a year. Over time, the child changed completely: she started talking, smiling and interacting with other children. Her parents and the school principal thanked us for organising this cooperation with the Rohatyn community. We are also grateful to the IRC for helping children so much,’ says Oksana Boichuk, Head of the Education Department of the Bukachivtsi community.

Ms Harhat tells us about another girl from the Bukachivtsi community. The girl had difficulty speaking; she was unable to form complete sentences or conjugate words.

‘After working with specialists and after the inclusive class opened, the child started speaking, reading, and adding numbers. Seeing this growth was amazing. Another child with autism studies in the same class as one of my children. I remember how she used to be afraid of everything. For example, when the children were having their photo taken, she would start crying because she was afraid of the flash. But after two years of studying in an inclusive class, she now communicates with the other children, runs around and plays with them. Yes, she gets tired faster than others and needs to rest more often. But she is socialised and interacts wonderfully with other children,’ says Tamara Harhat.

The IRC director adds that there have been many cases like this during the IRC’s work.

‘Some children attended the inclusive resource centre from an early age and then went on to attend a standard primary school class in the first year. Every child has a unique story,’ says Mariia Zhenchuk.

On the benefits and plans

 

Communities that passed the competitive selection process and signed cooperation agreements with other communities received a mini-grant of UAH 130,000 from the DECIDE Project. In this way, the Project supports and encourages communities to implement joint initiatives aimed at developing education. These funds were used to purchase various pieces of corrective equipment.

‘This is simply a dream come true because such equipment is usually very expensive. We have now created a special environment equipped with tools to stimulate the sensory systems, which promotes the physical, emotional, and cognitive development of children,’ says Mariia Zhenchuk.

In particular, we bought the following items for the sensory room: a light rain sensor complex, a wall light curtain, a sensory bubble column, a ‘Magic Bags’ busy board and a mat with footprints for working with a rehabilitation specialist. We also bought an elastic stocking, sofas, a modular set of elements that connect to each other to form a tunnel, a hanging nest for sensory integration and a set of tactile floor modules that can be arranged to look like a pebbly or grassy path, for example.

‘These are simple things that we use every day, but they are important for children with special educational needs. Even adults find these aids interesting and easy to use. We can see how this equipment helps children and contributes to their development. The children leave class feeling inspired, and their parents tell us, “We are succeeding.” We are happy that we can provide everything these children need at the community centre,’ says Mariia Zhenchuk.

Schoolteachers and parents were trained to use the purchased equipment. Parents who have received training can work with their children at home by purchasing similar kits.

 

Interestingly, the Rohatyn community made this decision: as this equipment represents the Bukachivtsi community’s first contribution to cooperation between communities, the neighbouring community may be exempt from paying for the IRC’s maintenance in the first year.

‘We wanted to strengthen our ties and foster mutual respect. This is the neighbouring community’s main investment, because children from both communities can use the equipment,’ explains Mykola Shynkar.

The agreement was extended this year. It now covers the co-financing of the IRC, which is equivalent to the number of children that the Centre provides services to.

‘Community cooperation is a very helpful initiative. Our community does not have the capacity to establish a centre like this. There is also no need for it, as only 11 children with special educational needs are currently registered with the IRC. We are satisfied with the co-financing, and the main advantage is the specialists, who are not so easy to find. Working with experienced professionals is a great opportunity,’ says Mykhailo Kutsa, Deputy Mayor of Bukachivtsi.

The Rohatyn community cooperates with other communities on various issues and is considering new opportunities for cooperation with neighbouring communities. For instance, there is a Centre for the Professional Development of Teachers within the community’s territory.

‘We believe that this institution has the capacity to provide services to the Bukachivtsi and Burshtyn communities, and that is what we are doing. In general, cooperation is necessary to balance the capabilities and resources of communities with the tasks we face,’ says Mykola Shynkar, First Deputy Mayor of the Rohatyn community.

They are also considering cooperating in the field of school and extracurricular education. The Rohatyn community dreams of establishing an All-Ukrainian Plast Centre to teach children and adults about Plast traditions with a history spanning more than a hundred years in the area. They are also considering cooperation on environmental issues, historical and cultural heritage, road maintenance, and entertainment.

‘There are indeed many areas where the division into communities is insignificant and cooperation is crucial. But the most important thing is pooling intellectual abilities. Specialists from different communities can come together to improve living standards for both those who are capable and those who are less capable. There should be no conflicts or contradictions in cooperation, only a common goal that we are pursuing together,’ concludes Mykola Shynkar.