It’s a common fact that people with visual disabilities live in their closed world, completely alien to individuals without disabilities. But when someone endeavors to help a visually disabled person not to feel inferior, then the boundaries between these two worlds disappear giving way to such project as ours– Horlivka “Typhlocenter – a Window to the World”, offering computer classes for blind people and people with visual disabilities. Yet another big issue for us, people with special needs, is an inability to study in a class for people without disabilities. It’s just not possible.

Before the Expanded Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (EBFHI) began in Ukraine, the statistics on the state of health of newborns were disappointing, and the standards of care for newborns were astonishingly inadequate. Mothers and infants were separated immediately after birth, and would see each other only for breastfeeding. The exclusive breastfeeding rate for Ukraine was only 6%. Family members were not allowed to be present during labour, invasive manipulation was widespread, and the proportion of postpartum complications was very high. The only way the situation could be improved was by changing the overall approach to perinatal care.

It often happens that a mere smile or a kind word instantly revives your spirits. It often happens that a small initiative brings about strong results. Just like a tiny seed planted in a good soil, it sprouts up and turns into a big magnificent tree which gladdens the eye. Teachers, parents and children of the Skalistoye school in Bakhchisaraysky district know this simple truth like nobody else. Four years ago, backed by the UN Development Programme, they planted a small seed – a project on reconstruction of the assembly hall, which has already born and continues to bear plenty of fruits...