ZHYTOMYR – Since the Soviet times children with serious developmental problems had only two choices: special boarding schools or the supervision of their parents and then… the same kind of institution, only for adults. Only relatively recently in Ukraine, like in developed countries, did attempts appear to involve them in society more actively. The state, as it usually happens, lagged behind, so public activists took the initiative. This author has previously written in The Day (No. 175, September 29, 2009) about the project “Ray of Hope,” which was elaborated and realized by the Zhytomyr city children’s organization “Doing Everything Ourselves,” headed by a young man Bohdan Kupchynsky. During this action, the regional television aired a number of live telethons (and a live broadcast of social projects is a rather rare phenomenon, not only for regional but also for national Ukrainian television). Fifteen families with children having very serious problems participated in the charitable telethons — together with their peers from ordinary schools they showed different dance performances, staged short plays, and demonstrated other skills. They certainly had enough talents. Another thing is also important. Just imagine: is it easy for a child who since birth has developmental or health problems to appear on stage or before television cameras? Especially, when their disabilities cannot be hidden. But they overcame their fear and their alienation. By the way, the regional television has held charitable telethons earlier, but there was nothing like this six-month-long action before. Of course, during each live broadcast the necessity to help these children was mentioned, and they got help: medicine, equipment, and money. The final stage took place January 29: the assembly hall of the regional state television and radio company was full, children with special needs performed on stage together with children’s ensembles. To be honest, it was somewhat difficult to watch — each of the small ailing artists did their best and other children were dancing around, involving their partners in the dance. One could see that the performances were preceded by lots of rehearsals, perhaps they were even more important than the performances. Children with disabilities seemed to leave the shell of daily isolation and their new friends started realizing that in this world they are their peers. At the end of the telethon participants of children ensembles spoke about having discovered the simple truth (is it so simple?) that these children are just as smart and talented, simply a bit different.
The performance was colorful, dynamic and optimistic. The costumes of the children ensembles — Svitliachok, Zorianochka and Zorianytsia — sparkled in all colors. A ring of different tropical animals (older children in costumes) was literally swirling around the wheelchair with Oksana Chmyr, guided by her mother, to the song Chunha-Chanha. And Oksana herself, despite her difficulty to move her hands and feet, did different pas. And the youngest participant Nastia Hordiichenko (who has seeing and speaking problems) conquered the audience when she vigorously danced to the song Antoshka.
After the end of the telethon her mother Svitlana said that her child became more sociable, kinder, more artistic, and friendly and they hope this will help their girl to see and talk better, and overcome her affliction. Besides classes on braiding, Nastia participated in small plays with puppets, and learned to make candies in the cafe Lviv Chocolate Workshop.
Frankly, listening to some stories, it was difficult to hold back tears. Natalia Suryhina, mother of the 18-year old Anton, a wheelchair-bound boy with trouble moving his limbs, told the author: “[I] don’t mind he’s like this, he’s smart and now can communicate with other children; though he hardly speaks, he likes rehearsals and performances very much. Owing to the project, people were found who provided a part of the sum necessary for a surgery in Russia and now Anton will be able to move his hands and feet mote freely.” Can you imagine, a mother happy that her son can move just a little. And when Andrii Khrobust appeared on stage, I immediately remembered how I couldn’t talk to him in summer because the boy was too shy — his mother answered for him. Now he was dancing to Kalynka so ardently that he simply conquered the hearts of jury and audience. He really deserved the first prize — a notebook from the chief sponsor of the telethon, the director of the small enterprise Prospect Mykhailo Pukhtaievych (an old friend of The Day). And when he heard about his victory, he burst into tears out of happiness, so sincerely and emotionally that the whole audience was crying together with him. His mom spoke from the stage about the struggle for the boy’s health and life. The boy has a lot of problems with his health, including serious ones, and last fall he underwent complex surgery. After the end of the concert he was extremely cheerful and talkative — it was difficult to believe that this was the same timid boy Andrii I met during the summer. Teachers from the Zhytomyr Special Boarding School No. 11 (where Nastia Hordiichenko, who took the second place, also studies), work at home with him.
There were very many touching moments during that evening. Later the organizer Kupchynsky also climbed on stage. Tears were flowing when he sang about angels making wonders.
What was the goal of the project? Bohdan’s position is simple, but facing the truth, it is extremely difficult to realize, especially in our conditions — his organization tries to involve children with special needs in society and teach them to be as independent as possible. The project “Ray of Hope” (the International Renaissance Foundation and the All-Ukrainian Charitable Foundation Krona provided a grant for it), he told The Day, became one of the steps to this goal. He added that the local government didn’t help with finding sponsors, they really had to do everything by themselves.
