Maryna is 22 years old. She lives in our Supported Living Home and visits the Day Center every day, where young people with mental and complex disabilities learn independence, interact with the environment, and engage in creative activities. Most importantly, she feels needed and protected here.
Previously, Maryna lived in various care institutions and spent several years in a psychiatric hospital. At first, it was difficult for her to trust people, but the stable and friendly environment helped her recover.
Now, Maryna lives in the Supported Living Home with friends, including her friend Angelica. They enjoy doing puzzles, listening to music, and walking around the city together. Thanks to the support, Maryna found a real home and loved ones.
During an art class, she once drew a large table with chairs around it, saying: “This is my home now, it was my dream. Many guests came here for my birthday, and we had a real celebration.”
Mark is one of the first students of the Center. Here, he found friends, discovered new interests, and gained confidence in everyday life. He rides his bicycle to the Center, knows the routes around Lviv well, and always takes care to stay safe. He follows the daily schedule, reminds others about it, and brings friends flowers from his garden on their birthdays.
At the Center, Mark has learned not only creative skills but also many everyday life skills. He cooks his own meals, stays informed about events in the country, and every morning says, “I ask for the army,” expressing his support for the defenders. He also has a special talent for telling jokes that make everyone laugh.
Crafts made by Mark and other students are sold at fairs, and the proceeds help cover some of the Center’s operating costs. This is one more way the students contribute to the development of a community they are proud to be part of.
Angelika is originally from the Kherson region. After everything she has experienced — occupation, displacement, evacuation abroad, and return to a Ukrainian boarding school — she is now gradually learning not just how to feel safe, but how to live at her own pace. Today, she has her own home, friends, and is even growing out her hair for the first time — because now she can decide for herself how she wants to look.
Angelika is the heart of the Home. She organized a painting exhibition, invites others for tea every evening, and reads her favorite poems aloud. She actively creates, cooks, makes people laugh, and continues to learn independence every day. Her greatest pride is her first solo trip on public transport.
“It was fun for me to travel alone: I took the work card, and off I went,” she shares with a smile.
For Nazar, a boy with autism, having a clear and consistent daily routine is essential. At the NGO “Dream Workshop,” he found a predictable and supportive environment where he could build independence and grow in confidence. The classes helped him become more active and self-motivated — he started cooking breakfast at home on his own, went on his first hike in the mountains with other students from the Center (without his parents!), and even once dared to ride a motorcycle!
Nazar’s family says that what they value most in the organization is the respect and dignity shown to each person. Here, Nazar is not seen as someone with “special needs,” but as an equal — someone capable of making decisions and learning new things.
Thanks to this support, Nazar feels happy and accepted. And alongside him, his family sees real, positive changes in their everyday life.