n March, our team took part in the International Round Table “Child Rights Protection, Social Support, and Guidance,” which served as a vital platform for dialogue and knowledge exchange among specialists from Ukraine, Europe, and the US.

During the event, our Development Director, Halyna Shtohryn, shared our experience in implementing supported living services for people with mental health conditions—a service that is particularly critical and high-demand in times of war. However, the true heart of the presentation was our resident, Ivan. His participation in an international event was not just about presence; it was genuine human rights advocacy and inclusion in action. Ivan sincerely shared his personal journey and gave the audience a first-hand look at what supported living truly means from the perspective of a social service recipient.

For us, every event where our students and residents speak as equal partners is a cause for celebration and pride. Our young people are raising their voices loudly and changing the system step by step. At the same time, we do not hide that behind every such presentation lies a significant challenge: complex logistics, difficult travel, and enormous joint efforts from both the youth and their support team. Yet, we consciously overcome these barriers together so that the voices of people with institutional backgrounds can be heard on equal terms with international experts and high-level officials.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the event organizers—“Razom for Ukraine,” “IFSW Europe,” the Office of Children and Youth “DII-MO,” and Nazarii Petriv—for creating a high-quality space for dialogue and giving us the opportunity to be heard.

Especially for our website visitors, we are also sharing a video story where you can get to know Ivan better and see how his daily life is structured in our Supported Living Home.