“I did - so can YOU” is a social project to support veterans who need adaptation after injury. The project involves the creation and distribution of video tips, electronic guides, and podcasts. These resources will provide practical recommendations and advice on how to achieve independence in everyday life after becoming disabled. The recommendations will be useful for veterans as well as civilians who have survived accidents or diseases and lost their limbs.
“I did - so can YOU” project is:
A set of video tips, podcasts, and electronic guides for veterans with amputations to adapt to everyday life
Only practical detailed recommendations based on experience of certain people
Consistency of “peer-to-peer” principle
Creation of beneficial environment for social adaptation of veterans with disabilities
For 11 years now, Ukraine has been fighting for its independence in a desperate and bloody war. During this time, tens of thousands of female and male Ukrainian defenders lost their limbs or have acquired other severe health disorders and have to learn to live in their new reality. It is a difficult long journey associated with eventual doubts in one's forces, desperation, and intrusive thoughts about whether it is worth to continue this journey in this world at all.
To accelerate social adaptation process of veterans, both men and women, with amputations, the project team will shoot set of video tips and draft printed guides throughout the year to these videos and will also conduct a broad information campaign to inform the target audience of such materials.
PROJECT FEATURES AND ITS IMPORTANCE:
“I did - so can YOU” is a social project to support veterans who need adaptation after injury. The project involves the creation and distribution of video tips, electronic guides, and podcasts. These resources will provide practical recommendations and advice on how to achieve independence in everyday life after becoming disabled. The recommendations will be useful for veterans as well as civilians who have survived accidents or diseases and lost their limbs.
Join the project on social media: YouTube, Тik Tok
For 11 years now, Ukraine has been fighting for its independence in a desperate and bloody war. During this time, tens of thousands of female and male Ukrainian defenders lost their limbs or have acquired other severe health disorders and have to learn to live in their new reality. It is a difficult long journey associated with eventual doubts in one's forces, desperation, and intrusive thoughts about whether it is worth to continue this journey in this world at all.
To accelerate social adaptation process of veterans, both men and women, with amputations, the project team will shoot set of video tips and draft printed guides throughout the year to these videos and will also conduct a broad information campaign to inform the target audience of such materials.
The project was initiated and is coordinated by Oleksandr Tereshchenko – a volunteer, a serviceman of the 79th separate airborne assault brigade. He participated in the defense of Donetsk airport and was awarded the Order “For Courage,” 3rd class, the honorary badge of the non-state order “People's Hero of Ukraine.” From March 2019 through April 2021, Oleksandr Tereshchenko worked as a Deputy Minister for Veterans’ Affairs of Ukraine.
In addition to the video tips, the team is launching the podcast covering issues of returning to full-fledged life after acquiring disability. The podcast will discuss in more detail the issues of social adaptation based on the experience of those who have already passed this way as well as those who make only their first steps on this path.
We invite veterans with amputations ready to share their experience and life-hacks with others to help them make their lives easier, fill in the Google form, and the project team will contact you.
PROJECT ORGANIZERS AND PARTNERS:
The “I did - so can YOU” project is implemented by the Oleksandr Tereshchenko International Charitable Foundation and supported by the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine. The views and opinions expressed in this material do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Government.
Partners of the project are: NGO Community Self-Help, docUA Platform, NGO NEWDONBAS, East Media Center Consortium of the Veteran Organization of the East, and digital communication agency “MasAgency”.
