From a shelter for people with disabilities and displaced persons to a social hub: how the «Vidnovlennia» centre in Mykolaiv works
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- Julia LukyanenkoReporter
How the «Vidnovlennia» social rehabilitation centre in Mykolaiv works. Photo: NikVesti«I had everything, and now I have nothing.» These were the words shared with us by a resident of the Kherson region, whose home was destroyed during the shelling. She used to travel to Italy for work and had her own home. However, the war has shown that life can change dramatically in an instant. She has now found refuge at the «Vidnovlennia» Social Rehabilitation Centre in Mykolaiv.
Even before the war, the centre served as a refuge for the homeless, people with disabilities, the elderly, and now also for displaced people. They all have different life stories behind them. Some find work and new accommodation. But for others, the centre becomes their last refuge.
NikVesti will tell you how the centre is helping all these people and what sort of social community they are building there.
Who the centre helps
As the centre’s director, Volodymyr Tymoshenko, explained, they began helping people back in 2006. Then, in 2011, they registered a charitable organisation — the Mykolaiv City Centre for Social Rehabilitation «Vidnovlennia». They helped the homeless, people with disabilities and the elderly. And, with the outbreak of the war, they began helping internally displaced persons as well.
«As of now, there are 120 people at the centre. Half of them are people with disabilities, the elderly and IDPs. Around 40 of the 120 are women,» said the centre’s director, Volodymyr Tymoshenko.
As Volodymyr explained, people find out about «Vidnovlennia» online, on social media and through word of mouth: many people already know about the centre and are passing the information on. However, the centre also works with the Department of Social Protection and hospitals in Mykolaiv, which also refer people to it.
The Mykolaiv Social Rehabilitation Centre «Vidnovlennia». Photo: NikVesti
Volodymyr Tymoshenko, director of the Mykolaiv «Vidnovlennia» Social Rehabilitation Centre. Photo: NikVestiIn addition, volunteers are also bringing in displaced people.
«We also work with the Kherson hub and various organisations that are involved in evacuation and providing assistance to displaced people. As there are few places in Mykolaiv where internally displaced persons can find temporary accommodation, organisations and IDP communities are aware of us; they ring us and ask for help with housing», said the director of «Vidnovlennia».
First and foremost, people are provided with accommodation. They are also helped to reissue documents and obtain IDP status.
«And, in principle, we support people from start to finish, helping them to obtain everything an IDP needs. We also provide humanitarian aid and three meals a day,» noted Volodymyr Tymoshenko.
They also help those who do not live at the centre but simply come to ask for assistance. They are given food, hygiene products and cleaning products.
Residents of the «Vidnovlennia» centre. Photo: NikVesti
Residents of the «Vidnovlennia» centre. Photo: NikVestiOther residents of the shelter are helped to sort out medical paperwork, including disability claims. Where necessary, people are referred to other organisations. However, there is a problem with accommodation.
«If a person has a disability or is elderly, we also try to find an even better place, such as a geriatric centre or a centre for people with disabilities. But recently, this has become very difficult, practically impossible. After all, in a city of half a million people like Mykolaiv, we have only 50 beds in the geriatric centre. That’s very few. And there’s practically nowhere to refer people with disabilities either,» said Volodymyr Tymoshenko.
Due to a lack of places in other institutions, people effectively end up spending the rest of their lives at the «Vidnovlennia» centre.
«Whereas before the war the regional Department of Social Protection would admit people and refer them to regional geriatric centres, for the past year and a half or two, people from Mykolaiv have not been admitted to these centres. They end up here, and we can no longer refer them elsewhere. That is why we want to increase the number of places, because these people have nowhere else to go,» noted the centre’s director.
For the most part, «Vidnovlennia» is home to elderly people and people with disabilities, and their numbers are growing. For some of them, the centre becomes their last refuge.
«When people come to us, we sign a six-month contract with them, and we can extend it if necessary. We understand that people don’t suddenly find a home or grow new arms and legs. That’s why they continue to live here, and, in fact, many of them end up passing away here,» said Volodymyr Tymoshenko.
However, some of the shelter’s residents do have relatives.
«And there are people who do have relatives, but for whatever reason they are out of touch and have no contact. They are abandoned and lonely. There are people whose relatives have gone abroad, and these people, mostly elderly, have stayed in Ukraine with no one to look after them or help them. And they, too, are lonely. Their relatives are somewhere far away abroad, so stories like this do happen,» said the director of «Vidnovlennia».
Socialisation of residents
As Volodymyr Tymoshenko explained, the centre has organised its work so that its residents are involved in the day-to-day running of the place. This helps them to socialise. Residents take turns in the kitchen, tidy up and carry out chores, just as they would at home.
«Our system is set up so that we don’t do everything for them, because, unfortunately, we don’t have many staff — just about 10 for 120 people. So we simply can’t physically do it all. But we’ve adopted a programme whereby we encourage the residents to socialise and not just wait for handouts from the state or other organisations, but to do things for themselves. That’s why they take turns in the kitchen, tidy the rooms and sweep the grounds. In other words, they’re socialising and doing everything that anyone would do at home. It’s like one big family here, where they all live together and do things together,» said the centre’s director.
Some residents, who were previously homeless, have returned to a normal life and now help out at «Vidnovlennia».
«Yes, we have quite a few such examples. In an organisation like ours, not everyone will be suited to the work, as it’s such a specialised field. Not everyone can work with people like this. But our staff are precisely those who are motivated. Because they themselves used to be alcoholics or were once homeless. And today they work as social workers, helping people just like they once were. Today they have families; they’ve already turned their lives round and no longer lead the sort of lifestyle they used to. They’ve reintegrated into society. Some have gained an education they never had before. Some never even had a passport. But today they have both an education and a family. They are learning, developing and helping people who have found themselves in the very same predicament they once were in,» said Volodymyr Tymoshenko.
According to him, the centre’s costs are partly covered by the city budget. But this is only a small part.
«We work with the Department of Social Protection. It pays for supported accommodation services for the homeless, but only partially. We have 120 people; for about half of them, the costs are covered, but again, only partially. As for everything else — repairs, food, and other forms of assistance — we’re sorting that out ourselves; we’re trying to involve charitable organisations and simply caring members of the public who are also helping out. And so we’ve created a symbiosis between the people and the state. Together, we’re doing the kind of work that helps people survive today,» said Volodymyr Tymoshenko.
People’s stories
Residents of the «Vidnovlennia» centre shared their stories with us. Olena is an internally displaced person from the village of Tiahynka in the Kherson region. Volunteers brought her to the centre because her home had been destroyed during shelling.
«My little house was bombed, and I was left without a roof over my head. The volunteers took me away. I spent a month in hospital in Novovorontsovka. And then they brought me here,» said the displaced person.
Olena noted that in her «other life» she had a flat in Mykolaiv:
«I used to live here a long time ago. In that «other life», I had a flat in Mykolaiv, then I went to Italy and worked there for 10 years. Then I bought a house in Tyaginka. And then the war started. I’d had the house renovated, probably just before. And it was bombed. I was inside the house. They pulled me out from under the rubble».
Olena, an internally displaced person from the Kherson region. Photo: NikVestiAs Olena explained, she has relatives. However, they live far away.
« There’s no one here. All my friends are scattered about now. Some are in Kherson, some in Khmelnytskyi. I have a niece. She lives in western Ukraine. Far from here. My son is far away, in Vietnam. He’s got a family there. He’s been there for ages. So that’s it; I’m on my own here. I used to have social workers in Tiahynka, and now I have our social workers here. That’s it, I’ve got no one else. Such is my lot. There used to be a joke: we earn money in Italy so that we can get treatment there, back home. That’s exactly how it turned out. I had everything, and now I have nothing,» said Olena.
Now, as Olena pointed out, she really wants to recover, as she’s had a stroke:
«People have helped me, and I’m helping myself. I really want to recover. That’s why I’m praying, doing exercises – I’m doing everything I can to get better, to be able to walk again. After my third stroke, I couldn’t walk at all. I was at a hydrotherapy centre for rehabilitation. Then I came back here».
Another resident of the centre — Tetiana — has a disability. She explained that she ended up on the streets because of debts on her flat.
«I had a problem — rent arrears. So, they kicked me out onto the street. People from this organisation came and took me in. I’ve been here for three years now. There are kind people here, good management, and their wives; they explain everything if necessary… Sometimes the residents have different personalities, and sometimes we don’t get on, because you can’t please everyone. But we put up with it,» said Tetiana.
She noted that it was difficult at first. But it’s all a matter of getting used to it. She even jokes that she dreams of having a kiosk on the centre’s grounds:
«Everyone’s like family now. The food’s good. I’ve had an idea – my dream is to have a kiosk set up so I can buy ice cream».
Tetyana explained that she used to have a family. But now she’s on her own.
«I have a husband, a son and a brother. They’ve all passed away. I’m on my own. My neighbours come to visit me because I lived in that house for nearly 50 years and helped everyone,» said the centre’s resident.
Tetiana shared that she now helps other residents at the centre. For example, she feeds a resident who has mobility issues.
«They’ve now assigned another woman to me. Her arms are paralysed. I feed her with a spoon because I feel sorry for her. We’re all human, after all. God helps,» noted Tetiana.
Tetiana summed up by saying that home is, of course, better. But there’s no other option.
«Of course, wherever you are, home is best. But if you don’t have a home, it’s a choice between lying around somewhere under a fence or being here. I help as best I can. Of course, I’d like there to be a TV and a small fridge in the room. Perhaps we’ll have that here one day,» added the centre’s resident.
Key findings
Tetiana Alekseenko shared her impressions of working with the centre’s residents. She is a facilitator, which means she teaches people how to interact with one another. According to her, the stories of all the centre’s residents are different and deserve to be told individually. The centre is home not only to the homeless, but also to people who once held high positions in life but have now become lonely.
«There’s a woman who cries constantly. Some display hidden aggression. Basically, we’re all different. Some people have specific medical conditions or a past to contend with. Others, on the other hand, have been dealt an unfair hand by life: they had everything, and now they’ve ended up here. For example, the displaced people from Kherson. Of course, it’s emotionally difficult for people to find themselves with nothing,» noted Tetiana.
She runs various activities with the centre’s residents to help improve their mental health, amongst other things.
«Of course, there are lots of practical activities. Because, unfortunately, many people’s hand motor skills aren’t in very good shape, as some have suffered strokes. And in this way, we help them rehabilitate a little through these activities,» explained the facilitator.
Tetiana Alekseenko, a facilitator at «Vidnovlennia». Photo: NikVestiShe said that she also talks to residents individually or organises group entertainment activities, discussions and games. For example, when we were at the centre, the residents watched the film «Chasing Two Hares» and shared memories of what cinemas were like in their youth.
«So this is the sort of content that helps people feel a little bit more at ease, that life goes on, and that they matter in this life,» noted Tetiana.
At first, as Tetiana explained, the centre’s residents seemed to have an internal barrier. But once they got to know the facilitator, things became more interesting: the residents now look forward to the sessions and prepare for them. As Tetiana pointed out, a good sign is that they’ve started letting us know in advance when they want to come to a session but can’t.
However, overall, she says that the results of the work cannot be measured by a single indicator. It is the small victories that matter.
«To measure the overall result, it’s worth assessing things on a case-by-case basis. For example, when we were talking about appearance — how to look after oneself in general — because these people are older, many are in wheelchairs, and their hygiene routines are different — I emphasise that it’s important to look well, as perception depends on it. I had a case where we were chatting, and the next time a person in a wheelchair turned up, all smartly dressed and looking good, and said: «Miss (that’s what they call me), look at me». And I said: «You’ve caught my attention.»
Tetiana shared that there are also people with mental health conditions who were previously overlooked. That’s why it’s important now to teach them how to interact.
«It’s a physical aspect, but a moral one too. Because there are people with mental health conditions. They feel that there’s a general, social influence within the group. So, in principle, the sessions help stabilise them and accustom them to society and social interaction. Because, incidentally, it’s worth teaching such people how to interact when they live in the same area alongside one another,» noted Tetiana.
Social hub
Renovations are currently underway at the centre, particularly in the rooms.
«We’re currently carrying out the refurbishments thanks to our collaboration with various organisations. These include Caritas, Youth of Ukraine, DCA and NP. There are many different organisations helping us. In about a month or two, we’ll have even more beds: enough for about 30 more people. So we’ll be helping around 150 people,» said Volodymyr Tymoshenko.
But overall, the centre has big plans — to build a social community.
«Essentially, on the «Vidnovlennia» site, we’re building not just a refuge, not just a shelter, but a sort of social community where all sorts of people will receive support. There will be around 300 of them. So it’s a sort of small village where people will help one another,» explained the director of «Vidnovlennia».
A ramp has already been installed at one entrance to the centre, in accordance with all building regulations. On the other side of the building, work is still to be done.
The «Vidnovlennia» Centre. Photo: NikVesti
The «Vidnovlennia» Centre. Photo: NikVestiA separate area for displaced people has been set up on the third floor. The rooms, toilets with showers and the kitchen have been refurbished. People are already living in one wing.
As Volodymyr explained, shower cubicles are still to be installed in the bathrooms. And furniture is currently on its way for the kitchen: worktops, a cooker hood, induction hobs, sinks, fridges and tables, as well as a dining area with a table.
The restored third floor in the centre. Photo: NikVesti
The restored third floor in the centre. Photo: NikVesti
The refurbished third floor in the centre. Photo: NikVestiToilets have been fitted on the second floor. However, the rooms need refurbishing to make them accessible, including widening the doorways.
In addition, a lift will serve the second floor. To this end, a path has been prepared, which will be paved with paving slabs, along with the foundation for the lift shaft.
«We’ll have an external lift running from the first to the second floor. In other words, we’ll have two floors — the first and second — adapted for accessibility. The third floor will be for general use: for people who can walk,» said Volodymyr Tymoshenko.
A space has already been prepared for the lift. Photo: NikVesti
The second floor still needs some renovation work. Photo: NikVestiThe ground floor is adapted for people with disabilities. Displaced persons live in one wing.
Next to the centre’s main building is a single-storey building which is currently unoccupied. They plan to make it fully accessible.
«We want to carry out renovation work on the building, which will add another 50 places. For bedridden people, the most severely affected. A great many people are phoning; the need is huge. And I say, where can we put them all? We used a grant to convert the ground floor for IDPs. But people are phoning in — they have disabilities but aren’t IDPs. They have problems too. You can’t put them on the first floor,» noted the centre’s director.
He explained that they’re doing everything step by step. The roofs have already been fitted. They’ll be laying the pavements this summer. Closer to autumn, they plan to start insulating the facade, as this work shouldn’t be done in the heat. They’re looking for donors and applying for grants to fund everything.
The next step is to install paths around the site so that people in wheelchairs can move around freely.
«The second ramp hasn’t been built yet. This is a problem across the whole country. If you look at how a person in a wheelchair can get anywhere: there’s a kerb here, the tarmac there is so rough it’s hard to walk on, and getting into any administrative building is virtually impossible. There’s a ramp, but it’s just a name. Lots of lads are coming back from the front now. So we need to adapt to make it easier for them to get around the city,»said Volodymyr Tymoshenko.
The pavement will be fitted with tactile paving and paths will be laid to the canteen and the relaxation area. They plan to landscape this area with a flowerbed, benches and plants. Perennial flowers will be planted in the autumn.
Next, they plan to develop a large area with a garage, connecting it with a fence and gates to separate the utility area from the space where there will be more art installations.
Volodymyr explained that, according to the plan, one section will house the administrative offices, including staff rooms, a hall for group sessions and training courses, as well as offices for the psychologist, social worker and rehabilitation specialist, and a first-aid post.
Plans are in place to create a relaxation area and lay pavements on the centre’s grounds. Photo: NikVesti
Plans are in place to create a relaxation area and lay pavements on the centre’s grounds. Photo: NikVestiThe dining hall roof, which had been leaking following the shelling, has now been repaired. Renovation work will also be carried out in the kitchen itself.
Whilst we were talking, fragrant bread and a filling for cherry pies were being prepared in the kitchen.
«There isn’t enough time or people for everything. That’s the main thing. Even donor organisations come here, and there are contractors. But there aren’t enough people,» explained Volodymyr Tymoshenko.
«Vidnovlennia» also has its own farm, including cows and chickens.
«So, as you can see, it’s gradually taking shape, just as planned for the social settlement. Because a year and a half or two years ago, everything was completely different,» noted the centre’s director.
Bread being baked. Photo: NikVesti
The canteen at the centre. Photo: NikVesti
Residents of the centre watching the film ‘Chasing Two Hares’. Photo: NikVesti
Residents of the centre watching the film ‘Chasing Two Hares’. Photo: NikVesti
Plans are afoot to turn the shelter into a social community. Photo: NikVesti
Paving the pavements. Photo: NikVesti
Ventilation has been restored in the toilets. Photo: NikVesti
Accessible toilet. Photo: NikVesti
Accessible toilet. Photo: NikVesti
Renovated room on the ground floor. Photo: NikVesti
A resident of the centre. Photo: NikVesti
The centre has its own kitchen. Photo: NikVesti
Plans are in place to make the building inclusive. Photo: NikVesti