The team at the Luhansk Association of Organisations of Persons with Disabilities has begun a new phase of practical implementation of the project ‘Restoring Lives and Expanding Service Opportunities in War-Affected Ukraine.’ Following the successful experience of previous initiatives, the first phase of targeted interventions is now underway in the Kharkiv and Donetsk regions.

What is already happening:

• Housing repairs: minor and medium repairs are being carried out on houses and apartments — strengthening walls, replacing windows, repairing roofs.
• Physical accessibility: solutions are being implemented to create accessible spaces — ramps, adaptation of entrances, internal re-planning.
• Emergency assistance: financial support is provided for the purchase of solid fuel (firewood) and basic protective equipment.

Psychosocial support:

Along with material restoration, individual and group consultations with psychologists have begun. This makes it possible to work not only with the destruction of homes, but also with the consequences of internal losses.

Cooperation with communities:

During the initial meetings in the communities, the LAOPD team discussed priority needs, agreed on response algorithms, and identified points of shared responsibility. Transparent processes, clear agreements, and a focus on human dignity are the basis of this cooperation.

With proven tools and a professional team, LAOPD is ready to scale up its previous results. The work is not being done for the sake of reports, but for the sake of real change, which is already being felt in communities.