A mobile rehabilitation module has been launched in Sarny to provide comprehensive assistance to war victims

A new mobile rehabilitation module has been opened in Sarny, which will provide comprehensive assistance to veterans, their families, and civilians affected by the full-scale war. The official opening took place on December 10 with the participation of representatives of state institutions, local authorities, public organizations, and partners of the initiative.

The module was created as part of a social franchise project implemented by the Mindy Charitable Foundation in partnership with the Coordination Center for Mental Health of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the NGO Barrier-Free within the framework of the All-Ukrainian Mental Health Program “Are You OK?” – an initiative of First Lady Olena Zelenska. The implementation was made possible thanks to the support of the Business Without Barriers community – Visa and Oschadbank, as well as the Rivne Regional State Administration.

"Supporting veterans is one of the key areas of focus for the Rivne Regional State Administration today. We are building a new wing at the regional veterans' hospital. Not long ago, in cooperation with Nova Poshta, a modular town was opened there. Construction of a rehabilitation center is underway in Dubno. And these are just the major projects. The opening of a mobile rehabilitation module in Sarny is one of the steps along this path. This project is a good example of combining efforts at different levels," said Liudmyla Shatkovska, deputy head of the Rivne Regional State Administration.

Sarny City Council was the project's primary operational partner, providing the full cycle of local integration, including client acquisition, site preparation and allocation, module logistics and delivery, landscaping, and communication integration. This made it possible to quickly and efficiently launch the module and ensure its high-level operation.

"For our community, the opening of this module is not just a new space, but another element of systemic support for people who have survived the war and are striving to regain their quality of life. It's about a partnership that really works. Thank you to Oschadbank, Visa, and the Mindy Charitable Foundation for their proactive stance and high social responsibility. We have been moving towards the development of a network of rehabilitation services for a long time, and this step confirms that we are not stopping. Our goal is for every person in the Sarny community to have access to modern, evidence-based rehabilitation close to home. The entire complex will work toward the main goal of returning people to an active life. This is a powerful example of how, even during wartime, it is possible to create infrastructure that changes the approach to medicine," said Ruslan Serpeninov, Mayor of Sarny.

The 72 m² module is equipped with everything necessary for comprehensive physical, psychological, social, and professional rehabilitation. The team of specialists includes a physical and rehabilitation medicine doctor, a physical therapist, a psychologist, a speech therapist, an occupational therapist, a case manager, and a lawyer. The main areas of assistance include physical rehabilitation and gait training with prostheses, prosthetics support, occupational therapy, speech restoration, psychological support and mutual aid groups, legal support, and assistance with employment and retraining.

"This space is based on a philosophy of partnership and mutual support. When the government and community invest in their people, and businesses join in the development, a resilient and effective environment is created where recovery takes place with respect for everyone's dignity," said Oksana Zbitneva, head of the Barrier-Free NGO and head of the Mental Health Coordination Center of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.

This is the tenth rehabilitation module opened in Ukraine thanks to the cooperation of the state, the public, and socially responsible businesses. For the Rivne region, this is the first such module. In this way, the network of accessible rehabilitation and psychosocial services continues to expand, making support more accessible and available to people in different regions.

"Today, quality rehabilitation is becoming a symbol of our resilience. We are very proud to be involved in this field and to have the opportunity to open the tenth module for our veterans and people who have suffered from the full-scale invasion. Our rehabilitation spaces are points of support that help people stand firmly again, move confidently, and live fully. We are very happy to receive hundreds of reviews from visitors in every city and are actively working to expand the network of rehabilitation modules. We thank our partners for their systematic support," said Oleksandr Pinkas, a specialist in the implementation of social franchising in communities at the Mindy Charitable Foundation.

"Visa consistently supports solutions that help communities become more resilient, inclusive, and technologically advanced. Rehabilitation modules are a practical way to provide people with access to essential services as close to their homes as possible. We see this as a long-term investment in the country's recovery and the development of its human potential. The opening of the module in Sarny is an important step that strengthens the national support network for veterans and civilians," said Tetiana Chorna, Vice President and Regional Manager of Visa in Ukraine.

After the official part of the event, participants toured the rehabilitation space, familiarized themselves with the equipment, assistance routes, and learned the format of the multidisciplinary team's work. The specialists who will work in the module presented their approaches to physical, psychological, and social rehabilitation, and also talked about the possibilities of prosthetics, speech restoration, and family support.

"It has been over two years since Oschadbank relaunched its inclusive program, "My Accessibility". Support for the rehabilitation and reintegration of veterans plays an important role in this program. For Oschadbank, the opening of rehabilitation modules is one of the key areas of this work. We understand that the war has changed the lives of thousands of Ukrainians, and they need not abstract support but a specific place where they can recover physically, psychologically, and socially. Such projects give people the strength to move forward and provide a space where they are heard, and where there are specialists who can really help. It is important for us that such solutions become the norm throughout the country. Therefore, we will continue to support the creation of modules, as well as implement other veteran projects, which we perceive as an investment in people and in the future of Ukraine, where the defenders of the state will undoubtedly play a key role," said Anton Tiutiun, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Oschadbank.

The new module will be an important resource for the community: here, people will be able to receive modern, barrier-free, and evidence-based assistance close to their homes. The space will serve as a support center for veterans, military personnel, and civilians, promoting their physical recovery, psychological stabilization, and return to their normal way of life.