These days, the Social Abilitation and Rehabilitation Centre "Parasolka" has started celebrating its 10th anniversary.

The anniversary brought together in a friendly circle those who supported foundation of this unique institution on October 16, 2009. There were the Charitable Organization "Medical Aid Committee in Zakarpattia", foreign partners from Switzerland and the Czech Republic, representatives of specialized units of the Transcarpathian Regional State Administration, Tyachiv district and city authorities, and those who devote their every day to " Parasolka’s" clients.

“Ten years ago, like-minded people from Switzerland and Ukraine met and tried together to imagine how an ambitious project "Parasolka" could be implemented. I am glad that there are now those who were at the beginning of this plan. In order for this Centre to exist, to operate and to create the right conditions, we have founded the Association Parasolka, which celebrated its decade a year and a half ago. A great deal of time, effort and energy has been consolidated by these people to work in Ukraine. And it is because of such diligence that we are able to celebrate this anniversary today. 10 years is quite a relative term. When you are young, 10 years is a very long period of time, but with growing up these 10 years become shorter. In any case, Centre’s 10 years are filled with success, harmony, and happiness!", - said Andreas Schmid, the President of the Association Parasolka. He also added that the Swiss partners have been extremely fortunate with the people who have to work with the project.

The Centre "Parasolka" is often compared to a 10-year-old child, who already shows his first achievements and successes. And like every child, the "Parasolka" has its parents and godparents who give their support in every possible way. Undoubtedly, the director of the institution Oksana Lukach deserves to be considered as its mother. She is the best manager who could only be imagined, as Andreas Schmidsaid.

“Our main achievement and main argument in favour of the fact that all efforts were justified are our children, our pupils. Their incredible progress, their victories, their good mood – this is an assessment of our teamwork. Especially those who have met these children here could see and appreciate it. I remember this day very well,”said Oksana Lukach.

Indeed, the achievements of the residents of the Centre are a unique product of the work of the institution’s specialists. Household ability was supplemented by great creative development, which the pupils demonstrated at a concert on the occasion of the anniversary of their home. Dancing, singing, solos, playing musical instruments, complemented by insightful artistry – no one was indifferent to it. One of the important properties of the Centre "Parasolka" is the ability to choose the right specialists working with people with disabilities. The proof of this statement is the work of music teacher Natalya Bokoch, who was able not only to reveal the creative facets of the Centre’s pupils but also to motivate them to the overall creative development.

“Our country is quite young and at this stage of its development, it is undergoing a period of a profound change. So, now Ukraine must move forward and adopt the best practices of European countries, in particular, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, and others. That is why we decided that we should create an institution and a home at the level that our wards deserve. Our Centre is the result of happy coincidences, behind which are certain persons. And from a cultural interstate exchange the exchange of opinions between people has grown. Our working group came up with an idea that was supported by foreign partners. Then there was the search for a home place, and I'm glad we found it in Tyachiv. It just had to happen, because here we found sincere and open people. It is important for us that our Centre becomes an institution of the comprehensive provision of services for people with disabilities, and not only in the Tyachiv district. It is important not only to introduce these services but also to train other specialists, to share the experience. All districts of the region need it,” said Natalia Kabatsiy, Director of the Medical Aid Committee in Zakarpattia.

Despite the significant achievements of the founders and leaders of the Centre "Parasolka", the process of implementing the new plans has already begun. These include the creation of a training resource centre, the establishment of an early intervention unit, the introduction of social entrepreneurship, the support of employment of pupils and other socially significant goals. "It may seem to someone that it will take another 10 years, but we can manage it for five," Natalia Kabatsiy added.

According to Mykhaylo Petrishka, the Director of the Department of Social Protection of the Population of the Transcarpathian Regional State Administration, the Centre "Parasolka" is now embodying the content of those reforms that Ukraine has been waiting for past decades. By the way, nowadays the Centre is the only institution of this type in the region, and only "Parasolka" has its own name. "Parasolka" (meaning - umbrella) is both the name and the content of the Centre, which aims to protect and support those who need social protection firstly.

“I really want and sincerely wish “Parasolka” to expand its area and grow in volume. And the experience of our European colleagues that we managed to realize here will be useful to the entire social sphere. Moreover, now, with the adoption of the new law, we have the appropriate legislative instruments,” said Viktor Matsola, deputy director of the Regional Department of Social Protection of the Population, who previously helped to implement the “Parasolka” project.

An institution created for the sake of the happiness of those who find it difficult to obtain it, then the majority of the society, even on his birthday, it did not accept greetings, but gave itself a joy. It was the joy of communication, meeting, and shared desire. But the greatest joy is the happy pupils of the "Parasolka". Happy not on the occasion of the holiday, but in their life – through understanding of their purpose, a sense of involvement into a large family, constant support and motivation to confident steps in self-development.

As all participants including foreign friends claimed, the Centre "Parasolka" has long become a kind of home and place for them to return to. And the President of the Association Parasolka Andreas Schmidaptly emphasized that the homeland is not a place, but feelings. And for 10 years, the Centre "Parasolka" has been giving a feeling of comfort, care, and support to its pupils. But there are still many plans ahead, which the team of like-minded people is already starting to implement. Therefore, the first decade is only a successful start!