September was a busy month at the Vilshany Orphanage, thanks in part to training sessions for the staff of the institution by Swiss colleagues.

During the week, a physiotherapist, Claudia Leu, worked at the orphanage and conducted a series of trainings for the staff and short physiotherapy sessions for the children with complex disabilities. Ms. Claudia’s experience was also useful in the context of the orphanage’s development: she gave useful advice on arranging a physiotherapy room in one of the new buildings of the institution. The guest also inspected the condition of the wards’ auxiliary equipment and promised to facilitate the sending of a specialized technician to Vilshany to help conduct the necessary diagnostics and adjust wheelchairs.

Later, a music therapist and special school teacher from Biel/Bienne, Toune de Montmollin, and her Kyiv-based colleague, Volodymyr Budz, came to the orphanage. The specialists worked with the music teacher of the orphanage, Vitalina Rishko, and held joint lessons for the children who are involved in the music class. The visit proved to be effective, because in addition to improving existing methods, it included learning new instruments for music therapy.

For more than 20 years, the Medical Aid Committee in Zakarpattya has been promoting the involvement of foreign specialists in improving the conditions for rehabilitation and employment of people with disabilities, integrating effective practices into the activities of relevant social institutions, and training qualified personnel who will provide quality educational, medical, social and rehabilitation services to people with disabilities.