The NGO “Vidchui” will hold the inclusive family festival “Celebrating Life” for the organization's 15th anniversary

On June 6, from 12:00 to 16:00 at VDNH, the NGO “Vidchui” will hold the inclusive family festival “Celebrating Life” in the format of an open-air festival. The event will bring together children with disabilities, children without disabilities, their families, partners, volunteers and all guests who want to join a space of support, communication and shared joy. This year the NGO “Vidchui” marks 15 years of activity. Over this time the organization has been working systematically so that people with hearing impairments, children with disabilities and their families have more opportunities for full participation in the life of society. The “Celebrating Life” festival continues this mission in the format of an open family event, where inclusion is expressed through accessibility, attention to the needs of different participants and a shared space for people with different experiences. “Celebrating Life” is a family event whose program is designed for different age groups. Guests can look forward to a children's zone, a space for teenagers, a health zone, workshops, a science area, a music space, a chill zone, animators, a soap bubble show, trampolines, a shooting gallery, face painting, a LEGO tent and an interactive area of the juvenile police. Some activities will be aimed at an adult audience: parents, guardians, partners, volunteers and festival guests who come with their families or join the event as members of the community. Admission to the festival will be free, and all activities will be free of charge. Forty trained volunteers who have completed training in inclusive communication and first aid will work on site, so that participants can feel safe and join the program at a pace comfortable for them. A separate area of the festival will be the health zone. It will operate as a space of care for adults and children: guests will be able to get consultations from specialists, undergo some quick health checks, learn more about prevention and care, and take part in practical first aid workshops. The festival program will also feature Cultural Forces — a platform that unites service members in creative professions, cultural figures, analysts and volunteers. As part of the festival, Cultural Forces will present the musical and creative part of the program: a DJ set by DJ Grim and “Art-Balakuchka” by KhalabudaFM. This is a format of a creative meeting where children can communicate, work with materials, create their own works and get to know each other more easily through shared activity. “The past years have taken a lot of strength from Ukrainian families. That is why it is important for us to create a day with room for joy, calm conversation, children's laughter, family photos and a simple feeling of being close to one another. Life goes on despite fatigue, anxiety and uncertainty, and we want to give families a space where they can be together and allow themselves bright emotions,” notes Daria Herasymchuk, CEO of the NGO “Vidchui”.
The “Celebrating Life” event will take place on June 6, from 12:00 to 16:00.
Format: open-air festival
Participation: free of charge
Location: VDNH, 1 Akademika Hlushkova Ave., Pavilion 60
Organizer: NGO “Vidchui”
Media contact: Iryna Manziuk, iryna.manziuk@vidchui.org