Within the framework of educational and outreach activities, the Donetsk Regional Ecological and Naturalist Center held a Barrier-Free Week – an initiative aimed at fostering a culture of respect, empathy, tolerance, and acceptance.
The event brought together over 300 participants: club members, educators, parents, and social media followers. The activities took place in a mixed format – online and offline – with active involvement of children in creative and reflective tasks.
The program consisted of five thematic days:
- Awareness Day – participants explored barriers in the environment and sought ways to enhance accessibility.
- Sign Language Day – an introduction to Ukrainian sign language and attempts to convey their names through gestures.
- Good Deeds Day – children shared examples of actions that change the world for the better.
- Empathy Day – participants imagined what life is like for people with visual, hearing, or mobility impairments.
- Day of Acceptance and Gratitude – a conversation about acceptance, about the fact that true strength lies not in the external, but in the internal. Participants wrote thank-you letters to those who support and inspire them daily.
The Barrier-Free Week became not only a valuable educational initiative but also a space for the development of kindness, sensitivity, and openness to diversity. Children learned to listen, support, and understand – qualities that hold special significance in the modern world.
This experience once again proved: our students are active and conscious, and educators are those who daily bring us closer to a society where everyone is heard, accepted, and valued.
