An open training session for adaptive sports was held in Odessa to support veterans through active engagement.
The event took place at a local stadium and focused on promoting physical activity among veterans. This open training session served as a platform for recovery, interaction, and unity.
The aim of the initiative is to popularize adaptive sports among veterans as a means of rehabilitation, socialization, and mental health support.
Participants had the chance to engage in various activities, including wheelchair basketball, and to visit psychosocial support stations:
- creating crafts from air-dry clay,
- assembling a personal resource map,
- board games and quizzes focused on mental health and resilience.
Adaptive sports are not only about physical activity but also about the journey towards recovery and returning to an active life with peers.
The event was attended by Anna Velychko, the regional coordinator of the national mental health program “How are you?” in the Odessa region. She emphasized the importance of such initiatives for cultivating a culture of mental health in communities.
This event was organized by the NGO “Free Warriors” with financial support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM Ukraine) as part of the national mental health program “How are you?”.
The implementation and development of the national mental health program “How are you?” is overseen by the Office of the First Lady Olena Zelenska, with expert support from the World Health Organization.
