In Kryvyi Rih, the charitable organization “Formula 47” is launching the project “Inclusive Craft: A Self-Employment Space for Youth with Down Syndrome.” Based at the organization’s center, an inclusive workshop is being established where 12 participants aged 13 to 35 will learn the full cycle of producing fruit and vegetable chips—from raw material preparation, slicing, and drying to vacuum sealing and packaging.
The biggest and deepest fear of any mother of a child with a disability is thinking about the future—about that inevitable day when their parents will no longer be by their side.
“My biggest fear is knowing that one day she will be left alone. How and with whom? The fundamental task of parents is to teach them how to live”,confesses Svitlana.
That is why every acquired skill, every independent step, and even every slice of apple cut with their own hands is not just an exercise, but a crucial building block for the future autonomy and safety of these “sunny” young people.
The head of CO “Formula 47,” Nataliia Melnychuk, knows these challenges firsthand—she is raising her 14-year-old daughter, Zlata. At one time, having a background in law and taking steps toward a career as a judge, Nataliia made a conscious choice in favour of her child’s development.
“I was once part of a project at a care home for adults with disabilities. There were three adult women with Down syndrome there. I kept a smile on my face for the whole hour and a half, but as soon as it ended, I just burst into tears. I didn’t want my child to end up there after my death. That is why I do everything humanly possible to make her independent”,recalls Nataliia Melnychuk, Head of CO.
Nataliia emphasizes that in Ukraine, after finishing school, there is virtually no systemic continuation in the form of vocational education for teenagers with Down syndrome. While school-aged children still have opportunities to socialize, adults often remain confined within four walls.
“These children have been born and will continue to be born. What we need is not just financial assistance, but opportunities! Inclusion ends after the 9th or 11th grade. Currently, there is no vocational education for children with Down syndrome. But they need to understand society, and society needs to understand them”,says Nataliia.
Thanks to grant funding of over $9,600, implemented with the financial support of Norad, the workshop is being equipped with everything necessary: a modern dehydrator, a slicer, vacuum sealers, work tables, and purchased raw materials (apples, oranges, bananas, honey, and nuts). To ensure uninterrupted operations even during power outages, an EcoFlow power station will also be purchased. Workflows are adapted to the participants’ needs using visual instructions, and specialists providing psychological and social support are always by their side.
The project teaches teenagers and young adults to be more autonomous in daily life. Svitlana, mother of 14-year-old Nadiika, notes that at home parents often subconsciously seek to protect their child, whereas in the workshop, surrounded by friends, children discover new capabilities within themselves.
“Nadiika learned to cut and slice here. At home, we tend to shield her from these tasks out of pity. But here, seeing others, she does it together with the group. She is acquiring basic life skills that will be essential in the future. I always say: you will teach them more here than we can at home”,says Svitlana.
For the participants, this center is not just about work, but also about friendship, support, and community life. Despite constant air alarms and shelling in Kryvyi Rih, the children find the strength to stay positive and help others. Nadiika, for instance, follows the news, wholeheartedly supports Ukrainian defenders, draws pictures for them, and prepares warm care packages for the front lines.
The “Inclusive Craft” project will run from August to November 2026, but the established workshop will continue its operations beyond that. Through the sale of finished fruit and vegetable chips and charitable events, the initiative will serve as a sustainable platform for self-employment and socialization.
This is more than just making healthy snacks. It is an opportunity for sunny youth to find their place in the world, feel their own worth, and learn to stand on their own two feet.
About the project
The project “Inclusive Craft: Self-Employment Space for Youth with Down Syndrome” is being implemented in the city of Kryvyi Rih and aims to create self-employment opportunities for young people with Down Syndrome.
The project involves setting up a workshop and purchasing the necessary equipment. A total of approx. USD 9,700 in grant funding has been allocated to implement the initiative, with no co-funding required. The implementation period runs from August to November 2026.
This initiative is part of DCA-NCA’s Group Cash Transfer program and is one of the projects funded through the small and flexible grants mechanism designed to support inclusive centers. The program is implemented with financial support from Norad.
