1. Social action "World of Big Hearts"

On April 11, 2013 Zaporizhzhye House of Culture "ZALK” for few hours became the most amazing place in the city. A place where every now and then it sounds childish laughter. A place where you can find a new friend and holding hands, to embark on an adventure.

How did our usual and familiar Palace of Culture has experienced a transformation, becoming almost for a hundred kids a Disneyland? The fact that there was an event "World of Big Hearts", organized by, as in the past years, by the  Family Centre "Florence". The festival, which brought together under the same roof  children from normal schools, and from the various social centers and boarding schools for children with special needs, have had success for three years in a row. There are no barriers to friendship  proved "World of Big Hearts"  event and  continues to prove it now. Integration of people with special needs in society - that is our goal!

So many things happened in those three hours! Guys solved riddles and puzzles, drawing, grown-bowled, trying to cheer princess , competed with a strong man-Indian. For the participation in every event a child could get so called "money” . Earned by honest labor "currency" one could  exchange  on toys, gifts, little surprises. If the girls' hearts subdued by organized here, "hairdresser", where the master in exchange for "currency” braided cute pigtails, the boys also  rushed to the "tattoo parlor." Here everyone can decorate his hand with cool tattoo, with which you could be the hero of the school for a week!  The process of making "money” and making a choice of prizes brought to guys a real delight: for many of them it was the first in a lifetime experience of  independence in making a decision.

Spending "money” children and teens went to the concert. For them on this day were the team «Energy», having won all fiery dances. Olga Ovdienko  from  Zaporizhzhye regional association of parents of children with disabilities and disabled people gave all moments of joy, singing  hit "The River." The constant participant of the concert School of fashion and style inspired everybody by  the presentation of new collections of chic outfits. Students of the rehabilitation center for the visually impaired boarding school "Orientir" sang a cheerful song and danced and had shown that everybody had a talent! A pop-singer  VITA sang her popular hit "Get up." All the artists were warmly accepted by young audience.

The festival "World of Big Hearts" is a bright adventure, memories of which will long last in the hearts of the children. "I realized that the friendship - it's the best thing in the world" - so put one of the young participants. For the staff of the  Family Centre "Florence" which made every effort to organize the event, these words  was the best assessment of the Festival.

Panahi Maria, journalist.

2. "Healthy Generation" (work with teens at school on prevention of smoking, drinking, drug use, on communication, decision making, etc.)

In April, took place 5 sessions on the program "Healthy Generation". Continued training on team building for children from schools. In May we plan to finish the set of sessions and to do the evaluation of the work with teens as May is the end of school year.

Also we began preparation for the FASD project. In April, we did the screening of volunteers who will conduct sessions on FASD project on coming fall. In total we need 10-12 lecturers for the FASD project.

3. Student’s practicum

In April, began practice for two students, social workers, 4th-year of study from National University. In the course 

of practicum students helped staff to work with children with special needs, compiling a directory of organizations working in the social field. 

Studentsalso participated in the preparation and holding sessions for  sixth grade kids and in  translation of materials from English for the work  of the Centre.

In April, ended the training sessions for the first group of students of Economics and Law College.

 As a result of the practice one of the students was invited to work in the Center "Florence" as a volunteer to lecture on the program "Healthy Generation". Also, training sessions began for the second group of college students. Scheduled for 10 sessions.

4. Counseling

In April, held three consultations on the child-parent relationship.

5. "Training of trainers"

In April, two sessions were held on the topic "Management of volunteering" for staff and volunteers of non-governmental organizations of the city of Zaporizhzhye. The sessions were focused on the problem of attracting and motivating volunteers, and how to deal with complex situations in working with them.

6. Participation in seminars and conferences

The staff of the Florence centre participated at the regional Ukrainian-French "Twinning Project” on the evaluation of the quality of social service. They also participated at the seminar devoted to the work of different sectors in the society organized by the NGO "Ukrprostir ".

7. "We are just like you!" (work at the detention          centre)

This month the detention centre was visited by the students of  Zaporizhzhya National Technical University Institute of Management and Law  major in "social work". Students organized sport activities "Merry Starts". All participants have fun and play with great pleasure!

8. Work with Foreign specialists on projects

The staff of the Centre "Florence" met visitors and partners from the Mennonite Benevolent Society (Winnepeg), Communitas Supportive care society(Abbotsford), FOMCU (Abbotsford). We are also involved in the organization of the  international conference "Problems of aging: a European perspective."

9. "Kangaroo" (work with disable children)

Within a month, 10 families attended our program "Kangaroo". For each child, was summed up the results of work, developed a plan for the next month

We note some changes and progress in work.

Nick has become more active in the team; mastered new moves and executes them independently according to the music: slamming, sit-ups, stomping, rocking out to the side.  Learned the names of a number of children and teachers.

Alina began to take their own spoon and eat, wiping her face with a towel; confidently stands in the corner with no support.

Karen started to make sounds of  letters of the Russian alphabet and some of the syllables "ve", "Knitted", "ma", "ka", "ku".  He became independently perform finger gymnastics.

We have daily walks with the children on the playground and in the yard, which contribute to the idea of integration of children with special needs in society. Useful was the activity of two volunteers specialists in physical therapy.

Within two weeks, two students  used  three  diagnostics.

 The parents of three children has given a permission to include children into the integrative concert, two of them have successfully entered the stage and waved balloons at the final song. Four kids from "Kangaroo" participated in the  games before a concert.

This month we conducted 6 individual psycho-pedagogical consultation with parents of children;  7 consultations on parenting with parents and students, as well as 7 consultations on physical therapy.