Igor Terekhov: French experience in working with children with special needs can significantly help Kharkiv

10:32 06.09.2024

International cooperation

Igor Terekhov: French experience in working with children with special needs can significantly help Kharkiv

Kharkiv Mayor Igor Terekhov visited a specialised school for children with hearing impairments and the Pierre de Coubertin sports centre during his business trip to Paris.

The Ukrainian delegation, together with its French counterparts, met with Farinez vous, a non-governmental organisation that specialises in training and employment for people with low skills who face difficulties due to a lack of education or knowledge of the French language. The meeting was held at an inclusive baking school.

In addition, the delegates got acquainted with the converted Pierre de Coubertin Sports Centre, which has become a training ground for Olympic and Paralympic teams.

During the discussions, Igor Terekhov said that the first underground school in Ukraine has been operating in Kharkiv since May this year. It was designed to the highest safety standards and to meet the special educational needs of students in need.

‘Due to the war, offline education in Kharkiv is only available in the subway and underground school. In each of these locations, we tried to at least partially meet the educational needs of children with disabilities. For example, the underground school has a radiation shelter with lifts, special toilets, and tactile accessibility features. The school has a mixed-format classroom for 900 children, including children with special educational needs. There are also institutions in Kharkiv that provide support and services to children with disabilities and their families. These are inclusive resource centres. During martial law, they continue to operate both remotely and offline. About five thousand children are currently registered there,’ the mayor said.

We remind you that the exchange of experience between the cities takes place at the initiative of the First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska and at the invitation of the Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo. Coordination support is provided by the Embassy of Ukraine in France and UNDP in Ukraine with financial support from the governments of France and Sweden.