Day of Disabled People for mentally disabled youth from Ivano-Frankivsk Caritas is a cheerful and joyful holiday. They just like other people want to play and enjoy, and on this day they feel like real stars. “For our children Caritas is a second home and they are genuinely happy to have the opportunity to spend time with each other and boast their talents” - says Oksana Maydanyuk, the mother of disabled Christina.

To celebrate the Day of Disabled People that was held last Friday in CF “Caritas of Ivano-Frankivsk UGCC” Caritas prepared beforehand. Parents of disabled young people together with Caritas workers organized sweets and interesting entertaining program with participation of guests from the village Bryn, Galych region.

Children, in turn, worked in creative workshops and prepared items for exhibition of talents, that will soon be presented on the city exhibition-auction. It should be mentioned how the children applaud to their friends Maria Bakreviy and Galyna Gerasymova, who sang a duet song about Ukraine! And at the end of the holiday all wards of Caritas sang “Many Years” to their parents and teachers.

The evening passed in a very warm and family atmosphere. Children were sincerely glad to each performance and supported all the performers. The parents meanwhile had a chance to communicate at a separate table. Common problems made them friends, so they, like their children, welcome the opportunity to spend time together. “I can not imagine how we would live without Caritas” - summarizes the opinion the mother Oksana of disabled young girl. Her daughter Christina, who suffers from Down syndrome, now is 25 years, 9 of them a girl was attending rehabilitation school for disabled youth. “Then I constantly worried for her because she could not come home from school and in Caritas she was taught to return home alone and many more very useful things. Christina can sew, take care for herself, do some cooking. If the daughter does not go even for one day to Caritas is a real tragedy for her”.

Disabled young people attend Caritas daily activities within the center of leisure and social adaptation of young people with functional limitations, which started its work at the Foundation “Caritas of Ivano-Frankivsk UGCC” in 2008. The morning begins with a common prayer, then children learn together, work in creative workshops, play sports, attend a variety of tours, go to the movies and performances, and return home in the evening. Today Caritas takes care of 35 young disabled people, 18 of whom live in geriatric pension.