#About us
We are a non-governmental organization registered in 2008 whose goal is to create opportunities for people who have a spinal cord injury or are similar to the consequences of the disease and move with a wheelchair in order to fully integrate them into society.
The goal is achieved through active rehabilitation camps and other activities that contribute to the acquisition of independent living skills, awareness of their condition and prevention of complications that may arise as a result of violations. An important component of the activity is the transfer of knowledge according to the method of “peer-to-peer”, when people with experience of their own lives with similar disorders and methodological knowledge about such conditions pass this knowledge to people who are at the beginning of this path.
Practice areas:
- Creation of a database of persons with spinal cord injury;
- Holding active rehabilitation camps for people with spinal injury;
- Realization of the “First Contact” program in medical and rehabilitation institutions;
- Conducting seminars for active rehabilitation trainers to improve their skills to work within active rehabilitation camps;
- Conducting seminars for active rehabilitation trainers who work on the “First Contact” program with persons just after spinal cord injury;
- Seminars for employees of medical institutions that work with patients with spinal injuries;
- Cooperation with organizations working towards active rehabilitation from Sweden, Poland, Belarus, Lithuania;
- Release thematic literature, manuals, training videos, etc.
#ACTIVE REHABILITATION CAMPS
Active rehabilitation camp is one of the most effective methods of restoring physical and social conditions of the person after spinal injury.
The purpose of the camp is the achievement of the persons in wheelchairs their maximum independence from outside help and thus improves the quality of their lives. The philosophy of the camp is based on the slogan: “If you’ve leant how to live in a wheelchair yourself – teach another to do this also”. The main role in the learning process play instructors in wheelchairs who have great psycho-emotional influence on the camp’s participants, as are compelling examples of the real possibility to live a full life at the same level as the other people do.
The purpose of the camp is the achievement of the persons in wheelchairs their maximum independence from outside help and thus improves the quality of their lives. The philosophy of the camp is based on the slogan: “If you’ve leant how to live in a wheelchair yourself – teach another to do this also”. The main role in the learning process play instructors in wheelchairs who have great psycho-emotional influence on the camp’s participants, as are compelling examples of the real possibility to live a full life at the same level as the other people do.
Methods of active rehabilitation camps had been received from the Swedish NGO Rekryteringsgruppen.
Active rehabilitation camp’s program includes:
- Learning how to use the wheelchair of the active type;
- Improving the physical condition and skills of self-service through training sessions for various sports the motor activity (technique of using the wheelchair, general physical training, swimming, archery, table tennis, aerobics, etc.);
- Dissemination of information relating to prevention of complications after the spinal cord injury, personal hygiene, intimate sphere, legal issues, adaptation of the house, etc.
In Ukraine, active rehabilitation camps started in 1991 and are held exclusively by GAR. From 2002 active rehabilitation camps are supported by Ukrainian Center “Invasport” and individual philanthropists.
Now GAR organizes camps:
- For persons just after the spinal cord injury and for those persons who use the wheelchair but have insufficient physical and theoretical skills for independent living;
- for those who already passed the first camp to improve skills acquired during their first camp;
- for people with injuries in the cervical spine;
- for active rehabilitation trainers to improve their skills.
GAR plans to organize camps for children with lesions of the musculoskeletal system, for women with injuries of the spine and spinal cord, sports camps for people who want to lead a more active lifestyle.
#THE “FIRST CONTACT” PROGRAM
The important point to for the person just after the spinal cord injury, which is in a hospital or rehabilitation center, is the first contact with instructors of the active rehabilitation.
The objective of the «First Contact» program is the finding of the persons after the injury and providing them with comprehensive information support, encourage to exercise and an active lifestyle.
The objective of the «First Contact» program is the finding of the persons after the injury and providing them with comprehensive information support, encourage to exercise and an active lifestyle.
Instructors of the “First contact” program are, in most cases, people who have had the same injury of the spine and spinal cord and are an example of opportunities for people who live in a wheelchair, can skillfully use their wheelchairs, are independent in life, have theoretical and practical knowledge of the problems and needs of people after the spinal cord injury.
The “First contact” instructors can give the following information:
- How to avoid pressure sores and contractures;
- How to choose the wheelchair of the active type and where to get it;
- Can tell about different kinds of personal hygiene products and how to choose the right one;
- What organizations work with people after spinal injury;
- How to fill individual rehabilitation program;
- What is the active rehabilitation camp and how to take part in it;
- What is a sanatorium treatment;
- How to adapt the apartment to the needs of person in a wheelchair;
- Where is rehabilitation centers for spinal patients in Ukraine;
- How to work with public authorities
The “First contact” instructors work closely with families, informing them about the opportunities and needs of persons after the injury or disease of the spinal cord.
#SEMINARS FOR THE HOSPITAL STAFF
In a frame of active rehabilitation camps GAR fulfill seminars for employees of medical institutions that work with patients with spinal injuries (doctors, rehabilitators, nurses and exercise instructors) as well as with teachers of higher educational institutions related to rehabilitation.
The purpose of these events is to show needs and abilities of a person with the spinal cord injury during the post-hospital period.
Philosophy of these seminars is based on the possibility for its participants to look at the problem of people with a spinal cord injury on the other hand. That means to feel in the situation of a person who moves in a wheelchair, to see more restrictions, which they did not notice before and did not pay any attention to.
The course is designed including the experience of countries such as Sweden, Poland, United Kingdom and United States of America.
The purpose of these events is to show needs and abilities of a person with the spinal cord injury during the post-hospital period.
Philosophy of these seminars is based on the possibility for its participants to look at the problem of people with a spinal cord injury on the other hand. That means to feel in the situation of a person who moves in a wheelchair, to see more restrictions, which they did not notice before and did not pay any attention to.
The course is designed including the experience of countries such as Sweden, Poland, United Kingdom and United States of America.
The seminar’s program provides practical and theoretical sessions:
- History of the active rehabilitation’s movement;
- Technique of the belaying and moving the person in the wheelchair;
- Technique of the using the wheelchair of the active type;
- the selection of the wheelchair;
- prevention of pressure sores, contractures and urological problems;
- sex and procreation;
- Attendance and participation in training sessions of the active rehabilitation camps.
Seminars’ participants will be able to use all the knowledge and skills they acquire when returns to work. In the future they become partners of GAR in the “First Contact” program by providing information on the presence of people with spinal cord injuries in their institutions.
АCTIVE REHABILITATION PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN MY FUTURE PATH
In the camps of active rehabilitation, besides meeting new interesting and kind people, I also saw how powerful can be the strength of a human spirit. I could not imagine that a person in a wheelchair can be completely independent, but in the camp I have seen a wheelchairer climbing up the stairs all by himself.
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VOLUNTEERING AT CAMP IS NOT A WAY OF LIFE, IT IS LIFE!
I first took part in active rehabilitation camp in 2007, when I was only 18. I believed that I spend my personal time doing volunteering for the sake of others. Believed that the constant lack of sleep, three trainings, lectures, late briefings, morning and evening duty will help the participants to believe in themselves, to change their lives after the injury.
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ACTIVE REHABILITATION HELPS TO OVERCOME INTERNAL OBSTACLES
I only participated in one camp in 2013, but I felt clearly that most actions of instructors and volunteers aimed primarily at helping participants to overcome their fears. Some were afraid to cross barriers in a wheelchair, some were afraid to drawn in the swimming pool, some were even afraid to get to know other participants. But everyone managed to overcome those obstacles!
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AFTER THE “ACTIVE” CAMP I BEGAN TO APPRECIATE LIFE
Active rehabilitation camps have become quite an instructive lesson in my life. Here I found a lot of friends, and most importantly – I have changed my attitude to life. For example, having heard the statistics of the cases in which most people get cervical spine injury, I stopped jumping into the water head first. And began to appreciate life!
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ТHE CAMP OF ACTIVE REHABILITATION BECAME A STEP TOWARDS MYSELF
The camp is organized so well, that I felt very comfortable. After short time I started feeling that I am part of the process and it was already impossible to distance from everything that was going on. These were really real emotions and feelings.
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HOW IMPORTANT IT NOT JUST TO LOOK, BUT ALSO TO BE WILLING TO SEE AND UNDERSTAND
I was volunteering in the CAR a few years ago, but I am still re-examining this experience from time to time. First I thought that a whole new world suddenly opened to me. I thought that it enriched me as a person very much… Now, looking back, I think that it was rather a lesson about how important it is in interactions with people not just to look, but also to be willing to see and understand.
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SOMETIMES YOU ARE READY TO GIVE UP EVERYTHING TO FIND THE RIGHT WAY
My first camp took place in august 2007. I was 21. Insecure, diligent, a little timid girl. I already had some experience working with wheelchairers during basketball tournaments. I studies building and engineering and had nothing to do with rehabilitation.
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IF SOMEONE WOULD HAVE TOLD ME WHAT WOULD BE GOING IN THE CAMP, I WOULD HAVE NEVER BELIEVED THAT I COULD LIKE IT
I have to admit that my first camp was a surprising experience for me. If someone would have told me what would be going on there, I would have never believed that I could like it. Moreover, I would never assume that I could like it THAT much!
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WHEN I COMING HOME AFTER THE CAMP, I SAID TO MYSELF: “NASTYA, ACT!”
In 2010, being a 3rd year student of the faculty of Human Health, I had an opportunity (the selection was held among many students, who were willing to go!) to do my internship as a volunteer at the Camp of Active Rehabilitation (CAR).
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CAMP OF ACTIVE REHABILITATION IS A SPACE, WHERE EVERY ACTOR BECOMES BETTER EVERY DAY
Volunteering in the camp of active rehabilitation (CAR) became one of the most powerful experiences in my professional life, as well as in my life overall. Only two weeks of restless work, where you change your life and the lives of other people, working as an important detail of a well-functioning mechanism called team, a team of people who are devoted to their work.
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