For several years we had been discussing the need for a gathering that would bring together the leaders of active rehabilitation. Its purpose would be to raise the qualification of our instructors, to exchange experience and to improve our health.
I picked up the phone and heard the long-familiar voice of Kyrylo Nazmutdinov:
— Hi, what are your plans for August?..
— Hi, a camp?.. A recreational one?.. Hurray!
That is how my rehabilitation and sports gathering began — it was held at the Paralympic and Deaflympic training and rehabilitation base of the «Ukraine» National Centre in Yevpatoria, from 5 to 16 August 2013. Leaders of the Group for Active Rehabilitation were invited. The programme differed noticeably from that of the AR camps, which was new to all of us: it included wheelchair skills training, swimming and gym sessions. In the evenings, at the sports complex, we could all play wheelchair rugby, table tennis, tennis, badminton, darts, boccia — and, of course, good old basketball. On the two rest days in the programme you could take a sauna and play billiards.
Handing out commemorative prizes
The gym — another chance to work on your physical form
Volodymyr Azin, executive director of GAR
Our organisation has been working since 1992. In that time our team and our activities have grown considerably: we used to run one or two camps a year, and this year, for example, we are organising five. But that brings a problem: working at different camps, people do not cross paths and very often never even get to meet each other. A gathering like this is a unique chance for a live exchange of experience between the instructors of the «earlier» period of GAR and those who joined the organisation recently. This is how the spirit of active rehabilitation — the philosophy of independent living — is preserved. Our deepest thanks to the Ukrainian Centre «Invasport» for this opportunity!
Oleh Kolpakov, AR camp organiser
The camp was planned for 50 people, but unfortunately eight could not come for various reasons, which personally saddens me a great deal: I wanted to make the fullest use of the opportunity given to us by the Ukrainian Centre «Invasport». On the whole the camp went well, the goals were met, and there was a lot of informal communication — within the limits of a dry law.
Two hours in the pool — wonderful!
Kyrylo Nazmutdinov and Andrii Cheberiak, organisers of the gathering
We did our utmost so that the participants would feel comfortable, could rest and improve their health, and gather strength and energy for a whole year of further work at GAR.
That is how the organisers summed up the gathering. It really was a wonderful chance to talk, to meet the people who stood at the origins of the AR movement, and to work on yourself. Thanks to the rehabilitation specialists working at the centre, I finally managed to overcome my fear of water and learn to swim. I think this gathering charged all of us with positive energy and gave room for new ideas to be born.
I would also like to share a few notes from other participants, in which they described their impressions:
Nataliia Shevchenko, volunteer
I did not get to spend whole days sunning my belly on the beach, gaining a couple of kilos of cellulite and offending my liver… Instead I strengthened my legs in the gym, improved my lymph flow in the jacuzzi, learned to swim and not to fear the water, picked up a couple of aikido moves and remembered what a great game badminton is. It turned out that in my case the laws of physics do not always apply at the billiard table. And all these treats were seasoned with sun, sea and pleasant company.
Wheelchair rugby
Oleksii Chabanov, instructor
I am very glad to have met old friends and made new ones, to have reinforced my wheelchair skills, and I am absolutely delighted with the rugby training and the physical load. Respect to Mariana!
Tetiana Fomina, volunteer
It was even better than expected! My rest was an active one: besides the compulsory training I went rollerblading, played tennis and swam in the sea. The best part was the conversation, for which there is never enough time at an AR camp. Love and kisses!
Roman Hulyk, instructor
The gathering gave me a chance to meet old friends, to get to know new leaders and to recall and reinforce my old skills.
Old skills reinforced and new ones gained!
Tetiana Tupyi, volunteer
This camp helped me feel once again how much I mean to the people close to me.
Oleh Sokolov, instructor
A much-needed gathering: every instructor had the chance to rest, to talk and to raise their qualification in different disciplines.
Uliana Smirnova, AR camp organiser
They say home is where your heart is. Next to these people I am home!
Karyna Pohosian
wheelchair skills instructor
