Swinging Toward Equality: New Inclusive Playground Transforms Playtime in Eastern Ukraine

Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine — On a sunny afternoon in Kryvyi Rih, eastern Ukraine, the laughter of children fills the air at a newly built playground. But this is no ordinary play area, it is a place designed with inclusivity in mind, a place where children with disabilities can play side by side with their peers. The inclusive playground, adjacent to a rehabilitation centre for children with disabilities, was a community-driven initiative brought to life with the support of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Ukraine.

“When I ask him if he wants to go to the playground, his eyes light up.”

Olena and Serhii are a local family from Kryvyi Rih. Olena runs a small NGO and Serhii is a firefighter at the State Emergency Service. Their 11-year-old son, Makar, has cerebral palsy and using a typical children’s playground poses a myriad of challenges, Olena explains.

“We try to lead a normal life," explains Olena,a passionate volunteer and founder of an NGO dedicated to inclusivity issues, was one of the driving forces behind the concept of a playground with inclusivity at its very core.
 

For little Makar, the playground is a dream come true. “When we pass by the usual playgrounds, he looks at them with longing. He sees other children playing and just wants to join in. But the older he gets the more difficult it has become for me to lift him onto the swings,” Olena explains. “Here, the playground is designed for his needs, allowing him to use the swings, while seated in his wheelchair. When I ask him if he wants to go to the playground, his eyes light up.”

The playground is equipped with a wheelchair-accessible swing that has a folding ramp to enable the lifting and lowering of children with disabilities, a platform with two ramps for wheelchair access, and games specifically designed for children with disabilities. This includes a sandbox, carousel, and sports equipment specifically adapted for children with disabilities. The rubber-coated floor allows for easy wheelchair access, and there are benches and information signs with QR codes that link to the various exercises available for the children.
 

“The playground provides a space where all children, regardless of ability, can play and socialize without barriers. During the planning phase, we surveyed the parents of children with disabilities and special needs, incorporating both parties' feedback to serve as a template for the new playground. Parents actively participated in dialogue sessions to discuss the playground’s details and safety,” says Svitlana Martynets, the head of the Kryvyi Rih inclusive resource centre.

“The ground here is suitable for wheelchairs, and it is designed for families like ours,” explains Olena. Apart from her NGO work, Olena also organizes culinary workshops for families with children with disabilities, creating opportunities for them to learn new skills and connect with others in similar situations. Her efforts are not just about providing leisure activities but about building a supportive community.

Another family that has found solace in the new playground is that of Oleksandra, who fled from Mykolaiv region with her husband and two sons at the start of the full-scale war in 2022. The family sought refuge in Kryvyi Rih, hoping to find safety, as well as secure access to medical care for their younger son, Yehor, who has had quadriplegia and cognitive issues since birth.

“We fled in the first month of the war. It was terrifying. My older son, Illia, was very scared. Yehor was only 1.5 years old and didn’t understand what was happening. While we worried about Yehor’s physical health, Illia’s mental state was also of great concern,” Oleksandra recalls.

For Yehor, the playground has become a place of joy. “He loves to play on the slide and keeps asking to go back. When he tries to walk, the ground is softer in case he falls, and he feels more independent,” says Oleksandra

Yehor’s older brother Illia, now 10, has also found comfort in the playground. A protective brother, he watches over Yehor as they play together, always ready to catch him if he stumbles. “I feel so much safer for my son in this playground,” Oleksandra adds. “It’s also created a community where families with children with disabilities can connect and support each other.”
 

The idea for this playground emerged during a series of dialogue sessions organized by IOM Ukraine with local community members. One of the participants was Anton Kol, a Ukrainian Paralympic swimmer. Kol, originally from the Dnipropetrovsk region, shared his insights on the needs of the community, drawing on his own experiences.

“As a person with a disability, musculoskeletal disorder, I deeply understand the need for inclusive playgrounds. At 34, I reflect on my own childhood, when such opportunities didn’t exist. Back then, we made do with improvised structures from boxes and boards. I've always believed that people with disabilities deserve equal opportunities in society — we are just like everyone else.”

For families like Olena’s and Oleksandra’s, the playground at Kryvyi Rih is a step towards a more inclusive society where every child, regardless of ability, can experience the simple joy of play.

As Olena puts it, “It’s pure happiness for me to see him play. I feel that my child is not forgotten and has a place where he can enjoy himself. As a mother, that means everything to me.”

This initiative is made possible through the support of the Czech Ministry of Internal Affairs.

This story was written by Anna Tsybko, National Communications Officer with IOM Ukraine -atsybko@iom.int