The CBA Initiatives Center is organizing a free educational workshop for veterans titled “How Adaptive Sports Support Recovery” as part of the Our Here project. The event will take place in Ivano-Frankivsk on June 22 in collaboration with the NGO Veterans-Civilians PETROS at an inclusive space. The exact address and details will be shared with registered participants. Registration is required in advance and is open until June 12.

During the 3-hour workshop, speakers will explain what adaptive sports are, how they can benefit veterans on their path to recovery, and how to start developing adaptive sports in their own communities. The program includes a practical session where participants can try various adaptive sports, including Olympic archery, boccia, and wheelchair basketball, and engage in discussion. A detailed workshop program is available on the Our Here project website.

The main speaker at each event is Taras Kovalik, a war-disabled veteran and head of the Veterans Department at the CBA Initiatives Center.

“We organize these workshops because we truly believe in sharing information that can help veterans recover faster and experience firsthand how adaptive sports work. Developing adaptive sports in Ukraine is also a personal mission for me. I was wounded myself, so I know well what physical and psychological limitations feel like. Many of these limitations were imagined, but they still slowed my progress. It is crucial to provide resources and create conditions where those who paid a high price for our country’s defense do not encounter these limitations, but instead feel their own capability. Adaptive sports give a sense of strength, dignity, and new opportunities,” — says Taras Kovalik.

Joining Taras at the event will be experienced mentors: Oleksandr Zirka, serviceman of the 53rd Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and sports manager of the Veterans-Civilians PETROS space; and Yuriy Haponchuk, Major of the 50th National Guard Regiment, veteran of the Russian-Ukrainian war, captain of the Ukrainian national team at the Air Force Trials 2024, and head of the Department for Veteran and Demobilized Affairs of Ivano-Frankivsk City Council.

The workshop is designed for veterans who want to try adaptive sports and enjoy a meaningful experience. No special physical preparation is required. The practical session will be adapted to different levels of physical fitness. All workshops take place in inclusive spaces.

To attend the workshop, participants only need to register using the provided form.