As a part of the ‘Children as Children’ communication campaign, the team of the Cultural Platform Zakarpattya NGO recorded a podcast with young people at the KONTENTA audiovisual studio.
The podcast guests — Daria Herasymchuk, Advisor and Commissioner of the President of Ukraine for Children’s Rights and Rehabilitation, the 15-year-old activist and writer Olia Buchyna, and influencer Roma Heniy — discuss how to make the reading process more inclusive. Olya shares her experience as a visually impaired teenager, Roman explains why he diagnosed himself with dyslexia and how it affects his reading today, and Daria moderates the conversation from the perspective of her expertise in inclusivity.
KONTENTA | CHILDREN AS CHILDREN: Teenagers and youth explore the barrier-free world with Daria Herasymchuk
In barrier-free questions, as in all other issues related to the social well-being of the country, young people should express their opinions and share their perspectives freely. The agency of young people is built, among other things, through the practice of critical reflection on reality and open dialogue on how this reality can be improved.
“This podcast can help many people who will follow us, who will see that books are accessible and easy and that disability is not something scary, dangerous, or isolating. I want people to choose what they love most fully, without hesitation, and keep moving forward toward their dream”
shares Olia Buchyna
The “KONTENTA” audiovisual studies project is a platform where youth can speak to their peers, share their experiences, and find solutions to urgent problems by overcoming barriers. The mental resilience of the new Ukrainian generation depends, specifically, on the youth’s ability to express their identity freely and find common ground that unites people through a shared value: the Ukraine of the future where each citizen exercises their right to happiness and well-being.
In this context, KONTENTA is also becoming a platform where dialogue takes place directly between young people and government officials, who can react to the modern generation’s demands and implement systematic changes in legislation and government programs. This process ensures mutual trust between the new generation of citizens and the government institutions. Notably, in March 2024, KONTENTA audiovisual studio has already become a meeting place for Ukrainian youth and First Lady Olena Zelenska to openly discuss mental resilience in times of uncertainty.
The ‘Children as Children’ campaign aims to transform Ukrainians’ attitudes towards children with disabilities. The campaign seeks to make these children visible and highlight the importance of their inclusion in all aspects of public life.
“We, Ukrainians, need to understand that children with disabilities are just children. A child is a child. With this campaign, we want to emphasize that every child is a unique individual, defined by their character, hobbies, preferences, dreams, and interests. Disability doesn’t define their personality—it is just one of millions of characteristics. This is a call to society to recognize the uniqueness of every child, to create environments where each child can explore, express themselves, make mistakes, be different, be real, and not fear judgment”
emphasizes Daria Herasymchuk
Inclusivity in reading is important to ensure that readers of all ages can find themselves in literature and access information and cultural products of the present without any barriers. Barrier-free access helps to create a fairer and more diverse society where everyone can feel included and heard. KONTENTA allows teens and youth to talk about what matters and find common ways to create the new generation’s well-being.
The podcast was recorded as a part of the Book Land festival at VDNG. The podcast was produced by the team of the Cultural Platform Zakarpattya NGO with the support of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Ukraine, together with Daria Herasymchuk, Advisor and Commissioner of the President of Ukraine for Children’s Rights and Rehabilitation, as part of the ‘Children as Children’ communication campaign.
* The campaign was preceded by the creation of the inclusive space ‘Children as Children’ — a place that showcases diversity, collaborative creation, entertainment, and relaxation for all children and teenagers. The space was presented at the Book Land festival, where the Cultural Platform implemented a creative program to promote creative industries among youth.
Photo Oleksandr Samusevych
Anastasiya Mishustina
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