Magnifying Glass

Show More

Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
Home Newsroom Article

Helping Disabled Ukrainians with NGO “I Know You Can”

Helping Disabled Ukrainians with NGO "I Know You Can"
Donate

Since the start of the war in Ukraine vulnerable demographics within the country have been disproportionately impacted often due to their limited mobility. Elderly people, the sick, and families with small children have been especially hard hit. But there is one group who have been impacted more than others and received little attention or assistance: people with disabilities. One woman, Olena Osadcha, is working to make sure disabled Ukrainians are not forgotten.

Helping Disabled Ukrainians with NGO "I Know You Can"
Olena Osadcha, founder of I Know You Can, with another volunteer on a shopping trip for humanitarian supplies

Founder of the NGO “I Know You Can” in Dnipro (central Ukraine), Olena Osadcha herself has been wheelchair bound since childhood due to the rare birth defect Osteogenesis imperfecta – brittle bone disease. Her experiences, and the constant support of those around her who always said, “I know you can do it”, inspired Olena to start an organization dedicated to advocating for those with disabilities.

Due to the fear of imminent attack and their inability to flee danger quickly, the members of I Know You Can can no longer meet in public places. All of the organization’s educational programs have been cancelled, and many of their in-person services have ended due to the ever-increasing impact of the war. Despite these challenges, I Know You Can continues to provide support for disabled Ukrainians.

Together, Nova Ukraine and I Know You Can are working to ensure that people with disabilities are able to receive the funding, services, medication, food, and support they need. Thanks to this partnership, disabled Ukrainians serviced by I Know You Can are receiving regular food deliveries, life sustaining medication, and the support they need to stay safe during a war the has no clear end.

But the work of supporting and advocating for disabled Ukrainians is far from done and increases in demand every day. Your help to continue this work is greatly needed. Your donation today will help Olena, her organization I Know You Can, and other local Ukrainian NGOs continue their brave and needed work in Ukraine.

Helping Disabled Ukrainians with NGO "I Know You Can"
Helping Disabled Ukrainians with NGO "I Know You Can"
Helping Disabled Ukrainians with NGO "I Know You Can"

Donate. Impact. Change.

We greatly value your support, and it is indeed crucial. Please consider donating monthly. Your consistent contributions are vital to sustaining our efforts and driving meaningful change over time. Your commitment will make a lasting difference, and we sincerely appreciate your consideration. Donate now or learn how you can help.

Aug 17, 2022

Nova Ukraine

Nova Ukraine
Helping Disabled Ukrainians with NGO "I Know You Can"
Aug 17, 2022

Nova Ukraine

Nova Ukraine
Donate

Since the start of the war in Ukraine vulnerable demographics within the country have been disproportionately impacted often due to their limited mobility. Elderly people, the sick, and families with small children have been especially hard hit. But there is one group who have been impacted more than others and received little attention or assistance: people with disabilities. One woman, Olena Osadcha, is working to make sure disabled Ukrainians are not forgotten.

Helping Disabled Ukrainians with NGO "I Know You Can"
Olena Osadcha, founder of I Know You Can, with another volunteer on a shopping trip for humanitarian supplies

Founder of the NGO “I Know You Can” in Dnipro (central Ukraine), Olena Osadcha herself has been wheelchair bound since childhood due to the rare birth defect Osteogenesis imperfecta – brittle bone disease. Her experiences, and the constant support of those around her who always said, “I know you can do it”, inspired Olena to start an organization dedicated to advocating for those with disabilities.

Due to the fear of imminent attack and their inability to flee danger quickly, the members of I Know You Can can no longer meet in public places. All of the organization’s educational programs have been cancelled, and many of their in-person services have ended due to the ever-increasing impact of the war. Despite these challenges, I Know You Can continues to provide support for disabled Ukrainians.

Together, Nova Ukraine and I Know You Can are working to ensure that people with disabilities are able to receive the funding, services, medication, food, and support they need. Thanks to this partnership, disabled Ukrainians serviced by I Know You Can are receiving regular food deliveries, life sustaining medication, and the support they need to stay safe during a war the has no clear end.

But the work of supporting and advocating for disabled Ukrainians is far from done and increases in demand every day. Your help to continue this work is greatly needed. Your donation today will help Olena, her organization I Know You Can, and other local Ukrainian NGOs continue their brave and needed work in Ukraine.

Helping Disabled Ukrainians with NGO "I Know You Can"
Helping Disabled Ukrainians with NGO "I Know You Can"
Helping Disabled Ukrainians with NGO "I Know You Can"

Donate. Impact. Change.

We greatly value your support, and it is indeed crucial. Please consider donating monthly. Your consistent contributions are vital to sustaining our efforts and driving meaningful change over time. Your commitment will make a lasting difference, and we sincerely appreciate your consideration. Donate now or learn how you can help.

We greatly value your support, and it is indeed crucial. Please consider donating monthly. Your consistent contributions are vital to sustaining our efforts and driving meaningful change over time. Your commitment will make a lasting difference, and we sincerely appreciate your consideration.

Donate
Learn how you can help
Back to Newsroom

Latest Posts

Ukrainian DSNS
Oct 15, 2026

Planning, Not Reacting: Ukraine’s Rescuers and Nova Ukraine Prepare for Winter Side by Side

On the tenth floor of an apartment building on Kyiv's left bank last January, Svitlana could not bathe her three-year-old daughter, Arina, or cook her a hot meal. After strikes on the energy system, they had gone more than three days without heat or electricity, in temperatures as low as -18°C. So she wrapped Arina in layer after layer and took her down ten floors of a dark stairwell to a heated tent that Ukraine's State Emergency Service had set up outside. There they could warm up, eat something hot, charge a phone and talk with a psychologist. Millions of Ukrainian families lived some version of that winter. When the power goes out, heat and water often go with it, elevators stop, and anyone who depends on electricity for medical treatment is suddenly at risk. UNICEF, which documented families like Svitlana's, observed that darkness and freezing temperatures intensify fear and stress for children. For the rescuers of the State Emergency Service, known in Ukraine as DSNS, a winter like that changes the job. They still fight fires and search damaged buildings after attacks. But when power, heat, and water fail, they also put up warming tents, install generators, and help residents get through the outages. Last winter left them, and everyone working alongside them, with a plain lesson: the time to prepare for an emergency is before it happens. Ukraine Is Preparing Earlier This Winter
Scout Camps Help Develop the Leaders of Tomorrow
Oct 13, 2026

Scout Camps Help Develop the Leaders of Tomorrow

Nova Ukraine helps Ukraine's next generation build confidence and leadership skills through scholarships to Plast Ukraine and Motley Raccoons summer camps. The future of Ukraine will someday be in the hands of its children, who will soon be the leaders tasked with rebuilding their country. Nova Ukraine supports the development of these young members of society in multiple ways, including through several education initiatives such as this year’s Engineering Week, which reached more than 195,000 students in grades K-12. Just as important as developing their minds, however, is nurturing their spirits and ensuring that they enter adulthood with confidence, hope, and a deep appreciation for their homeland. That is where Nova Ukraine’s partnership with the outdoor leadership camps is playing a key role. This past summer, Nova Ukraine provided full-ride scholarships for 180 children to attend Plast Ukraine summer camps, where children ages 2-18 participated in outdoor adventures. They learned practical skills such as first aid, cooking over campfires, and navigating wilderness trails, and many gained experience leading their own squads.
Ukrainian DSNS
Oct 15, 2026

Planning, Not Reacting: Ukraine’s Rescuers and Nova Ukraine Prepare for Winter Side by Side

On the tenth floor of an apartment building on Kyiv's left bank last January, Svitlana could not bathe her three-year-old daughter, Arina, or cook her a hot meal. After strikes on the energy system, they had gone more than three days without heat or electricity, in temperatures as low as -18°C. So she wrapped Arina in layer after layer and took her down ten floors of a dark stairwell to a heated tent that Ukraine's State Emergency Service had set up outside. There they could warm up, eat something hot, charge a phone and talk with a psychologist. Millions of Ukrainian families lived some version of that winter. When the power goes out, heat and water often go with it, elevators stop, and anyone who depends on electricity for medical treatment is suddenly at risk. UNICEF, which documented families like Svitlana's, observed that darkness and freezing temperatures intensify fear and stress for children. For the rescuers of the State Emergency Service, known in Ukraine as DSNS, a winter like that changes the job. They still fight fires and search damaged buildings after attacks. But when power, heat, and water fail, they also put up warming tents, install generators, and help residents get through the outages. Last winter left them, and everyone working alongside them, with a plain lesson: the time to prepare for an emergency is before it happens. Ukraine Is Preparing Earlier This Winter
Scout Camps Help Develop the Leaders of Tomorrow
Oct 13, 2026

Scout Camps Help Develop the Leaders of Tomorrow

Nova Ukraine helps Ukraine's next generation build confidence and leadership skills through scholarships to Plast Ukraine and Motley Raccoons summer camps. The future of Ukraine will someday be in the hands of its children, who will soon be the leaders tasked with rebuilding their country. Nova Ukraine supports the development of these young members of society in multiple ways, including through several education initiatives such as this year’s Engineering Week, which reached more than 195,000 students in grades K-12. Just as important as developing their minds, however, is nurturing their spirits and ensuring that they enter adulthood with confidence, hope, and a deep appreciation for their homeland. That is where Nova Ukraine’s partnership with the outdoor leadership camps is playing a key role. This past summer, Nova Ukraine provided full-ride scholarships for 180 children to attend Plast Ukraine summer camps, where children ages 2-18 participated in outdoor adventures. They learned practical skills such as first aid, cooking over campfires, and navigating wilderness trails, and many gained experience leading their own squads.
Donate PayPal Credit Card Check & Wire Stocks
Donate