Olena Shepel from Kharkiv worked as a senior intensive care nurse in a local hospital for over 36 years. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, she did not want to leave her hometown. She continued to do what she does best – saving lives.
In 2023, Olena left her job to devote all her time to caring for her son Artem. Doctors diagnosed him with Down syndrome in early childhood. However, Olena and her husband never gave up. They always cared about their son’s health and his future. In their hometown, the family kept finding centers and spaces where Artem could grow and develop.
This is how their path led them to our project. Olena and Artem first visited Step Forward camp in 2025 and soon planned to come again. This time, a new program was waiting for them. The family met familiar specialists who supported both mother and son.
Learn more about this inspiring story in our video.
Step Forward is a project that creates a barrier-free space where every child or young person with a disability can be heard, accepted, and engaged in active life.
The project is implemented with the support of:
Caritas Italiana
Cáritas Española
Secours Catholique - Caritas France
Slovenska Karitas
Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia
Caritas-Spes Ukraine
office@caritas-spes.org
0800 300 344 - Hotline
Head office:
Borychiv Tik 22A street, 02000 Kyiv, Ukraine
