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CAFE goes East

30 April 2010

New Eastern European Development Officer

My name is Elena Karpukhina. I'm a newly appointed Eastern European Development Officer with CAFE and this is my first entry to this blog. I’m going to investigate disability and access situation in Ukraine in the context of EURO 2012, gather information for disabled supporters who will visit the tournament and produce support literature.    

It's great news that CAFE is going to the East and brings its vision and ideas to Ukraine. We need it here perhaps more than any other country. And the changes that we will hopefully implement here will be a big step forward for the whole Ukrainian society.

There are more than 2.5 million disabled people in Ukraine. With the population of 46 million people this makes more than 5 percent and this number is growing year by year. But you will be surprised not to meet them in the streets, in public places, etc. Most of disabled people in Ukraine spend their lives in their own apartments. I’ve been living in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, for more than 5 years now, and during this period I’ve hardly met a dozen disabled people in public places.

Why? In Ukraine disabled people experience difficulties that are impossible in civilized countries. Some of them can’t leave their homes, because buildings are without an elevator. The whole city infrastructure - public transport, access to buildings and public places, hotels, etc. – is not adapted to disabled people’s needs.

The coming EURO 2012 is a unique chance for us to attract attention to this problem. If Ukraine wants to be considered a civilized European capital, it must provide equal access to public places, transport, sports, arts, etc to all people. And my role as Eastern European Development Officer is to speak up and attract all possible resources for improving the current situation. We have 2 years ahead and very much to do.

Alongside this, I will also be supporting our partners in Poland, Integracja and the Never Again Association as we work in cooperation with Poland 2012 and the FSE Fans Embassies to ensure a good experience for disabled fans alongside their fellow fans.  

Hundreds of disabled fans will come to Poland and Ukraine for EURO 2012 and we shall do our best to make there stay here comfortable and enjoyable.

Will keep you updated on the progress.

Elena Karpukhina

Eastern European Development Officer