Lviv Polytechnic implements the Veterans Service project within the framework of the International «Integration» Center for Professional Partnerships.
– We had the idea about two years ago. I underwent my internship at the Frederick Community College, Maryland, USA. It is the first educational institution in the world that created such a service. Following their example, all American universities started to implement such projects. Having been there, we learned how to work with veterans. We got interested as they work in several directions, including study at the university, helping to set up one’s own business, and attracting veterans to work in military logistics, – says Olesia Bik, the coordinator of the Veterans Service project at Polytechnic, a senior lecturer at the Department of Sociology and Social Work, the Institute of the Humanities and Social Sciences. – For us, the direction concerning work with veterans within the University is very important. We drew on the experience and proposed to implement a similar idea in Polytechnic, taking into account Ukrainian realities and the needs of our soldiers.
For two years, the International «Integration» Center for Professional Partnerships has been working on this project and looking for sponsors who are ready to support its implementation. Leading IT company SoftServe decided to help bring this noble idea to life. Their Open Eye Charity Fund agreed to entirely fund it.
Now the project has been agreed upon by both parties – The Open Eyes Charity Fund, presented by Taras Verveha, and Lviv Polytechnic, presented by Rector Yurii Bobalo.
The Veterans Service will have its own space in the first academic building, where there will be several rooms with the facilities for quality work with people with disabilities, as well as for conference events. This space will also be used for study.
Now Lviv Polytechnic has already started working with veterans. Three soldiers are currently involved in the program. In the future, their number will be much larger. Eventually, the project will become larger as well.