Location
Luhansk, Luhansk Oblast, Ukraine
Community Description
Luhansk is the main city in the Luhansk oblast, located on the very eastern side of Ukraine. There are approximately 500,000 residents in the city. Most of the buildings in the center of Luhansk remain from the Soviet era and very few of the buildings have access for the disabled, let alone accessible toilet facilities. The continuing difficult economic climate in Ukraine means that renovation of facilities for the disabled is not a top priority.
Association for the Young Disabled of the East Donbass Region is an organization that advocates for disabled youth, representing the approximately 25,000 disabled (physically or mentally) in Luhansk. The 
organization has office space on the first floor of a five-story building. Most of the staff is disabled, and use wheelchairs.
None of the offices and the bathroom facilities in the office building are properly equipped for the disabled. The doors, including the bathroom doors, are heavy and the door thresholds are not flush to the floor, so wheelchair users need assistance to enter or exit every room.
Each of the bathroom facilities for all office occupants (able-bodied or disabled) on the first floor has two toilets, but only one toilet works in each bathroom. The toilet cabinets are not easily accessible for the disabled. Each bathroom has only one sink, which has only one cold water tap.
Water from leaking sinks and the pipes creates a hazardous, unhealthy, situation in the bathroom areas: mold, mildew, fungus and rust are constant companions next to and on the sinks.
Project Description
This project is to replace two sinks in the bathrooms with proper sinks, and install faucets that are accessible for the disabled, especially those who use wheelchairs. The rusted pipes surrounding the sink areas will be repaired or replaced as necessary.
Project funds will be used for the purchase and delivery of two sinks and sink faucets suitable for use by the disabled.
The building landlord will provide the labor for the installation, and will also pay any additional amounts for labor and materials necessary to complete the project.
Project Impact
This project will benefit the 50 disabled youths who visit weekly, plus 10 disabled staff members who work in the building on a daily basis.
Peace Corps Volunteer Directing Project
Caroline Mackenzie
Comments
This project will provide needed sanitary facilities for an underserved segment of the population. It will definitely improve accessibility, and provide an element of dignity for those participating in the program.
The success of this project can be expected to lead to improvement in toilet facilities on other floors in the building, and also set an example of remodeled access for the disabled.
Dollar Amount of Project
$500.00
Donations Collected to Date
$500.00
Dollar Amount Needed
$0.00 – This project has now been fully funded through the generosity of The Soneva SLOW LIFE Trust as a part of their Clean Water Projects initiative, together with friends and family of Peace Corps Volunteer Caroline Mackenzie.
We encourage others to continue to donate using the Donate button below, and we will notify Caroline of your donation. Additional funds will be used to fund the next project by Caroline and/or those of other PCVs in the country of service.
This project has been finished. To read about the conclusion of the project, CLICK HERE.