Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, the KOLO Charity Foundation, and Beredskapslyftet Launch the International Project “Occupational Therapy Without Borders” in Ukraine
Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, in cooperation with the KOLO Charity Foundation and the Swedish non-profit organization Beredskapslyftet, are launching the international grant project “Occupational Therapy Without Borders: Swedish-Ukrainian Professional Exchange for the Sustainable Development of Rehabilitation in Ukraine.” The project aims to strengthen Ukraine’s rehabilitation system through knowledge exchange with Swedish partners and the professional training of Ukrainian occupational therapists.
The project is funded by the Swedish Institute, which has allocated approximately SEK 2 million for its implementation.
“The Swedish Institute is a government agency that supports cooperation between Swedish and Ukrainian organizations and individuals. Through local projects and educational initiatives, we contribute to the reconstruction of Ukraine and its closer integration with the EU, while also strengthening the resilience of both Ukraine and Sweden,” says Madeleine Sjöstedt, Director-General of the Swedish Institute.
The “Occupational Therapy Without Borders” project brings together Ukrainian and Swedish representatives from the education, healthcare, and civil society sectors to collaboratively develop the occupational therapy system in line with European approaches. The project focuses on creating modern educational solutions for specialist training, adapting international practices to the Ukrainian context, and fostering a professional environment for the development of occupational therapy as an essential component of rehabilitation.
Today, the issue of rehabilitation in Ukraine has become especially urgent due to the consequences of the full-scale war. A large number of military personnel and civilians require long-term recovery and support in order to return to everyday life, employment, and social activity. Occupational therapy specifically helps individuals regain independent living skills after trauma, injuries, or loss of functionality.
At the same time, the field of occupational therapy in Ukraine is still emerging. The country requires modern educational programs, adapted clinical tools, and specialist training in accordance with international standards. The “Occupational Therapy Without Borders” project is designed to address these challenges.
Within the framework of the initiative, the partners plan to:
adapt international occupational therapy clinical tools for use in Ukraine;
develop new educational modules and professional development programs for specialists;
conduct international trainings, workshops, and professional exchange activities;
establish cooperation between universities, healthcare institutions, professional associations, and governmental bodies;
contribute to the development of occupational therapy education standards in Ukraine.
A separate area of work will involve the translation and adaptation into Ukrainian of the international MOHOST assessment tool, which is used to evaluate a person’s participation in daily activities during rehabilitation.
Olena Kryvenko, Chair of the Board of the KOLO Charity Foundation, emphasizes that participation in the project is a natural continuation of the Foundation’s long-standing work in charitable medical initiatives and rehabilitation support in Ukraine:
“Today, Ukraine needs not only modern equipment or treatment, but also the systematic development of rehabilitation and specialists who will help people return to полноценне життя after trauma and injuries. For the KOLO Charity Foundation, medical projects have always been one of our key areas of activity. That is why we consciously joined the development of occupational therapy in Ukraine as a field that will be critically important for the country in the coming years.”
Ihor Khudetskyi, Acting Head of the Department of Biosafety and Human Health at Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, highlights the importance of international cooperation for the development of Ukraine’s rehabilitation education system:
“For KPI, participation in the ‘Occupational Therapy Without Borders’ project is an opportunity to work on implementing modern European standards for occupational therapist training in Ukraine. In the context of war, the issue of high-quality rehabilitation specialist training has become extremely important. Therefore, international exchange of experience and joint work with Swedish partners are essential for the development of this field in Ukrainian education and healthcare.”
At the initial stage of the project, the Ukrainian delegation visited Stockholm to study the experience of leading Swedish institutions in the fields of rehabilitation and occupational therapy, including Aleris Rehab Station, the Independent Living Institute, Danderyd Hospital, Stockholm Sjukhem, the Swedish Association of Occupational Therapists, Karolinska Institute, and Sophiahemmet Hospital.
The “Occupational Therapy Without Borders” project will continue until June 2027 and will include educational, scientific, and practical components. Its implementation is expected to become an important step toward the development of a modern occupational therapy system in Ukraine, strengthening international cooperation, and introducing patient-centered approaches in the field of rehabilitation.
For additional information, please contact:
Hanna Hessling
hanna.hessling@si.se
Anhelina Vaskovska
anhelina.vaskovska@beredskapslyftet.se
Olena Kryvenko
olena.kryvenko@kolo.fund
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