Initiative "Inclusive center for healthy lifestyle promotion" proposed and implemented by the Brest Regional Youth Public Association "The disabled person and the environment" – winner of the II competition of initiatives “Be Healthy!”, aimed at promoting a healthy lifestyle and preventing non-communicable diseases at the local level, which was conducted by UNDP as part of the BELMED project in the Brest and Gomel regions in 2017.
Chairman of the non-profit organization “Disabled and Environment” Ivan Shmyga introduced the seminar participants to the possibilities of the sports playground, noting that the Inclusive Center for Promoting a Healthy Lifestyle was created with the aim of attracting residents of the Brest region of all ages with different physical abilities, including people with physical disabilities, to sports activities.
Let us remind you: on the street. Moshenskogo, 66, there are 12 outdoor exercise equipment, vandal-proof tables for playing tennis, a volleyball court, darts and boccia courts (a sport for people with serious musculoskeletal disorders), showdown (tennis for the visually impaired), as well as carousels, swings, manholes and other equipment.
A large information stand informs visitors about the basic principles of a healthy lifestyle, and that's not all. New interesting projects require making their own adjustments. In the near future, on the territory of the Inclusive Center (it was provided by the Seventh-day Adventist Church for permanent lease free of charge) - the installation of a stationary toilet for people with disabilities.
Soon the Inclusive Center is going to train a group of people who want to use outdoor exercise equipment correctly, so they are currently looking for a trainer who would agree to do the work of an instructor as a volunteer. A team of boccia players is also being recruited. There are no age restrictions here! In November, the championship of the Republic of Belarus in this Paralympic sport will be held in Brest, and the training of participants from our region will be carried out on the basis of the Inclusive Center!
Also in the near future, we will form a group to teach the games “Showdown” and “Novus” (sea billiards). In addition, young disabled people will be taught how to ride a road bike and tandem. By the way, the Brest cycling club of three ages “Radeya” invites young people with physical disabilities, if possible, to join weekend bike rides (start on Sundays at 10.00 from the monument to the 1000th anniversary of Brest).
The seminar participants proposed organizing a Nordic walking group, and this idea was unanimously approved.
Information about all kits will be posted on the information stand at the entrance to the Inclusive Center (phone for inquiries: (033) 390 14 14).
“By presenting the experience of creating and operating our center for dissemination in the regions of the Brest region, we want to join forces to involve children, youth and people with disabilities in a healthy lifestyle,” says Ivan Shmyga, chairman of the non-profit organization “Invalid and Environment”.
Among the main tasks are the disclosure of the creative potential of this category of the population, their patriotic, spiritual and moral education, the organization of leisure, integration into society, the prevention of illegal behavior and the acquisition of bad habits. Therefore, we plan sports, tourism, and various educational events. For example, together with the traffic police of the Brest region we hope to train people with disabilities to safely move around the city using modern means of transportation - an electric wheelchair, a scooter, a tricycle. As a result, these guys will overcome fear, increase social activity and level of knowledge of traffic rules. And for graduates of the auxiliary school in Brest, young disabled people, we will conduct training seminars and master classes with the involvement of specialists from various professions, so that people with disabilities see their relevance for work and equal opportunities for life in society.
Ivan Vasilyevich also noted the importance of working with people with disabilities to get rid of inferiority complexes, “false embarrassment” and “four walls”. Specialists of the Inclusive Center will help them overcome the psychological barrier in common areas and acquire sanitary and hygienic skills.
In the age of computerization, in addition to the usual adaptation methods in Belarus, we intend to focus on using the capabilities of virtual computer vision through a plasma screen with 5D attachments with the development and use of programs for recreating movement around the city in wheelchairs, scooters, and bicycles that are close to reality. We intend to use such programs to recreate real life situations to provide primary medical care, adequate behavior in case of fire and other emergency situations (electric shock, flood, gas leak), said Ivan Shmyga.
Having felt himself in such a situation several times, in case of real danger, the child or disabled person will no longer be confused and will be able to escape. After all, this is the most vulnerable category of the population! According to statistics, people with physical disabilities, for example, die most often in fires.
The Brest Regional Public Association “Volunteer Firefighters” has already promised its assistance in teaching safe behavior in case of fire to the Inclusive Center.