UK programme assistance to 2019-2020

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Ukraine remains a significant priority with strategic importance for the long-term security, stability and prosperity of the European continent and for UK interests. Our support to Ukraine increased following the crisis in 2014, which saw Ukrainians demand reform and an end to corruption during the "Revolution of Dignity". This was followed by Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea and instigation of the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine.

In 2019-2020, our assistance package builds on previous years' support to help Ukraine create an accountable and prosperous state, with a government able to make essential reforms, building its resilience to external aggression and destabilisation and supported by a united international community. Our support includes a range of conflict management, peace-building and recovery programmes, alongside support to Ukraine's reform and anti-corruption agendas, and provision of essential humanitarian aid to those most in need.

We have a flexible set of tools and approaches to deliver, including: institution building, embedded advisers, niche technical assistance projects, use of UK expertise, working through non-government organisations (NGOs), multilaterals and international financial institutions (IFIs) and large-scale, long-term programmes, combined with policy engagement at all levels. We aim to make catalytic interventions in close cooperation with Ukraine and other international partners.

Our assistance comes from the following funds:

  • the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF)
  • the Good Governance Fund (GGF)
  • the FCO's International Programme
  • DFID's Humanitarian Fund
  • and British Council funding.

Our assistance package in 2019/20 totals over £37m and is broken down as follows:

  • CSSF £17.5m
  • GGF at least £9.2m
  • International Programme £250k
  • DFID Humanitarian at least £5m
  • British Council £1.1m.

In addition, we are providing up to £4 million this year for developing independent media and countering the effects of disinformation.

The UK's package of support to Ukraine in 2019-2020 includes the following projects*, covering these specific thematic areas:

  • Governance and reform
  • Anti-corruption
  • Accountability and communication
  • Conflict, stability and security
  • Humanitarian
  • Human rights / International Programme
  • Education and culture

*Additional projects may be added during the financial year.

Governance and reform

Ukraine's successful reform and adherence to good governance is in the UK's national interest as well as Ukraine's. That is why the UK is supporting Ukraine's efforts to build an accountable and prosperous state, with reformed government structures that improve the quality of services to citizens and businesses. A reformed and improved system of government in Ukraine will contribute to the long-term security, stability and prosperity of the European continent.

Amplifying the voices of citizens in policy making through public consultation

This project helps to increase direct communication between government and citizens through developing and rolling out a model for national public consultation that can be replicated and sustained. In the long term, more effective public consultation has the potential to transform the relationship between government and society in Ukraine by empowering citizens to contribute to policy development in a more structured way, and by encouraging a sense of shared responsibility, engagement and partnership. The project builds on work to develop a draft law on Public Consultation.

Establishment and operation of a specialized intellectual property court in Ukraine

Ukraine's potential for innovation and creativity is significant. Nevertheless, intellectual property (IP) rights need to be enforced in order for innovation to yield positive results. Therefore, this project supports the establishment of a well-functioning IP Court for Ukraine to help ensure effective management and enforcement of intellectual property rights, improving the investment climate for key growth and social sectors. It is being implemented in parallel with a complementary GGF project to reform the state management of intellectual property rights.

The ELECT project helps combat political corruption, strengthen Ukraine's election administration, and inform civic engagement, including of vulnerable and minority groups. Since 2014, Ukraine has made significant progress towards meaningful electoral and political reforms. Yet continued support is necessary. The ELECT project aims to buttress the country's electoral processes and yield an effective, transparent, and participatory environment for Ukraine's elections in 2019 and beyond.

Support to SME development in agri-food value chains

This project helps small and medium-sized enterprises and financial intermediaries develop the skills and knowledge they need to identify, design and assess investment opportunities, including unlocking the EIB's loan financing. This will help improve the productivity and efficiency of the agrarian food value chain in target countries. This assistance is being delivered through the EIB's Eastern Partnership Technical Assistance Trust Fund.

Promoting women's political participation

This project helps to enhance women's political participation and raise the visibility of female leaders while also increasing public awareness of gender inequality and gender stereotypes. Women who want to become politicians will benefit from leadership and campaign skills courses, delivered by specifically trained trainers.

Support to Business Ombudsman Institution

GGF funding is provided via EBRD's Ukraine Stabilisation and Sustainable Growth Multi-Donor Account (MDA), which addresses the country's urgent needs for the design and implementation of policy reforms and institutional capacity building. EBRD's MDA has supported the Business Ombudsman Institution (BOI) from its foundation. The BOI helps address corruption and unfair business practices by providing timely assistance in resolving complaints of mistreatment of businesses. Since its launch, it has successfully closed more than 3,500 investigations, and had a direct financial impact of more than EUR 640 million.

Promoting inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people in Ukraine

This project works to advance equality in Ukraine by helping to increase the diversity and inclusiveness of Ukrainian society. It supports LGBTI communities through Ukrainian civil society organizations (CSOs) by conducting public information activities in three oblasts: Inshar (Kherson), Sphere (Kharkiv), and Gender Z (Zaporizhzhia); and by training activists and conducting research on attitudes towards LGBTI people. This is complemented by a twin project funded by SIDA that covers Lviv, Odesa and Kyiv.

Health reform support programme in Ukraine

  • Implementing organisation: Deloitte
  • Duration: September 2018 - March 2021
  • Fund: GGF

This project provides comprehensive and flexible support to the central components of Ukraine's healthcare reforms. It is supporting the Ministry of Health and health reform bodies to improve health sector governance, implement new health care financing, strengthen the health sector workforce, and enhance transparency and accountability. The project is co-funded with USAID.

English language for civil servants

This ongoing project builds the capacity of government institutions involved in implementation of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement and wider reform processes, by providing English language training to senior civil servants, ministers and other key public figures. The project will enable the officials to communicate in English and thus to represent Ukraine more effectively on the international stage as well as accessing international advice and best practice.

Customs scoping

  • Implementing organisation: Crown Agents
  • Duration: June 2019 - August 2019
  • Fund: GGF

This project will carry out a six-week scoping study, at the request of the Office of the President of Ukraine, to assess current issues in customs administration and the potential for support to long-term reform.

Managed Fund - governance and economic reform projects

  • Implementing organisation: PwC Ukraine
  • Duration: until March 2020
  • Fund: GGF

The Managed Fund is a flexible and responsive mechanism to provide technical assistance to the Ukrainian Government for reform priorities. The Managed Fund in 2019-2020 includes:

  • support to the National Anti-corruption Bureau of Ukraine with implementation of human resource management strategy
  • support for improvements to the business environment including tax, intellectual property and innovation sectors measures to spur growth of exports, including support to Export Promotion Office
  • building national capacity to support small and medium enterprises' export compliance with EU product safety regulations under the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement.

Anti-corruption

Ukraine currently faces two battles. One is with the Kremlin, which has violated Ukraine's territorial integrity and seeks to destabilise the country. The second battle is against corruption that drains the public purse and erodes public trust. An open, transparent and accountable Ukraine is in the UK's interests and those of our European allies. That is why the UK supports Ukraine's efforts to eradicate corruption, including through enabling better public procurement, availability of Open Data and provision of e-Services.

Transparency and accountability in public administration and services (TAPAS)

  • Implementing organisation: Eurasia Foundation TAPAS
  • Duration: December 2017 - March 2021
  • Fund: GGF

This project supports Ukrainian citizens and the Ukrainian government in reducing or eliminating corruption in key public administration services through greater use of Open Data, development of transparent public procurement (e-Procurement), and design and implementation of e-Services. This project is co-funded with USAID.

Support to National Anti-corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) with implementation of human resource management strategy

  • Implementing organisation: PwC Ukraine
  • Duration: April 2018 - September 2019
  • Fund: GGF

This project supports the NABU with implementing human resource management (HRM) practices. The project focuses on embedding key modern HRM practices into the organisation's day-to-day work, engaging line managers in strategic people management and further enhancing of internal capacity of NABU personnel on HRM matters.

Support to anti-corruption laws and institutions

  • Implementing organisation: World Bank
  • Duration: September 2017 - December 2019
  • Fund: GGF

This project provides technical assistance to Ukrainian anti-corruption institutions, including the NABU, and enhances effective use of asset declarations in support of anti-corruption efforts. The project continues to support NGO and media monitoring of asset declarations and conflicts of interest. The project also has flexibility to respond to anti-corruption opportunities as they arise, including in implementation of the High Anti-Corruption Court for Ukraine.

Accountability and communication

Ukraine's media and information space is doubly distorted due to oligarchic control of the main channels and a steady supply of disinformation originating from Russia. Our accountability and communication project portfolio focuses on countering the destabilising effects of disinformation; ensuring the Government of Ukraine is better equipped to effectively communicate its reform agenda; building the capacity of independent media outlets in Ukraine to hold power accountable and enable more informed and active citizens.

Learn to Discern - media literacy and critical thinking for secondary schools

  • Implementing organisation: IREX
  • Duration: April 2019 - March 2021
  • Fund: GGF

This project continues from a joint UK and US Embassy-funded Learn to Discern pilot project, which concluded successfully in January 2019. At its next stage, it aims to train and build the capacity of pre- and in-service teacher training institutes to incorporate media literacy learning in the Ukrainian school curriculum. This way it is enabling Ukrainian youth to better discern fact from fiction in the media and social media space and to make informed decisions as to which information they consume, share and produce.

Capacity building support for Ukraine's Public Broadcaster

  • Implementing organisation: BBC Media Action
  • Duration: October 2017 - September 2020
  • Fund: GGF

This project helps to improve the effectiveness of Ukraine's Public Broadcasting Corporation (UA:PBC), including its delivery of a digital multiplatform Newsroom. This will help UA:PBC fulfil its reform agenda and create a permanent basis for publically owned quality, objective, and unbiased news content in Ukraine.

Ukrainian government strategic communication capacity building

  • Implementing organisation: FCO
  • Duration: August 2018 - March 2021
  • Fund: CSSF

This work includes expert support to help build the strategic communication capability of the Ukrainian government, including via a UK advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The focus of this work is on planning, coordination and evaluation of communication outputs, countering the effects of Russian disinformation and improving Ukraine's international communication efforts.

Developing independent media in Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries

This new three-year media development programme will support independent media outlets across the EaP to help build their capacity to deliver quality, unbiased information and to develop their sustainability and enhance outreach to target audiences. The majority of funding for this programme will be allocated for independent Ukrainian outlets.

Conflict, stability and security

The east of Ukraine is suffering from a conflict manufactured by Russia, which has resulted in the deaths of over 13,000 people, over 1.5m people being displaced from their homes and roughly 8% of Ukraine's territory being controlled by Russian-backed separatists and the Kremlin. The UK is a key partner of Ukraine, committed to supporting the Ukrainian government and its people during this ongoing conflict in the east. We are helping Ukraine to defend itself, and we are funding a range of conflict management and peace-building projects to help the most vulnerable people affected by the conflict.

Humanitarian demining in Ukraine

  • Implementing organisation: The HALO Trust
  • Duration: September 2016 - March 2020
  • Fund: CSSF

The UK continues to fund humanitarian demining and mine risk education in parts of eastern Ukraine affected by the conflict. Demining helps save people's lives by clearing land from mines, explosive devises and other remnants of war. Cleared land is released back to local communities, supporting their socio-economic recovery.

Support to Ukraine's defence reform agenda

The UK's Special Defence Advisor and team provide high-level bilateral advice to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence, the General Staff and the National Security and Defence Council on reform and good governance in the defence and security sector. The team work closely with international stakeholders, including NATO, Transparency International and the UK Defence Academy, to support reforms in areas such as defence planning, procurement, logistics, crisis management and anti-corruption. Funding also continues UK support to multi-national (NATO) efforts in Ukraine.

The Mission monitors human rights throughout Ukraine and provides recommendations to the Ukrainian government and other actors on how to address human rights concerns. It has offices in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Kramatorsk, Mariupol and Odesa as well as in Donetsk and Luhansk (which are currently outside the government's control). It also monitors remotely, reports and advocates on human rights situation in Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.

UK contribution to OSCE Special Monitoring Mission

The UK supports the OSCE SMM, which is present around the clock in all regions of Ukraine. Its main tasks are to observe and report in an impartial and objective way on the situation in Ukraine and to facilitate dialogue among all sides to the conflict. The SMM is the first of its kind to carry out such a forward-leaning mission in a fully active conflict zone. The UK is currently the second largest contributor with over 60 British staff on the Mission.

Operation ORBITAL - military capacity building

Operation ORBITAL was launched in February 2015 in response to a request from the Ukrainian government to provide guidance and training to the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF). Our training is defensive in nature, conducted away from the conflict in the east and focuses on skills for which the Ukrainians have sought our assistance. These include medical, logistics, operational planning and general infantry skills.

Integrated response to end gender-based violence against vulnerable women and adolescent girls in Ukraine

UNFPA and its national implementing partners work in close cooperation with government to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls. This work includes legislative advocacy and education campaigns, training of mobile psychosocial support teams and specialist police officers directly helping survivors of domestic violence, operation of women's shelters and a national hotline providing referral services. For details of project activities funded by DFID, please see the Humanitarian section below.

Mine action sub-cluster coordinator

  • Implementing organisation: UNDP
  • Duration: June 2019 - March 2020
  • Fund: CSSF

This work includes expert support to ensure coordination of mine action activities aimed at reducing and eliminating the threats posed by the use and presence of explosive hazards to civilians and humanitarian workers. By supporting effective coordination between national and international partners the risk of duplication of effort on humanitarian mine action will be reduced.

Countering conflict in Ukraine through dialogue and facilitated engagement

  • Implementing organisation: HD Centre
  • Duration: April 2017 - March 2020
  • Fund: CSSF

HD has been working in Ukraine since December 2013 and has established a number of dialogue initiatives aimed at introducing comparative international expertise and creative ideas into the official dialogue process, and preventing further polarisation between the conflict parties and their respective constituencies. HD's activities seek to build understanding and reduce tensions by facilitating dialogue in search of a political solution to end the conflict and ongoing related concerns, such as the ecological threat.

Social cohesion and resilience through schools

  • Implementing organisation: British Council
  • Duration: June 2019 - March 2020
  • Fund: CSSF

The British Council is working to enhance the ability of schools in Transcarpathia and in government-controlled areas of the Donbas to provide effective and relevant education to young people. The British Council's activities seek to develop young people's ability, enthusiasm and opportunities for social action, to contribute to greater social cohesion and resilience and to counter youth disengagement in communities affected by or at risk of conflict in Ukraine.

Working with regional and local authorities to improve access to services for conflict-affected communities

This project aims to deliver increased and equal access to social protection for conflict-affected communities in Ukraine. The project works to ensure these communities (in particular IDPs, children, veterans and their families) have equal access to carefully tailored social and public services by mainstreaming conflict, gender-sensitive and needs-based approaches on the regional level.

All4One: comprehensive psychological support and employability mentorship programme for veterans

The project aims to improve well-being and integration of Ukrainian veterans and their families into society through the provision of a suicide-prevention hotline and increased psychological and employability support. This includes the support hotline, skills development, peer-to-peer coaching and mentorship, enhanced employability support and comprehensive education, information and advocacy campaigns.

Support to the Ministry for the Temporarily Occupied Territories and IDPs (MTOT) for conflict management, peacebuilding and national reconciliation

The project supports MTOT in relation to peacebuilding, conflict resolution, humanitarian assistance and the transition to socio-economic recovery in the east of Ukraine. Support includes assistance for the development of legislation, policies and practices in accordance with international standards; establishment of a Master's programme in Conflict Management; and peace-building and social cohesion activities in the east of Ukraine as part of the implementation of the State Programme on Renovation and Peacebuilding.

National Crime Agency and Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, coordinated training support to Ukraine's law enforcement bodies

  • Implementing organisations: NCA, HMRC
  • Duration: April 2019- March 2020
  • Fund: CSSF

These projects provide support to Ukraine's law-enforcement agencies by strengthening their investigative and operational capacity for fighting corruption, economic crime, bribery, cyber-enabled crimes, child sexual abuse and exploitation, cross border serious and organised crime. The focus is on thematic training and access to best international practices with a particular emphasis on the UK experience.

Humanitarian

The ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine continues to have a devastating effect on millions of people living on both sides of the line of contact. Since 2014, at least 13,000 people have been killed, including 3,300 civilians, and 30,000 injured with figures increasing daily. There are an estimated 3.4 million people affected by the conflict requiring humanitarian and early recovery assistance. DFID funding is helping to meet emergency requirements, improve living conditions and reduce vulnerabilities for conflict-affected communities in non-government-controlled areas and among internally displaced persons and host communities in government-controlled areas of Ukraine. It is also enabling communities to access essential goods and services including food, water and shelter, as well as psychosocial support to survivors of sexual and gender-based violence and those affected by the trauma of conflict.

Multi-year response to humanitarian and early recovery needs in conflict-affected areas of eastern Ukraine - ICRC

ICRC interventions cover crucial sectors including the rehabilitation of water, sanitation and health infrastructure, the provision of medical materials, emergency food, cash assistance and household supplies for people most affected by conflict as well as visits to places of detention, tracing of those missing and the reunification of families separated by war. As guardians of the Geneva Conventions, the ICRC also undertakes dissemination of International Humanitarian Law to all parties of the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

Multi-year response to humanitarian and early recovery needs in conflict-affected areas of eastern Ukraine - DRC

  • Implementing organisation: Danish Refugee Council (DRC)
  • Duration: June 2019 - March 2019
  • Fund: DFID humanitarian

DFID funding for DRC focuses on its work in the livelihoods sector in government-controlled areas of eastern Ukraine. DRC provides grants and training to individuals affected by conflict so they can start micro or small businesses to have basic, self-sustainable incomes and lessen reliance on government and international support. DRC also provides legal assistance to its beneficiaries and the broader population displaced by the conflict.

Multi-year response to humanitarian and early recovery needs in conflict-affected areas of eastern Ukraine - PIN

  • Implementing organisation: People in Need (PIN)
  • Duration: June 2019 - March 2020
  • Fund: DFID humanitarian

PIN is operational in non-government controlled Luhansk and in government-controlled areas of the Donbas. It conducts emergency and longer-term water and sanitation and housing repairs, provides training and grants for conflict-affected people so they can establish small businesses, rehabilitates community centres and conducts programmes to provide psychosocial support for children.

Multi-year response to humanitarian and early recovery needs in conflict-affected areas of eastern Ukraine - UNFPA

UNFPA and its national implementing partners work in close cooperation with government authorities to conduct activities preventing and responding to sexual and gender-based violence against women and girls. Through legislative advocacy and education campaigns, mobile psychosocial support teams providing direct support to survivors of domestic violence, operation of shelters and a national hotline for referral services. UNFPA has increased awareness and improved the response to sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in Ukraine beginning in the conflict-affected eastern part of the country but gradually becoming entrenched nationwide.

Human rights / international programme

International programme in Ukraine

  • Duration: April 2019 - March 2020

The UK supports human rights globally not just because it is the right thing to do, but because a safer, more prosperous world is in the UK's national interest. In Ukraine, we support human rights through the International Programme, including projects aimed at increasing equality and promoting tolerance, in particular for the LGBT community and for people with disabilities, and strengthening human rights monitoring in the illegally annexed Crimea. The International Programme in Ukraine this year also supports raising awareness of NATO in Ukraine and increasing the level of debate on peace and security issues.

Education and culture

The cultural sector in Ukraine has seen huge growth in its vitality and activity since the 2014 "Revolution of Dignity", yet its potential remains largely untapped with limited access for creative businesses to public funds, private investment and international networks. Ukraine's education system is also undergoing changes, including reforms to tackle corruption in schools, boost academic integrity, and increase teacher development and university autonomy. The UK is funding, via the British Council, cultural and educational projects to help address these issues. The British Council utilises the UK's experience and resources to bring about constructive collaboration, capacity building and increasing public support and understanding in the cultural and educational sectors.

New Ukrainian School

  • Implementing organisation: British Council in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and Cambridge English
  • Duration: April 2017 - March 2020
  • Fund: British Council

The British Council is actively supporting the Ukrainian government's flagship New Ukrainian School reform initiative. This includes training English teachers from 100 pilot schools as cascade teacher trainers and "change agents" to ensure that 17,000 English teachers across the whole country are prepared to implement the reforms in grades 1-4. It also includes promoting a new professional development framework for teachers to be used as the basis for teacher attestation and certification. As a new element this financial year, the British Council's Core Skills teacher development course will be embedded in the national in-service teacher training institutes' curriculum. 75 methodologists will be trained and validated to deliver Core Skills training to teachers at refresher courses in every oblast in Ukraine.

Future English

  • Implementing organisation: British Council in seven countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan)
  • Duration: April 2019 to March 2022
  • Fund: British Council

The overall aim of this project is to address the reported and perceived problem of low levels of English skills amongst school-leavers who are entering work or tertiary education across the participating countries. The project will carry out research to generate reliable and valid data to identify and inform interventions and to support the professional development of English teachers to enable them to meet the needs of their learners. The research will analyse the English language levels and skills of 16-year old students and their motivations, aspirations and learning preferences, the classroom practices and attitudes of their English teachers and how this is affected by national English language policy and processes in the education systems of the participating countries.

Ukraine higher education teaching excellence

  • Implementing organisation: British Council, in partnership with Advance HE (UK) and the Institute of Higher Education of the National Academy of Educational Sciences of Ukraine
  • Duration: April 2019 - March 2022
  • Fund: British Council

This project will assist reform in Ukraine's higher education sector through the development and delivery of a national capacity-building programme in university teaching excellence, specifically through the sharing of UK institutional experience. A national cohort of trained specialists will support the development of quality teaching skills amongst university staff and will help improve student and staff experience by incorporating the principles of teaching excellence.

Active Citizens Ukraine

  • Implementing organisation: British Council in partnership with 80 NGOs, youth organisations and universities across Ukraine
  • Duration: November 2014 - March 2020
  • Fund: British Council

The Active Citizens project facilitates social change by training and enabling individuals and groups to engage with and influence their communities. It works with young people across Ukraine, including those affected by the conflict in the east, to develop behaviours and skills that promote intercultural dialogue and sustainability. Fifty thousand active citizens have been trained since 2014, delivering between them more than 1,000 social action projects across Ukraine.

Creative spark

  • Implementing organisation: British Council
  • Duration: April 2018 - March 2023
  • Fund: British Council

Creative Spark is a five-year initiative to support international university (and other institutional) partnerships with the UK to develop enterprise skills and to strengthen the creative economy across seven countries (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia and Ukraine). Since the start of the programme in 2018-2019, 12 universities and organisations in Ukraine have been awarded Creative Speak partnerships with the UK, now joined by three more institutions in 2019-2020.

Creative enterprise Ukraine

  • Implementing organisation: British Council
  • Duration: September 2015 - March 2022
  • Fund: British Council

The project is part of a global business skills development programme for emerging creative entrepreneurs, developed by the UK innovations agency Nesta and the British Council. Since 2015, more than 500 emerging creative entrepreneurs from all over Ukraine have benefitted from the programme. Training has been held in nine cities (Kyiv, Lviv, Kharkiv, Odesa, Dnipro, Poltava, Rivne, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Zhytomyr), hosted in creative hubs or organisations supporting local creative industries. The programme's alumni are now forming active networks.

Artist development (SWAP, Envision Sound, Selector PRO, Publishing Fellowship, Taking the Stage)

  • Implementing organisation: British Council
  • Duration: April 2015 - March 2020
  • Fund: British Council

Our Ukrainian arts programme focuses on brokering and supporting new relationships between British and Ukrainian cultural players in ways that increase local capacity, develop new audiences for UK cultural products and services in Ukraine, and help internationalise the best of Ukrainian culture in the UK. The programme works across a broad range of arts sectors including music, film, publishing, theatre and the visual arts.

Unlimited: making the right moves

  • Implementing organisation: British Council
  • Duration: April 2015 - March 2020
  • Fund: British Council

The Unlimited project aims to support the development of the disability arts sector in the South Caucasus and in Ukraine. The project arises from a common-sense idea that there are no limits for those who dream big, regardless of ones background or physical ability. It incorporates workshops, educational forums and live performances featuring disabled and able-bodied performers working together. Since its inception in 2015, the project has had a significant effect on the arts and theatre scene and on the lives of the disabled people living in the region, and has led to public perception and policy changes.

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