Kryvyi Rih has one of the most developed programs in Ukraine to support and adapt war veterans to civilian life. An important component of the citywide strategy is the Free Waves project, which is being implemented in close cooperation between Metinvest Group and the City Defense Council.
The rehabilitation program of the Free Waves project, developed by one of the best swimmers in Ukraine Denys Sylantiev, includes a whole range of measures to restore the health of veterans, especially those who have been seriously injured.
"The city has made available communal swimming pools of Youth Sports School No. 7, 10 and 11 for training sessions, which are held by professional trainers free of charge for war veterans. Here, soldiers can receive both health and psychological support. This program should continue," said Serhii MILIUTIN, deputy mayor of Kryvyi Rih.
Being a socially responsible business, Metinvest's enterprises provide comprehensive and effective assistance to their employees. In particular, the company implements projects aimed at assisting in the readaptation of defenders who return to civilian life and production. The swimming recovery initiative, among other things, contributes to improving the health of veterans, it is popular and is increasingly uniting more and more people.
"We hope that the improvement in the health of our veterans will encourage other demobilized soldiers to join this project and this will generally improve their quality of life, strengthen their body and soul. Our mobilized employees and war veterans were and remain part of the GOK teams. We supported them during the mobilization to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, while serving in the ranks of defenders, and we must do it now, after their return from the front to the rear city," said Oleksandr SHULIKA, head of human resources of Metinvest’s integrated GOK.
The Free Waves project involves the use of unique rehabilitation and adaptation techniques. Its initiators note that to achieve the result, participants need to undergo at least a minimum course of recovery by swimming. It consists of 16 sessions. Qualified coaches use an individual approach to each veteran.
"Free Waves project is such a very powerful tool for all people, including wounded or injured, because the spine and joints are very well relieved in the water and a person can perform those exercises that are difficult to do on land. There are also guys who have lung disorders, this also helps. And it can also be noted that water has a positive effect on the nervous system," said swimming coach Oksana PETRICHENKO.
Ivan Firsov was mobilized into the Armed Forces of Ukraine at the beginning of the full-scale war. In 23, he received a serious wound to his hand and was invalided out of the army. Now he has returned to work at Metinvest's GOK, and in his free time he is engaged in swimming and already sees positive dynamics from swimming.
"There are results not only for the arm, but also throughout the body. This is a very good unloading, exercises are effective. A good initiative for veterans," says Ivan FIRSOV.
Sergii Pavlov works as a car driver at the same enterprise as Ivan. He has been going to the pool since the very beginning of the project. He believes that for veterans, systematic swimming is an important part of rehabilitation.
"A veteran who was seriously wounded or has no limb, he lived his life before the war and everything was fine with him, and now he has to adapt and live with his physical disabilities. On a mental level, it's very difficult, especially knowing from yourself that you did something before the war, and now you can't do it. And swimming helps to restore body functions," war veteran Serhiy PAVLOV shares his thoughts.
The Free Waves project in Kryvyi Rih is coordinated by NGO "Kryvyi Rih Foundation for the Future". Its head, Olena Leshchenko, said that to participate in the project, those interested must have a document confirming the status of war veteran, a military service card, a certificate of service in a military unit or a status of disabled war veteran. You also need a decision of the Military Medical Commission with a list of diseases, a certificate from a family doctor stating that a person can visit the pool and an identity document and registration of the place of residence in Kryvyi Rih.
