We continue to provide new bicycles to social protection institutions. These allow social workers in villages and small towns to quickly reach lonely people with limited mobility and provide them with the support they need, as well as deliver humanitarian aid and medicines.
Last week, we handed over four electric tricycles to the Territorial Center for Social Services (provision of social services) of the Semenivka City Council in Chernihivska Oblast.
Iryna Kulyk, the regional coordinator of the project in Chernihivska Oblast, told more about the work of social workers in the Semenivska community, “The Semenivska community borders Russia and constantly suffers from shelling. However, the workers of the Territorial Center continue their work even under such challenging conditions. They provide services to local residents affected by the war with the Russian Federation and to internally displaced persons from border villages.
Social workers travel significant distances to reach their clients, as there is currently no public transportation in Semenivka. According to the workers, they travel at least 10 km a day, sometimes up to 25–30 km. Therefore, electric bicycles with high load capacity will be very helpful to them.”
Borys Fediuk, Director of the Territorial Center, added, “Bicycles are indispensable for our work in both summer and winter. However, the ones we have are quite worn out and not fully adapted to the needs of social workers. They lack baskets (we have to attach some ourselves) and often don’t even have a small rack. Social workers have to carry groceries for their clients, hanging them on the handlebars or placing them in a backpack. On average, they transport up to 20 kg of products at a time and frequently deliver humanitarian aid packages ranging from 15 to 40 kg.
From the CO CF Stabilization Support Services, we received electric tricycles with large and small baskets, which ease the burden on the workers, allowing them not to strain their backs with heavy bags and backpacks. The large basket is quite spacious and lockable. We are very grateful for this support.”
We purchase and provide bicycles to social workers as part of the Supporting the Capacity of the Social Protection System to Register Internally Displaced Persons project, funded by the United Nations Refugee Agency in Ukraine.
