Residents of the Lviv Regional Council Municipal Institution “Rozdil Children’s Residential Home” brought a basket of vegetables, berries and herbs they had grown themselves to the Lviv Regional State Administration. The boys gathered the entire harvest in a greenhouse that appeared at the institution last year thanks to benefactors.
The greenhouse already supplies the home with fresh cucumbers, tomatoes, courgettes, zucchini, aubergines, peppers, various herbs, onions and garlic. Some of the harvest has been preserved for the winter – the residents have pickled several barrels of cucumbers and tomatoes.
The boys work in the greenhouse together with their supervisor. For residents who use wheelchairs, inclusive raised beds have been installed so that everyone can take part in the work. The institution stresses that in this way they are creating conditions for acquiring new skills, teamwork and maximum independence for the residents, which is in line with deinstitutionalisation approaches.
At the same time, reconstruction of the kitchen unit is under way at the Rozdil residential home. Once it has been upgraded, they plan to hold cookery workshops for the residents, and some of them will be able to try their hand at a future profession.
The next stage in developing the initiative is to install another greenhouse and launch the “Teplychka Green House” brand, under which they plan to sell the produce they grow. This will give the institution additional opportunities for development and broaden the boys’ practical experience.
The report also expresses gratitude to the chair of the board of trustees of the Rozdil residential home, Oleksandra Yanovych, the institution’s team and benefactors for supporting the project and helping the residents to realise their potential.