“Beware of Children!” installations with silhouettes of children with disabilities have appeared in Lviv to draw attention to their visibility in society.
As part of UNICEF’s nationwide campaign “Children as Children”, symbolic signs with children with disabilities were installed in public spaces in Lviv. These installations were placed near the Dovzhenko Centre and the main railway station as a reminder that disability does not make children “invisible”. They are not noticed not because they are not there, but because of social indifference. As UNICEF emphasises, the images include elements that symbolise an active life, such as playing football or drawing.
The campaign aims to change stereotypical perceptions and highlight the uniqueness of every child, regardless of their physical characteristics. “We, Ukrainians, need to understand that children with disabilities are children,” said Daria Gerasymchuk, Advisor to the President of Ukraine. Disability is only one characteristic, not the essence of a child. It is through this prism that the participation of such children in public life should be considered.
Lviv actively supports the idea of inclusion, as it sees it as a way to a fairer and more open society. “Every child is unique, and every child deserves attention, care and love,” said Iryna Kulynych, Deputy Mayor for Humanitarian Affairs. The Dzherelo Centre has been operating in the city for many years, providing more than 20 social services at various locations. In 2024, its activities reached almost 12,000 people.
In 2025, the Centre plans to open a supported living facility, new day care units and reconstruct a hotel for victims of violence. “Dzherelo is an example of systemic support and humanism in action. Its experience in attracting charitable resources and implementing grants is invaluable. All this contributes to the formation of a more caring, conscious society, where every child is in his or her rightful place.