Ukrainian Rehabilitation Centres Exchange Experience with Latvian Partners

Five teams that presented the strongest solutions during the Demo Day of the incubation programme took part in a professional visit to Latvia. Ukrainian specialists explored the work of local centres, discussed modern approaches to rehabilitation and identified opportunities for further cooperation.

The final pitching session in Kyiv marked the beginning of a new stage for five Ukrainian teams. After three months of working on business models, impact strategies and financial sustainability, representatives of rehabilitation centres travelled to Latvia for a professional exchange.

The Ukrainian delegation included representatives of the Mental Health Centre of the Volodymyr Territorial Medical Association, the Charitable Institution “Centre for Rehabilitation, Physical Therapy and Inclusive Education named after Saint John the Righteous”, the ORA Physical and Mental Rehabilitation Centre in Uman, the Central City Hospital, and the Sofia Health and Rehabilitation Centre.

During the visit, the teams explored the practices of Latvian organisations, shared their own experience and discussed solutions that could strengthen the accessibility and sustainability of rehabilitation services in Ukraine.

A Ukrainian-Latvian Dialogue on the Future of Rehabilitation

One of the central events of the visit was the forum “Intersectoral Cooperation for the Development of Sustainable Rehabilitation Services: The Ukraine-Latvia Dialogue.”

The event brought together representatives of public institutions, rehabilitation centres, civil society organisations, social enterprises and expert communities from both countries.

The programme focused on the practical challenges currently facing the rehabilitation sector.

Participants presented the findings of research into rehabilitation services in Ukraine and Latvia and discussed the use of robotic technologies, comprehensive models of physical, psychological and social recovery, and cooperation between specialists from different fields.

Particular attention was given to cross-sector cooperation, sustainable business models for social enterprises, and the development of partnerships at local, national and international levels.

During a panel discussion, participants also explored how rehabilitation services can be adapted to the needs of different groups, including military personnel and civilians, children, women, and people requiring long-term support following injuries or difficult life circumstances.

Sharing Ukraine’s Incubation Programme Experience

Dasha Belyanskaya, Programme Manager at SILab Ukraine and the Ukrainian Social Venture Fund, presented the experience of implementing the incubation programme for Ukrainian rehabilitation centres to Latvian partners.

She spoke about the programme’s approaches, the results achieved by the participating teams, and the importance of strengthening management capacity for centres operating during Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine.

Throughout the incubation programme, participants analysed the needs of their target audiences, reviewed their business models, developed impact strategies, and worked on financial planning and partnership development. As a result, 25 centres prepared their own impact strategies, while 15 teams presented their solutions during the final pitching session.

For Ukrainian rehabilitation centres, this work has direct practical value. The demand for physical, psychological and social rehabilitation continues to grow every day. At the same time, teams must support people, expand their services, train specialists, secure funding and plan their long-term development.

A sustainable operating model enables centres to reduce their dependence on short-term support, manage resources more systematically and ensure the continuity of services for those who need them.

Cooperation That Continues Beyond the Visit

The value of a professional exchange is not measured by the number of meetings in the programme, but by what remains afterwards: new contacts, practical ideas and a willingness to continue working together.

The Ukrainian teams returned from Latvia with new insights into the organisation of rehabilitation services, the use of technology, multidisciplinary cooperation, and partnerships between the public sector, civil society and social enterprises.

We are grateful to our Latvian partners — NewDoor – International Social Entrepreneurship Accelerator, Biedrība Ilgtspējīgas uzņēmējdarbības atbalstam, representatives of the Latvian Social Entrepreneurship Association, rehabilitation centres and expert organisations — for their warm welcome, openness and readiness to share their experience.

The Ukrainian-Latvian dialogue continues through new professional connections, shared ideas and partnerships aimed at developing an accessible and sustainable rehabilitation system in Ukraine.

The incubation programme for psychological, physical and social rehabilitation centres is implemented within the project “Recovery and Development: Building Sustainable Rehabilitation Networks in Ukrainian Communities and Regions” (4RNetworks in Ukraine) by the Ukrainian Social Venture Fund in partnership with SILab Ukraine, Biedrība Ilgtspējīgas uzņēmējdarbības atbalstam and the Latvian organisation NewDoor – International Social Entrepreneurship Accelerator, with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia.