1990
The Lviv Regional Parent “Nadiya” Association for the Protection of Rights of Children with Disabilities, particularly cerebral palsy, began its activities. The main task of the association was to protect the rights of children with disabilities in Ukraine.
1992
Zenia Kushpeta, a Canadian citizen of Ukrainian descent, came to Ukraine to volunteer in assisting people with intellectual disabilities. After becoming acquainted with the activities of the “Nadiya” association, together with Mykola Swarnyk and Myroslav Nykolayev, Zenia Kushpeta co-founded the educational and rehabilitation centre “Dzherelo” in Lviv.
1993
The educational and rehabilitation centre “Dzherelo” started operating based at preschool institution No. 172 on Shafaryka Street. The premises and the first preschool children with disabilities were dedicated during the St. Nicholas Day celebration. Two preschool groups for children with musculoskeletal disorders began functioning here.
1994
Oksana Kunanec-Swarnyk, a Canadian citizen of Ukrainian descent and physical therapist, arrived in Lviv to assist the parents of children from the “Nadiya” association and to organize a support system for children with disabilities.
In the same year, the Lviv City Council handed over an unfinished kindergarten building to Dzherelo Centre for creating a rehabilitation center for children with disabilities.
1996
At general education school No. 82 in Lviv, for the first time in Ukraine, an inclusive educational program combined with rehabilitation was created for children with disabilities.
The first bus was purchased to transport children to the programs at Dzherelo Centre.
Thanks to donations from Ukrainians in Canada, collected with the assistance of the Canadian Chernobyl Children’s Fund, construction of a new building for the Dzherelo Centre began at 86A Chervona Kalyna Avenue.
1999
The charitable institution educational and rehabilitation centre “Dzherelo” was officially registered by the state.
2002
A new Early Intervention department began operating in the new premises – a program providing support for families raising children with disabilities from birth to 4 years of age.
2003
The Active Youth Club workshop started operating at the Centre, along with day programs for persons with disabilities aged 18 to 35 years.
2007
Dzherelo launched a unique program combining day care and comprehensive rehabilitation for children with disabilities.
2008
On the basis of the Dzherelo Centre, which had been caring for children and youth with disabilities since 1993, a Municipal institution of a mixed type «Lviv city centre for social services and rehabilitation «Dzherelo», was established.
Cooperation with city schools and preschools was established to implement the ideas of inclusion.
2015
The attic of the Centre’s building was renovated, and a third floor was constructed. This increased the accessible space at Dzherelo by an additional 1,376 square meters.
A Child Development rehabilitation department was created, and 12 guest rooms were opened for families with children with disabilities from all over Ukraine.
The Dzherelo Training Center began operating, with the main task of disseminating modern social service standards and serving as a training and resource center at the regional and national levels.
2017
Together with the Department of Humanitarian Policy of the Lviv City Council, supported by benefactors from Ukraine and abroad, the development of the Dzherelo service network began to create new opportunities for children and youth with disabilities – the first branch for youth aged 18 to 45 was opened outside the main Centre building.
2018
Assisted in launching the Early Intervention department at the 4th City Polyclinic in Lviv (services for families raising children at risk or children with disabilities under 4 years old) and provide ongoing support.
2019
A city mobile home visit service by specialists from the Early Intervention department was established. Two new Dzherelo branches for youth with disabilities aged 18 to 45 were opened in the city’s districts.
An Inclusive Resource Center for children with special educational needs aged 2 to 18 began operating in the Dzherelo premises, serving the Sykhiv district.
2020
Implementation of the Dzherelo Centre Development Strategy 2020-2024 began.
Rehabilitation services were separated from day care services, and the Medical-Social Rehabilitation Center started providing free comprehensive rehabilitation for children with disabilities aged 4 to 18 years.
The fourth day care branch was opened at Dzherelo, the first to provide services not only for youth but also for children with disabilities.
Centre specialists, qualified users of various methodologies, began conducting psychological assessments of child development and communication skills diagnostics.
Declared the intention to develop supported living services in Lviv and Ukraine. The Dzherelo Centre’s project for the first municipal House of Supported Living won the Lviv Public Budget competition in 2020.
2023
A reorganization of the Dzherelo Centre took place – on its basis, the Lviv City Dzherelo Centre for Social Services and Rehabilitation was created. This merged four municipal institutions: the city social services center, a social hotel for domestic violence victims, the city territorial social service center, and the center for registration and night accommodation of homeless persons.
Services at Dzherelo are available for children and persons with disabilities, senior people who are lonely or disabled, homeless people, families in hardship (low-income, large families, single parents, foster and guardianship families, victims of domestic violence, veterans and their families, internally displaced persons).
The Centre for Assistive Technologies for children with disabilities was launched at Dzherelo.
A contact center for people in difficult life circumstances began operating.
2024
Using state budget subsidies, a vehicle equipped for persons with disabilities and other low-mobility groups was purchased for the mobile brigade.
With support from the city and benefactors, ventilation and windows were replaced and the laundry updated in the homeless shelter building at 3A Kyrylivska Street.
Three buses for aiding homeless people and crisis response, donated by the Danish city of Aarhus, were received from the Lviv City Council.
By the end of the year, approximately 55% of renovation works in the House of Supported Living were completed.
With UNICEF support, renovation and outfitting of the city’s first Resilience center began.
Dzherelo won a competition by Interreg Europe, enabling the start of a project in 2025 to expand services and develop effective city policies to assist elderly community members.
The Centre’s team trained and supported 18 communities in the Lviv, Volyn, and Zakarpattia regions to develop social services and enhance capacity.
Training and support were also provided to 52 teams across Ukraine in organizing and delivering early intervention services.
A unique initiative—the Network of Parent Organizations (among public organizations of parents of children with disabilities)—was created.
Establishers
Myroslav Nykolayev
Co-founder of Dzherelo Centre. Holds a teaching degree in Physical Education and a Master’s in Public Administration. Was Director of the charitable Dzherelo NGO and the Lviv City Rehabilitation Centre from the Centre’s inception until March 2014.
Zenia Kushpeta
Co-founder of Dzherelo Centre. A Canadian citizen with a Master’s degree in Music, a pianist and teacher, who has worked as a volunteer in Ukraine since 1992 for the benefit of people with special needs. Also, co-founder of the Faith and Light movement in Ukraine, the Emmaus Centre at the Ukrainian Catholic University, and the L’Arche-Kovcheh community.
Oksana Kunanec-Swarnyk
Co-founder of Dzherelo Centre. A Canadian citizen and a physical therapist with many years’ experience, who has worked as a volunteer in Ukraine since 1994. Also, a consultant and developer of the first rehabilitation programs at Dzherelo Centre.
Mykola Swarnyk
Co-founder of Dzherelo Centre, social activist and public figure. Leader of numerous social projects benefitting persons with special needs in Ukraine.
“Nadiya” association
Founded in 1991, the Lviv Regional Association for the Protection of Rights of Children with Disabilities, particularly cerebral palsy, has a membership today of more than 2,500 persons.
Lviv City Council
In 2008, based on the Dzherelo Centre, a municipal rehabilitation institution of a mixed type «Lviv city centre for rehabilitation «Dzherelo»—was established. In 2023, the institution was reorganized by merging four additional municipal social institutions, resulting in the formation of the municipal institution of a mixed type «Lviv city centre for social services and rehabilitation «Dzherelo».
