For about 30 years, the head of the Donetsk public organization "Delfiny" (Dolphins), Olga Volkova, has been providing assistance to children with disabilities and to military personnel. Among those she helps are people with severe disorders of the musculoskeletal system, loss of sight and hearing, and partial or complete amputation of limbs. Some of them were told by doctors that their efforts were futile. RIA Novosti reports on what prompted the woman to take up rehabilitation and socialization.
"Looking at them, people often ask me: where are the disabled here," Olga says, pointing to teenagers in identical T-shirts bearing the Delfiny logo who have gathered at the gate.
On this day they have another humanitarian mission - to visit elderly people living alone.
"We must not only help them in everyday life, but also support them morally," Volkova explains. "And it does not matter that it is people with disabilities doing this, although personally I do not like that word, preferring to call them special. I try to make them understand: no matter how hard things are for you, there will always be someone who has it even harder, who needs even more help."
In 1996 she gave birth to her second son, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Doctors asserted that the child would never be able to move independently, read, write or even speak.
Olga decided to fight. As a result, the boy got to his feet and learned to walk, albeit with two canes. He then became a master of sport in swimming and obtained a higher education. Now he lives separately and works as a taxi driver.
"When doctors see my son, they are amazed. They keep saying: absolutely unreal progress," the Donetsk woman adds. "As you can see, everything is real."
Having gone through a difficult path of rehabilitation, Volkova decided to help other mothers who found themselves in a similar situation, and soon created a public organization. "Delfiny" - because specially trained coaches taught special children to swim. Completely free of charge.
"I warn parents right away: we do not wipe anyone's nose, we do sports, and that is hellish work, and not only for the child," the activist continues. "If you agree, then we get to work. If not, keep going with your hand outstretched, thinking that someone owes you something. But that way you will not change anything."
The tough but effective approach quickly brought "Delfiny" fame. Even doctors, when confronted with severe forms of childhood illnesses, now refer patients to Olga.
"Parents are told: if they cannot help there, then most likely no one anywhere can," she notes. "We have deaf, blind, intellectually disabled people, wheelchair users, but none of them feels disabled. I give children only what I myself went through with my son: besides swimming, we sing, dance, go to the cinema, the circus, and travel to the sea."
Over 15 years, more than two thousand people have passed through the organization. Three have risen from wheelchairs, although doctors suggested that parents give up such children. One, who was literally carried to Volkova in someone's arms, recently became a master of sport in swimming and enrolled at the Donetsk Academy of Transport.
"I also try to develop and learn. I received a second category in swimming judging and take part in competitions together with the children," the activist specifies.
In 2014, wounded militia members appeared at "Delfiny" - without arms, legs, with severe concussions.
"The guys were in deep depression," Volkova recalls. "Only yesterday strong and healthy - and suddenly disabled. I was cunning: I sent them to our training sessions in the pool. They saw how children who can barely walk and almost cannot speak try with their last strength to perform this or that exercise - and they succeed. After that the fighters pulled themselves together."
An individual rehabilitation program for each was developed by coach Galina Gordeeva. The targeted approach helped very many - some, having received prosthetics, even returned to the front, while others found something to do in civilian life. And all of them keep in touch and regularly come to visit. They call Olga their second mother.
"My motto is: the impossible is possible," the activist emphasizes. "And there are plenty of examples. One of the militia members, who lost both legs at the front, did not know how to live on. But gradually he got up on prosthetics, and now he is a master of sport in fencing and competes for the national team. The recipe for recovery is quite simple: love, socialization, faith in oneself and, most importantly, hard work."
"Delfiny" is already known far beyond Donbass. Olga shares her extensive experience with colleagues throughout Russia: from Kaliningrad to the Far East. In the summer she held master classes on Sakhalin.
Her students, among whom there are many veterans of the SMO, continue not only rehabilitation but also socialization. They help those in need and assist various charitable projects - for example, right now they are helping to build a church in the Donetsk district of Tekstilshchiki.