Every child deserves someone who believes in their potential: the story of Kostik and his special education teacher

Behind every small step a child takes is a great deal of work and someone who believes they can succeed. The story of 11-year-old Kostik shows how specialised support, strengthened professional skills and inclusive learning environments promoted through the Support for recovery of Kryvyi Rih Raion project can help overcome barriers to communication and open up new opportunities for growth.

There was a time when Kostik would hide under his hood, cover his ears, slam doors and react strongly to situations he found difficult or confusing. Interacting with others, finding common ground and feeling comfortable in the world around him were all challenging.

Behind this behaviour was a child who needed not judgement or attempts to make him conform to someone else’s expectations, but understanding, support and an environment where he could gradually learn to interact with the world.

This is the approach taken by Nataliia NAMINAT, a special education teacher at Kryvyi Rih Gymnasium No. 10, who has been working with Kostik for the second year in the school’s sensory room. This room was equipped as part of the KRYTSIA: Support for recovery of Kryvyi Rih Raion project, funded by the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and implemented by LuxDev, the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency, in partnership with Proman and NDI.

Working with Kostik required time, careful observation and an individual approach. It was important to understand what triggered his difficulties, how challenging behaviours developed, and which tools could help him respond more comfortably to his surroundings.

Rather than expecting quick results, Nataliia worked step by step to develop an individual pathway for Kostik’s progress. Their sessions involved spring-loaded massage tools, sensory and stress-relief toys, balance boards and sand therapy. These tools helped address the child’s sensory needs, gradually laying the groundwork for further learning and interaction.

Gradually, changes began to emerge beyond their sessions. Kostik became more open to communication, started engaging more actively in learning and began sharing the things that fascinated him. Today, he enthusiastically tells his new friends about computer technology, the animal and plant kingdoms, and celestial bodies in the Solar System. He is not simply acquiring new knowledge; he is discovering topics he wants to share with others and taking steps towards meaningful communication.

Support from the KRYTSIA project played an important role in this journey. Through training organised as part of the project, Nataliia NAMINAT gained knowledge of modern approaches to working with children with special educational needs, as well as practical tools she could apply in her daily work.

The training sessions she attended covered the fundamentals of applied behaviour analysis, sensory integration, the development of learning behaviours, and the development of articulatory praxis in children with speech difficulties.

This knowledge helped her gain a deeper understanding of the mechanisms behind behavioural responses, how children process sensory information, and the difficulties they may encounter when learning. Practical case studies and modern methodologies provided a foundation for finding solutions tailored to each child’s individual needs.

Kostik's experience reflects a broader reality in Kryvyi Rih, where the number of children with special educational needs has risen from approximately 2,500 to more than 3,100. According to data from the city’s two inclusive resource centres, in 2025, 2,238 children aged 0–18 who require ongoing support in the educational process were registered with the centres. More than half of them (1,223 children) were aged 0–5.

In response to these needs, the KRYTSIA project is strengthening inclusive education infrastructure across Kryvyi Rih and the raion. The project has equipped 49 sensory rooms and 75 calm-down corners, while more than 2,000 specialists have received training to work with children with special educational needs. The provision of diagnostic and educational materials for sensory rooms, support kits and designated calm-down corners in school shelters has helped create safer and more accessible learning environments where specialists can better accommodate children’s sensory needs and support them throughout the learning process.

As a result, more than 4,600 children with special educational needs have access each year to quality educational services in comfortable, well-equipped spaces with the necessary equipment and learning materials.

Kostik’s story is a reminder that a child’s development cannot always be measured by grades or how quickly they acquire new skills. Sometimes, the most meaningful milestones are when a child begins to trust others, show curiosity, share their interests and find common ground with those around them.

Behind these changes are a teacher’s daily efforts, support from colleagues, new knowledge and a willingness to keep searching for solutions, even when progress takes time.

Kostik’s journey is still unfolding. Today, it is marked by greater openness, more communication and new discoveries.

Behind every small victory is a child in whom someone believed, and a team helping that child believe in their own potential.

The Support for recovery of Kryvyi Rih Raion project is funded by the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and implemented by LuxDev, the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency, in partnership with Proman and NDI.