The project “Rinat Akhmetov to Children. Now I Can Hear” is 7 years old

About 5% of children in Ukraine have hearing impairments. Since its establishment, the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation has been supporting boys and girls with hearing impairments. On March 26, 2018, this area of assistance was separated into the project “Rinat Akhmetov to Children.

Now I Can Hear”. Under the project, children under 7 years old receive state-of-the-art hearing aids that are adjusted to their individual needs.
The reasons why children face hearing impairment vary from genetic predisposition to complications of colds. The war has expanded the standard list to include acoustic trauma and stress.

“Our child was born healthy, but against the background of a full-scale war, she started to get sick a lot. Over time, we noticed that she was hard of hearing,” says Viktoriia, a mother of 6-year-old Katia from Kharkiv. Many parents begin their stories with these words.

Doctors emphasise that no matter what situation precedes a child’s hearing loss, their loved ones need to act immediately.

“It is extremely important that children start wearing hearing aids at a young age. Thanks to this, her speech is smoother and she is more quickly involved in society,” explains Iryna Bannyk, hearing aid specialist at the Hearing Centre.

Each modern device is equipped with artificial intelligence and is adjusted individually. The children who hear the rustling of leaves or the voices of the city for the first time do not hold back their emotions – and neither do their parents.

“We cried... Our child heard the sounds! It’s a great joy!” says Olha Mykolaivna, Daryna’s grandmother from Kharkiv region. Her granddaughter was hard of hearing since she was a little girl, and after the occupation of Kharkiv region and the tragic death of her father, her hearing became even worse.

Rinat Akhmetov to Children. Now I Can Hear project provides assistance with hearing aids to children with hearing impairments under the age of 7 who live or have lived in territorial communities in the areas of hostilities, occupation or encirclement.

If there is a child among your relatives or friends who needs hearing prosthetics, please call the toll-free hotline 0800509001 (Monday to Friday) or write to the Foundation’s messenger https://m.me/AkhmetovFDU

As part of the “Rinat Akhmetov to Children!” programme, almost 6 million children from all over Ukraine received comprehensive support. Rinat Akhmetov to Children. Help that gives tomorrow.