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What are we doing? We truly believe that everyone can see despite the physical abilities of a person. 

On 4 July - 5 August 2015 we are organizing the first in Ukraine Special Charitable Cycling Marathon “"I See! I Can! I Will" (isee-ua.org).  You can see all updates on our facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/iseeua)

Together with our visually impaired friends in Ukraine we plan to cover more than 2,000 km on two tandem bicycles. Our aim is to promote the inclusion of visually impaired people as equal members of the society and to raise funds for “Sensoteca” - an inclusive learning and working facility for visually impaired and sighted people on the basis of the Public Library No. 18 in Lviv, Ukraine.

The facility will include: refurbished auditorium / classroom, recording studio, computer class with special programs for visually impaired users and common space (lounge, bathroom). All interiors will be covered with tactile paving and smoothed corners for convenient navigation around the space. 

The space will be used for organising events, courses, workshops for the benefit of visually impaired. 

Who will benefit from the project? Visually impaired and sighted youth and adults.

Why are we doing this? We organise this project in the loving memory of our dear friend and Lviv NGO activist Mykola Pekh who passed away last summer. Born with sight defects, he always demonstrated energy, zest and incredible courage for life. Mykola was a renowned leader in Lviv NGO life, obtained two degrees in International Law in Lviv and in London, co-founded the “Institute of Ukrainian Studies” NGO and was inspiring all of us to move forward to our goals and dreams. Recipient of highly prestigious FLEX and Chevening scholarships, as well as CUPP Alumnus, his motto was “All limits are in our heads”.

Mykola was very passionate about organising this marathon and now it is our chance to make his dream come true. We will cycle on tandem bicycles from Lviv to Kyiv and back, meeting with local communities, delivering our message on social inclusion and corporate social responsibility.

What have we done so far? Since autumn 2014 we have organised different activities in the library, with the main message - INCLUSION:

1. English language classes with visually impaired and sighted kids
2. Terrain orientation for the blind children
3. Watching cartoons with typhlo-commentary
4. Meeting with poets and sharing own poems by visually impaired children

Project budget (estimates; depends on currency exchange rate):
1. Interior renovation (wires and floor replacement, painting) = 2,500 GBP
2. Technical equipment (projector, screen, speakers, 5 PCs, security alarm system) = 2,500 GBP
3. Furniture (desks, office and simple chairs, modular furniture, shelves,  reception desk) = 5,000 GBP
Total: 10,000 (overall budget is bigger, but we will see how much we can collect).

More information on our plans within the "I See! I Can! I Will" initiative can be found on our website: http://isee-ua.org/index.php/en/about-the-project.html. 

For detailed questions please contacts us at: info@ius.lviv.ua.