THEATRE "#TWOWINGS": PROJECT RESULTS!

In January 2023, in accordance with the Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko dated December 30, 2022 No. 248rp, grants for 2023 were awarded to 50 specialists working in the fields of science, education, healthcare, culture, and youth policy, who have made a significant contribution to their development.

Svetlana Stelmakh, an educator-organizer at the educational institution "Lepel State Agrarian-Technical College", who developed and implemented the project "#TwoWings", was among the list of initiative and talented people. The project is aimed at creating three inclusive theatrical performances of a patriotic theme (with the support of a tiflocommentator), and its goal is to improve the system of patriotic education for young people with psychophysical development peculiarities.
We asked the initiator and developer of the project, Svetlana Stelmakh, to summarise the results.
— The year flew by very quickly, and the inclusive theatre project "#TwoWings" has reached its conclusion. The group included students from the Lepel Agrarian-Technical College, visually impaired individuals from the Lepel District Territorial Centre for Social Services for the Population, and representatives of the Lepel District branch of the Belarusian Association of the Visually Impaired (BelTIZ).
We are confident that the success of our project for the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage and the involvement of college students in volunteer activities "#TwoWings" depends not only on the cohesion of the two teams but also on the spirit and mood with which we will continue to support people with disabilities.
Our experience has shown that the events we hold are improving each time and bring joy to people. The eyes of the participants and spectators light up with that forgotten spark of love and warmth. And we ourselves experience not only a sense of pride but also immense satisfaction from the work done and a desire to continue our volunteer activities, to give people with disabilities the care, love, and attention they so lack in their daily lives. I am sure our project will live and develop.
For example, the mini-performance with tiflocommentary "The Voice of Khatyn" by the theatre "#TwoWings" was shown not only to the residents of Lepel but also in Borisov. The residents of Borisovmet the team during the 16th interregional festival of creativity for people with disabilities "Zorka Nadei". The theatre performed their production "Do Not Forbid Yourself to Dream", which caused a real sensation among the audience. "The Voice of Khatyn" evoked no less emotion. The performance on stage was vibrant and emotional, moving the audience to tears. The music and songs, of course, added a special dramatic flair to the play.
A vivid confirmation of the professionalism of Svetlana Stel'makh and her team is also the fact that the inclusive theatre "#DvaKryla" (Two Wings) took part in the International Competition-Festival of Arts in Moscow "Vershina Talanta" (Summit of Talent) in June last year and became a laureate of the 1st degree.
A total of 50 events were held, including 4 performances of "The Voice of Khatyn", 2 performances of "And the Dawns Here Are Quiet", 1 performance of "The Adventures of Tsmok". On the eve of May 9th this year, the premiere of the play "Babon'ki" is scheduled.
— Svetlana Anatolyevna, do you regret starting this grand work?
— Of course not. Doing what you love always brings pleasure and will definitely bring joy to someone. For me and the college students, the "#DvaKryla" (Two Wings) project is just that. It's a part of my life, and one of the brightest parts!
And for people with disabilities, participation in the project contributes to expanding their social circle, developing social skills, and improving their quality of life. For the volunteers, I am sure, helping others has become an integral part of their lives.

Natalia Khrapovitskaya. "Lepelsky Krai" Newspaper