The ability to hear is fundamental to a child's development, socialisation, and education. For the past seven years, the project "Rinat Akhmetov for Children. Now I Hear" has worked to ensure that a diagnosis of hearing impairment does not limit a child's future. As the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation brings this specific stage of the project to a close, we mark a period of significant impact that has transformed the lives of hundreds of families across Ukraine.
Through this initiative, children under the age of seven have received advanced, high-sensitivity hearing aids. These are not standard devices; they are sophisticated technological tools selected to match the individual physiology and medical requirements of every child. Halyna Ivashchenko, an audiologist at the Hearing Centre in Kyiv, explains the technical advantage: "The devices are powerful and modern. They automatically assess acoustic environments and adjust accordingly. Crucially, they suppress background noise while highlighting speech frequencies."
This technological intervention translates into profound human moments. For Roman from the Mykolaiv region, the project meant hearing his mother's voice clearly for the first time. For Daryna from the Kharkiv region, it opened up the world of natural sounds, from birdsong to the voices of relatives. Sofia from the Luhansk region is now able to communicate actively with her family and peers, removing barriers to her education.
"Finally, my daughter will hear the world as it is, she will be able to speak and go to school on time with her peers. We are very grateful for the help," says Tetyana, Sofia's mother.
The project has also served to strengthen pediatric otolaryngology and speech therapy in Ukraine by making such high-level equipment accessible. Medical professionals have praised the speed and precision of the Foundation's work. "We have cooperated with the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation for a long time," notes Alina Solovyova, a doctor and audiometrist. "The assistance is always fast, and the hearing aids are selected to correspond maximally with the diagnosis."
While the "Now I Hear" project concludes this chapter, the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation continues its mission. The decision to finalize this stage was made to allow the organisation to pivot towards new challenges and launch fresh, relevant programmes. The Foundation constantly adapts its strategies to be most effective for the current needs of the country.
The legacy of "Now I Hear" joins a broader history of humanitarian support. Over the last 20 years, the Foundation has assisted more than 6 million Ukrainians, providing a vital safety net during the most difficult times. As we look forward to new initiatives, we celebrate the hundreds of children who, thanks to this project, can now hear the world around them.
