In Zakarpattia, the “RehabRental” social enterprise is being launched in the Tiachiv community to support people with limited mobility

In the Tiachiv community in Zakarpattia, the Tiachiv district branch of the Ukrainian Red Cross is launching the “RehabRental” social enterprise. Its aim is to help people who need rehabilitation equipment due to illness, injury, or age maintain their mobility, independence, and dignity.

Demand for such equipment is growing rapidly — particularly among older people, persons with disabilities, and those recovering from injuries or serious illnesses. For many families, purchasing rehabilitation equipment can be difficult or even unaffordable. RehabRental seeks to make essential assistive devices accessible to those who need them most.

The initiative is part of the REDpreneurUA programme, which supports social initiatives of the Ukrainian Red Cross. Through this programme, residents across the Tiachiv district will be able to borrow rehabilitation equipment and have it professionally maintained.

According to Olena Kaharlytska, Head of the Tiachiv district branch of the Ukrainian Red Cross, the team’s priority is to ensure that people are not left to face their challenges alone:

“Our goal is to ensure that people who need support can continue to live active lives — move independently and care for themselves and their loved ones. Rehabilitation equipment is not just equipment; it is an opportunity to maintain independence, dignity, and a sense of a full life.”

The launch of the “RehabRental” social enterprise is a natural extension of the organisation’s long-standing work. For more than 20 years, the Tiachiv district branch of the Ukrainian Red Cross has been supporting people from vulnerable groups.

For two decades, a rehabilitation equipment rental point operated with the support of the Austrian humanitarian assistance project HIKODE, helping hundreds of people in the community. Today, this experience is evolving into a modern model of social entrepreneurship, making assistance more sustainable, accessible, and effective.

The REDpreneurUA initiative is implemented by the Ukrainian Red Cross in cooperation with the French Red Cross and the Austrian Red Cross.