RPCV Cortney Copeland (2017–2019) and Ukrainian equine therapist Oksana Shevchuk teamed up through two Peremoha Mini-Grants to launch Horses for People. Their project brings equine-assisted therapy to wounded veterans and children with special needs, offering calm, connection, and renewed motivation for recovery.
RPCV: Cortney Copeland, Community Development, 2017-2019
Ukrainian Partner: Oksana Shevchuk, Founder of “Together for Action”
Region: Rivne Oblast
Cortney Copeland (RPCV 2017-2019) and Oksana Shevchuk, the founder of an NGO called “Together for Action,” wrote and received two Peremoha Grants to fund group and individual equine-assisted therapy sessions for severely injured war veterans and children with special needs.
Cortney and Oksana met through a common Peace Corps acquaintance in the early days of the full-scale invasion. Cortney, an avid equestrian, was fundraising for evacuations of Ukrainians with horses. Oksana, an equine therapist in the Donbas region, urgently needed to get out. The Ukraine RPCV community worked its magic, and with help from incredibly brave Ukrainian horse transporters, Oksana escaped just days before her stable was struck by a Russian attack.
Oksana has settled in Rivne Oblast and committed herself to helping others. She and Cortney collaborated on several small projects to care for evacuated horses and support professional development for Ukrainian equine therapy practitioners before deciding to try for a Peremoha Grant. They have since successfully completed two grant-funded “Horses for People” projects that help people impacted by war restore their sense of hope, meaning, and personal agency by working with horses.
The first Peremoha Grant of $1,400 supported group and individual sessions for severely injured war veterans. The second Peremoha Grant of $1,500 expanded this program to reach children with special needs, while continuing to serve Ukraine’s growing number of wounded veterans.
Group Sessions
Veterans joined group and individual sessions designed to support psychological and emotional recovery after severe trauma. Group sessions, held in partnership with the Rivne Regional War Veterans Hospital, the Recovery rehabilitation center, and the Sokil Sports Complex, introduced participants to therapy horses under Oksana’s guidance and with volunteer support. Veterans learned to interact with the horses, practice communication and body control, and reflect on the physical and emotional sensations of the experience.
Photo by Vitaliy Pylypenko
Sessions concluded with coffee breaks and emotional awareness exercises led by a psychologist, helping participants process their experiences together. In total, 58 veterans took part under the first grant, with the ongoing second grant continuing to serve new patients arriving in Rivne.
Individual Sessions
Individual equine-assisted therapy provided additional physical and psychological rehabilitation. Forty-two veterans participated under the first grant. With the second, “Horses for People” continued serving veterans while expanding to children through a new partnership with the Pahinets Early Intervention Centre, which supports children with developmental and speech delays, autism, and those recovering short-term. The program prioritized children from displaced families or with relatives defending Ukraine, though Oksana hopes to eventually serve all children in need.
Photo by Vitaliy Pylypenko
The combined $2900 funded across two grant cycles has covered the cost of:
- facility rental at the Sokil Sports Center
- fees to use trained therapy horses (Oksana retired her horses after their harrowing evacuation)
- Equipment for therapeutic games and activities (gymnastics poles, hoops, etc)
- stationery, games, supplies, and dishes for coffee breaks
- Project administration and reporting
Results
Feedback from veterans and hospital psychologists shows that even a single equine therapy session can significantly improve emotional well-being. Participants most often described feelings of calm, relaxation, joy, trust, relief, safety, and renewed motivation. Many noted that riding a horse for the first time became a powerful catalyst for continuing rehabilitation and stabilizing their emotional state.
Building on this success, Oksana has begun drafting a methodological guidebook to share lessons learned and practices developed with Peremoha support.
Personal Stories
One powerful story comes from Mykyta, a veteran with severe injuries and partial paralysis who now uses a wheelchair. He described equine therapy as the starting point for regaining independence—first learning to navigate a wheelchair on his own, then pursuing his goal of driving a car. After his first session, he realized the importance of managing his thoughts to support emotional recovery. Today, he encourages other veterans with severe injuries to believe in their strength and try using wheelchairs to maximize independence. Mykyta has even joined Together for Action as a volunteer.
Photo by Vitaliy Pylypenko
The second round of “Horses for People” sessions will conclude in September 2025, but Peremoha Mini-Grants have already enabled Oksana to build partnerships, deliver vital services, and document impact to sustain the work. For updates and photos, visit Together for Action’s Facebook page
The Peremoha Mini-Grants program, launched in 2022, empowers Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) and their Ukrainian partners to lead impactful projects supporting humanitarian aid, community development, education, and youth initiatives. These grants are made possible through charitable contributions and proceeds from the Babusya’s Kitchen Cookbook.
You can help make a difference! Donate to the Peremoha fund, purchase a cookbook, or apply for your own grant to support Ukraine.