Growing up in Kyiv during wartime, 16-year-old Lisa has experienced childhood challenges most cannot imagine. Air raid sirens replace alarm clocks, and the vulnerability of her cousin with a disability opened her eyes to the neglect and exclusion faced by children with disabilities in schools and society. Driven by compassion and a desire for real change, Lisa has dedicated herself to ensuring that every child—especially those with disabilities—has access to safety, dignity, and inclusion. Her efforts combine research, advocacy, and technology, and her mission has been fueled by support from her parents, teachers, and the youth-led UkrTeenScience community.

Lisa’s impact spans both online and offline platforms. She completed an independent research project on inclusivity for children with disabilities and conducted an international survey across Eastern Europe, publishing her findings in the national pedagogical journal of the National Ukrainian Pedagogic University. Using her research, she created illustrated booklets distributed to schools in Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia, and developed the Scabi app for the Technovation Girls Challenge to guide and comfort children during air raids. Offline, Lisa volunteers to teach physics and mathematics to underprivileged children, mentors youth through “Introduction for Success,” and performs in charity concerts through Ukraine’s Virsky Dance Ensemble. Through these initiatives, she has improved academic performance, inspired respectful language around disability, and shown that even in times of war, children can advocate, create, and lead with empathy.