ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY OF VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS TO SUPPORT PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AS A RESULT OF WAR: WAYS OF INTEGRATION INTO THE LABOR MARKET

Abstract

The article examines the issue of volunteer initiatives (activities of rehabilitation centers, entrepreneurial skills, social startups) that support persons with disabilities as a result of war and promote employment and economic independence of veterans with disabilities, as well as assess the cost and long-term economic effect of such programs for the state budget and local communities. The economic efficiency of volunteer programs to support people with disabilities as a result of war lies in the optimal ratio of resources (financial, human, material) invested in the rehabilitation, professional training and social adaptation of veterans and civilians, and the resulting social effect in the form of increasing their productivity, reducing costs for social benefits and medical care, as well as reducing the burden on the state budget. By organizing free training, employment at specialized enterprises and psychological support, volunteer initiatives contribute to the economic independence of people with disabilities, their return to the labor market and the formation of added value through the payment of taxes, which together provides a multiplier effect for local communities and the national economy as a whole. The subject of the article is economic indicators and mechanisms for the integration of military personnel with disabilities into the labor market through the implementation of volunteer programs and the provision of volunteer support. Research methods. When studying the economic efficiency of volunteer programs to support people with disabilities as a result of war, various methods are used that allow for a comprehensive consideration of the legal, social, economic and managerial aspects of this issue: the method of dialectical materialism; the method of abstraction; methods of analysis and synthesis; the functional method; the method of system analysis; the synergistic method; the comparative legal method; the method of interpretation and hermeneutics; the dogmatic method; the method of system analysis; the statistical method. The purpose of the article is to reveal the ways of integrating people with disabilities as a result of war into the labor market through effective volunteer programs. Conclusions. Volunteer support and volunteer programs play a key role in ensuring the integration of persons with disabilities as a result of war into the labor market through the following mechanisms: professional retraining and skills development involves volunteers organizing free training courses, master classes, and trainings adapted to the physical and psychological capabilities of participants (e.g., computer literacy, use of specialized equipment, craft or IT skills). This allows former military personnel with limited mobility to obtain a competitive profession and meets the needs of the modern labor market; career counseling and psychological support are more effective thanks to volunteer psychologists and social workers – persons with disabilities receive assistance in overcoming psychological barriers (fear of failure, low self-esteem) and orientation in choosing a profession based on their rehabilitated capabilities. Career counselors help with writing a resume, mastering interview techniques, and preparing for adaptation in the workplace; networking and mediation with employers – volunteers establish contacts with enterprises and organizations that are ready to create or adapt workplaces to the needs of people with disabilities (for example, ensuring office accessibility, special equipment). They conduct information and educational campaigns, organize job days and career fairs, where employers directly meet candidates, and volunteers help build partnerships; providing technical means and social adaptation. Through charitable foundations and volunteer initiatives, participants receive the necessary rehabilitation tools (wheelchairs, prostheses, orthopedic equipment) and accompanying services (adaptive technology courses, voice-activated software, specialized tables or lifts). This significantly expands the opportunities to perform professional duties and increases the level of independence; creation of social enterprises and microbusinesses – volunteer programs support the initiatives of veterans with disabilities who seek to start their own business (small workshops, online stores, farmer cooperatives). Fiscal advice, assistance with business registration, mentoring by experienced entrepreneurs, and start-up capital (grants or microloans) from volunteers allow program participants to develop a market-resilient business and create jobs for themselves and others; legal support and advocacy of rights – volunteer lawyers provide information about labor rights, help to draw up the necessary documents to obtain the status of "Participant in hostilities" and benefits for persons with disabilities, and advise on employment and social protection issues. They also contribute to resolving disputes with employers and monitor compliance with employment quotas for persons with disabilities in accordance with the law. Thanks to this comprehensive approach, volunteer programs create conditions for former military personnel with disabilities not only for employment, but also for long-term social integration, which strengthens their economic independence and reduces the burden on the state social budget.