The greatest limitations often exist not in a person’s physical abilities, but in the perception of their own potential and in societal stereotypes. A meeting with Ukrainian public figure, writer, blogger and motivational speaker Dmytro Shchebetiuk in Zurich focused on the power of choice, personal responsibility, inclusion and the ability to change the world.
The event was held under the patronage of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Zurich and VIDNOVA Swiss-Ukrainian Association and was part of a series of cultural and educational initiatives for the Ukrainian community in Switzerland.
The information partners of the event were Business Woman Magazine, VIDNOVA Swiss-Ukrainian Association and the information platform Ukrainians in Switzerland (“Українці в Швейцарії”).
The guest of the meeting was Dmytro Shchebetiuk, a Ukrainian public figure, writer, blogger, motivational speaker and one of the prominent advocates for the development of an accessible and barrier-free environment in Ukraine.
His personal story became the starting point for a much broader conversation about how people respond to challenging life circumstances, where they find inner resources, and how important it is to build a society in which physical disabilities do not become obstacles to education, work, travel, self-realization and active civic participation.
The discussion focused on personal responsibility, the power of individual choice, overcoming stereotypes, accessibility of public spaces and the importance of developing a culture in which every person has the opportunity to realize their potential.
Motivation was another important topic of the meeting. Dmytro Shchebetiuk’s story is not about pity for a person who has faced difficult circumstances. Above all, it is a story about action, inner freedom and the ability not to allow circumstances to determine one’s future.
The meeting was organized and moderated by Olesia Tarasenko, President of VIDNOVA Swiss-Ukrainian Association, Director of the Swiss Representative Office of Business Woman Magazine and a member of the Pastoral Council of the Ukrainian community in Zurich.
“For me, it is especially important to create a space in Switzerland for meetings with people whose stories encourage us to rethink our own capabilities. Dmytro does not talk about why something is impossible. His story is about what can be done despite circumstances. This way of thinking is particularly important for Ukrainian society today,” said Olesia Tarasenko.
The meeting gathered a full audience and continued with an active dialogue with the guests. Participants asked questions about Dmytro’s personal journey, his civic activities, accessibility, society’s attitudes toward people with disabilities and how each of us can contribute to positive change in our own environment.
Special thanks go to Father Ivan Machuzhak and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in Zurich for supporting cultural and educational initiatives of the Ukrainian community, to the VIDNOVA team for their organizational efforts, and to everyone who took part in the open dialogue.
For Business Woman Magazine, stories of this kind are particularly important. Modern leadership is not only about professional achievements or social status. It is also about taking responsibility, overcoming barriers, transforming the environment around us and opening up opportunities for others through personal example.
A person’s strength is not defined by the absence of limitations, but by the ability to turn challenges into new opportunities. It is through people, decisions and stories like these that major social changes begin.