Today we introduce you to the participants of the Forum “Respect. Experience. Perspective”. These are indomitable veterans Denys Dudnyk, Taras Yakobchuk, Volodymyr Skosogorenko and the veteran’s wife Oksana Makarova. They will tell their stories at the Forum on June 27.
Oksana Makarova
An example of a strong and indomitable woman. Having lost everything, she started things over.
Oksana’s apartment in Mariupol was destroyed by “liberators”, and the most valuable things were looted or thrown away.
She had to live under shelling near the Drama Theater for more than 20 days.
Oksana and her 2-year-old son escaped and left for Lutsk.
Here she began to sew military equipment for her husband at the front, and later her own business gained momentum.
Denis Dudnyk
Today, he is the head of the “Tanto” psychological assistance hub in Irpin. The hub provides support to both veterans returning to civilian life and their family members.
The veteran did not choose such a mission by chance, because he himself faced challenges after participating in combat operations. In addition, during his life he managed to master several professions and started various businesses. Denys Dudnyk is one of those who know how important retraining and education are in the life of a veteran after returning.
Volodymyr Skosogorenko
A veteran in love with his own business. It creates garlic paste and black garlic.
The veteran could not go to the front in 2022 due to injuries previously received at the front. His business partners went to war. Volodymyr himself has an important task in his civilian life: to work, develop business and create jobs for fellow citizens.
Volodymyr knows that the socialization of soldiers can take years, but the work will help speed up and improve this process.
So, the veteran with great enthusiasm develops and promotes his own brand and works today for the future.
Taras Yakobchuk
He radically changed his field of activity after returning from the ATO. The veteran left his work on television and, together with his wife, plunged into the field of HoReCa. Their path to success was long and hard.
Taras says that it was his new job and opening his own business that helped him overcome the difficulties he faced after returning from war. The business of the Yakobchuks survived the pandemic and, despite everything, continues to develop during the war. Taras is not at the front due to injuries, but in the rear he continues to help the country in the fight: volunteering for the army, taxes for the economy, creating opportunities for brothers who will return from the front. Each of these projects was supported by the Ukrainian Veterans Foundation.
You can listen to the stories of formation, losses and gains of our veterans and their families online and offline. Registration to the forum is availiable at this link (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfg20M_ysjWuST4dK6D7FBHwkdKCwnRY6Iewzp1OD5dHaGXIw/viewform?pli=1).
