Every day we meet different people, communicate, discuss and get inspired. But there are special meetings in life that leave us shining.
We need this light, especially now. That is why the CPH Confidence is launching a series of discussions called Bright Meetings.
They are about meeting unique people – artists, scientists, businessmen, teachers – who are in some way related to the topic of inclusion. Some are raising a child with a disability or special educational needs, others organise theatre festivals or create special routes, and others publish inclusive books. These wonder-people manage to overcome all the difficulties, do what they love, and most importantly, share their light with others, thus multiplying joy and love. How exactly one can do it, what one goes through, what one has to give up and what are the gains? This is what we talk about – sincerely, without pathos, in a safe space.
The first guest of the Light Meetings was a special woman, Olena Osmolovska, a publisher, poet, writer, scholar, founder of the Terra Inclusion nomination of the Coronation of the Word International Literary Competition and the All-Ukrainian Literary Competition for Children and Youth named after Dmytro Ruzhevych. For more than 10 years, despite epidemics, economic crises, and the war, Ms Olena has been publishing books with people with disabilities and special educational needs as the main characters. These books by contemporary Ukrainian authors promote the principles of equality, respect for human rights, and foster a positive attitude towards disability and personal diversity. Because the mission of the publishing house is to create books that will help you better understand yourself and others.
Rev. Taras Valakh – confessor, judicial vicar of the Kyiv Archeparchy of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, head of the Metropolitan Church Tribunal, rector of the Cathedral of the Virgin Mary of Vyshhorod, graduate of the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome, father of three – is another guest of the Light Meetings. Rev. Taras considers working with children and youth to be his special mission, so his church has a Sunday school and a primary school called Kryla (Wings), and regularly hosts youth meetings and youth camps. According to rev. Taras, the church should not only be a place of prayer, but also a place of meeting, sharing and communication.
We also welcomed Solomiya Chubay, a singer, artist, philanthropist, public figure, producer, cultural manager, and mother. Ms Solomiya’s projects are unique in both essence and form, inspiring and presenting Ukraine on the global cultural scene. She is purposeful, strong, outspoken and at the same time tender, loving and sensitive. What is it like for a woman with such a character today? How does it feel to speak publicly about autism? How much strength does a modern woman need to overcome centuries-old stereotypes and remain herself, revealing herself in creativity and motherhood, giving light. We talked about Ms Solomiya’s projects, including Lullabies for Oleksa, about war, mercy, and love.
Olena Hrebeniuk, a Ukrainian opera singer and volunteer, Mykhailo Zhonin, theatre and film actor, volunteer, Olesia Shevchenko, a volunteer and consultant on ASD, also attended our Light Meetings as special guests.
Ongoing.
