I see myself as a relatively new NVC trainer, getting involved in learning the NVC magic in 2014 and becoming certified in 2021. At the same time, I have a sense that I have been involved in the same type of training and work for most of my life, starting from my student years through the organization/network Initiatives of Change (https://www.iofc.org/en). It has shaped me in many ways, ‘infected’ me with an interest in the intersection of personal/societal transformation, exposed me to different cultures and parts of the world, taught me to look within for the source of clarity and change, and given me access to challenges and joys of living and working in an international/intergenerational community.

My professional path as a dialogue facilitator/mediator and later NVC trainer is deeply interwoven with my personal journey as well as with Ukraine’s current history in the making. I have been involved with a variety of projects, from those dealing with different historical memories to divides caused by polarized political views, from challenges of integration of internally displaced people to effective policymaking in government institutions.

In February 2022, I became a co-founder of Solidarity in Action (https://www.solidarityinaction.org.ua) - a humanitarian organization, providing aid to individuals and communities in Ukraine. This very practical work is something that helps me feel connected to my country and not feel completely helpless despite not being there physically. Currently, I live in a community in Germany as one of many Ukrainians who found refuge here.