“I don’t search for a place in the sun – I create it. For myself. And for others.” That’s how my conversation begins with Olesia Tarasenko – a woman whose presence changes the atmosphere of a room just like spring light transforms the grey of a March morning. Head of the Ukrainian-Swiss foundation VIDNOVA, founder of several media projects, PR specialist, event curator, and voice of Ukrainian women abroad – she has turned her personal experience of war into a multi-layered recovery program for others.
By Lisa Frost, exclusively for “Ukrainians and the World” magazine
The Formula of Impact: From Humanitarian Mission to Cultural Diplomacy
In Switzerland, the name Olesia Tarasenko is already well known beyond the Ukrainian community. In a country with clear rules, multiculturalism, and high integration standards, her activity has become a living example of “soft power” in action. In just three years, her foundation VIDNOVA has become a platform uniting civil society, government, media, culture, and business around a shared goal – supporting Ukrainians and promoting the values of democracy, dignity, and freedom.
The INTEGRAS Forum in Bern became a symbol of this collaboration. For the first time in the history of the Ukrainian community in Switzerland, representatives of state institutions (SEM, RAV, social services), the diplomatic corps, international organizations, scholars, volunteers, experts, and refugees gathered on one platform. The forum addressed not only legal status (S permit) but also access to education, employment, women’s rights, psychosocial support, and reintegration perspectives.
“We’re building a bridge between Switzerland and Ukraine – between those who’ve lost their home and those who can help them find it again. Not always geographically, but always existentially,” Olesia explains.
Social Capital: From Trust to Change
VIDNOVA is not just an organization. It’s social capital in action. By consistently involving citizens in projects, fostering cross-cultural communication, and participating in discussions at the cantonal, municipal, and international levels – new bonds are formed, trust emerges, and opportunities are created.
The VIDNOVA team knows how to truly listen to the community. That’s how initiatives like these were born:
- Women Leaders’ Clubs in Zurich, Biel, and Kreuzlingen – informal spaces for support, networking, and growth.
- Support for aspiring women entrepreneurs – training series, mentoring programs, legal consultations.
- Psychological evenings for children and adults – in partnership with leading specialists from Ukraine and Europe.
- Cultural bridges – meetings with artists, exhibitions, and Ukrainian music nights at museums and theaters in Switzerland.
Healing Through Art: A New Role in a New Country
Olesia discovered her creative “second self” thanks to her friend, artist Iryna Fedorenko. Art helped her feel alive, whole, and free again. Her paintings are the voice of inner truth, the calming of pain, and a search for light.
Within the framework of VIDNOVA’s charitable events, art has become a new communication channel with local communities. It doesn’t need translation or explanation. Through emotions and colors, Swiss people gain a deeper understanding of what Ukrainians are experiencing.
A special place belongs to the International Children’s Drawing Competition, revived by VIDNOVA’s initiative. This is more than a creative contest – it is a space where children, even after loss, feel important, seen, and recognized once again.
Leadership Without Pathos: Soft Power That Changes the Rules
She’s been called “the Ukrainian heart of Switzerland,”but she laughs: “The heart is the team. I wouldn’t exist without my deputies Svitlana and Viktoriia, our volunteers and partners. We are one breath.”
Indeed, teamwork is the secret to their success. Coordinated planning, strategic partnerships, support from the Ukrainian Embassy Office in Switzerland, and media trust – all of this has made it possible to organize:
Meetings with thought leaders and Ukrainian celebrities.
Educational projects and internationally certified training sessions. The “Ukrainians in Switzerland” information campaign, which became a guide and lifeline for thousands.
Female Unity, Social Action, and a Brand at the Crossroads of Cultures
“War taught me that life cannot be postponed. I have the right to be happy here and now – and to help others feel that right too,” Olesia shares during her speech at the European Forum of Ukrainian Women.
Her journey is not only a professional transformation but also a deep personal evolution. From an emigrant to a thought leader, from a TV host to a public activist, from a PR expert to an artist and mentor for other women. Today, she not only leads an organization – she inspires others to create, to feel, to act.
A New Ukrainian Face of Europe
Switzerland is a country of high human standards. And here, supported by leaders like Olesia Tarasenko, Ukrainians demonstrate that we are not just asking – we are creating, contributing, and building.
VIDNOVA is more than a name. It is a concept of renewal. Not just physical, but also cultural, social, and mental. And while the war continues, it is these initiatives that shape a new image of Ukraine – strong, feminine, wise, and open to cooperation.
VIDNOVA is not just about help. It’s about belief. In yourself. In the nation. In the future. And it is that belief that is building the new Ukraine – in hearts, and in the world.
Social media for contact and partnerships:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/olesia.tarasenko
Instagram: www.instagram.com/olesia.tarasenko/
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/olesiatarasenko/
