I am the author of the Goodacity blog, a journalist, and a translator. For 16 years, I have worked in professional journalism, contributing to regional and national publications, both in print and online media. I have written reports, conducted interviews, reviews, articles on cultural, social, and charitable topics, as well as materials in the style of "solution journalism" and communication materials.
My focus is on creating interesting and exclusive content. Journalism, to me, is primarily about human stories, to which I always find the key, empathize with the people I write about, and love all my heroes. Journalism, to me, means telling people about what truly matters to them, informing and inspiring them. It is not just a job, but a way of life, just like for all those who dream, create, and are inspired by it.
So, if you are looking for stories that inspire and motivate, that instill faith and help find meaning while believing in goodness, read my stories on the Goodacity website.
I am a manager of cultural affairs and a project manager with over 14 years of experience at United Thinkers. I have participated in the organization of numerous successful social and charitable projects and have implemented informational campaigns and communication cases.
As a marketing manager, I have been involved in organizing marketing and sociological research, working with media and partners, developing advertising and marketing strategies, as well as planning and implementing advertising campaigns.
I believe in the power of goodness and I am happy that as part of the Goodacity project, I can contribute to its expansion. I believe in the power of words and in the fact that communication can help make the world a better place. I know how, where and when to speak in order to be heard. And when you are heard, you can change the world!
The way in life is the choice of each of us
Their way in life is an example of incredible fortitude and unbreakable will! Natalie and her husband Igor are people with disabilities who had to overcome many trials before learning to live fully.
“I don’t know what tomorrow will bring, so today I want to live a rich and vibrant life as much as possible!” says Natalie.
If there is a desire, everything is possible!
Natalie, 32 years old. She loves to paint, plants trees and takes care of the garden, performs in the theater, and has a beloved husband. Even while moving in a wheelchair, she boldly pursues her own dreams!
“What gives me strength? My mother always told me that I’m just a regular child – she never focused on my disability. And that’s how I live – with the understanding that I’m just like everyone else, I just move in a wheelchair,” Natalie shares. “My way to happiness involved acceptance and understanding that special needs don’t diminish your abilities, they simply increase the time you need to work to achieve results,” the girl believes. “Once I realized this, I got to work! If there is a desire, you can do anything!”
Youth Integration theater “MIST,” of which I am an actress, has tremendously helped me in creative fulfillment. I became fascinated with theater back in 2015 when it all started with the rehabilitation theater “Divosad,” where I was brought by my then-boyfriend, Igor. He had friends in the theater who invited him to a rehearsal, Igor became interested, and he brought me to the theater as well, and we have been performing together ever since. Igor and I met while playing bowling, organized by the Chernihiv City Association of People with Disabilities “Shans” and the UTAG. We have been together for almost 10 years now, and this autumn we will be celebrating our anniversary. I don’t know what else to say – I’m just happy…”
“Our Natalochka is always vibrant, very bright, and always positive,” says Irina Pisnia, the artistic director of the “MIST” theater, talking about Natalia. “A girl who carries the sun within herself!… She is very profound, intelligent, Natalia is our ‘philosopher’! And such a pure and bright soul!
Hardworking, diligent, enthusiastic, creative, and talented. She not only diligently learns all her roles but also encourages others! They both came to our theater together, and they walk through life together. They have a very tender and reverent attitude towards each other. I am so happy for them, that they found each other in this world… Igor has golden hands – he does everything around the house, and he bakes incredibly delicious pies! Natalia’s mother is a second-degree disabled person, Igor’s father is paralyzed after a stroke, and they help them, manage the household themselves, and still find time to perform in the theater! They are incredible achievers!”
“Ah, Igor makes such delicious borscht,” Natalia laughs, “mine doesn’t turn out as good… But my ‘parish’ is the garden. I can’t go everywhere in my wheelchair, but where it’s level, I sit on a stool and get to work! I grow herbs, I have two greenhouses with tomatoes, and I love trees… Two years ago, I planted a pear tree—I was so thrilled with its first pears last year. I also added an apple tree to keep it company, and this year we transplanted a plum tree, and even a little cherry tree is growing. Our house suffered from shelling last spring, so now we’re planning repairs—though it requires quite a bit of money, so we’re gradually buying materials and getting ready.”
The theater is my life!
“It’s been ten years since our way in life became shared. Igor and I are together on stage and in life—we help each other, support each other,” says Natalia. “We have such a warm, heartfelt atmosphere in the entire theater collective! We only argue when it’s written in the script!)) Katya and I—she’s my close friend—we’re supposed to have an argument in one play, and we do it so colorfully, with heart—it’s just what we have to do, argue!)) But once we step off the stage, we make peace. We are truly like one family.”
It’s on that stage that you realize living with a disability can be interesting, and creativity helps a lot. Firstly, you enjoy it yourself, and when what you do is also appreciated by the audience, it’s fantastic. Secondly, people with disabilities come to the performances, and I hope that seeing our shows, they understand that there’s something ahead!”
Do you know what stuck with me? After our premiere, which was the play “The Blue Bird” by Maurice Maeterlinck, a very philosophical and rich performance, I played the role of “The Soul of Light,” and one spectator took the floor. To this day, I remember her words: she said she noticed that I was in a wheelchair only when all the actors came out to take a bow at the end of the show! That’s how I managed to captivate with my performance…
Love brought me to the theater, and there I practically found another love,” Natalia laughs. “Love for the stage and for the theater…”
When we ask, “What is theater for you?” Natalia, without hesitation, answers, “Theater is life for me! I don’t just act on stage, I live!” the girl says. “I adore our rehearsals – they are full of drive, positivity, and an explosion of emotions! It’s not just about the result – the premiere – but also the journey itself! And our journey, although sometimes thorny, is so inspiring! The audience sees a ready-made ‘picture’ on stage and sometimes doesn’t even realize how much work, effort, and sweat it took. During rehearsals, each of us sometimes plays not only our own role but also someone else’s – someone might have health issues, someone couldn’t make it… Honestly, even reaching our rehearsal space on Sherstyanka Street in a wheelchair is quite a ‘quest’…
I wish we had fewer barriers for people with disabilities, both the ones in people’s minds and the purely technical ones – so that it would be possible to enter a store without obstacles, descend into an underground passage, or get on a bus. It takes me at least an hour to get to the rehearsal. “That’s if I’m going with you,” Igor joins the conversation. And if I’m alone, it takes twice as long. Last summer, when Chernihiv was recovering after the siege, and we decided to resume rehearsals for our theater, there were times when I had to walk to get there…
Last spring, we were in the city all the time. You can’t find shelter in a cart, so I had no choice but to sit in the apartment and listen to the sounds of explosions. We thought we would stay in our own house, but when the shelling approached our neighborhood, Igor urgently took me to his parents. It was such an emergency evacuation… And as it turned out, it was not in vain – in the evening of the same day, a neighboring house was hit, and ours suffered some damage too, but thankfully, we were not directly hit… But we found the strength to get through this period, and when everything calmed down, we started rehearsing again – first outdoors, and later in the hall. After all that we went through, it was such a relief for us to engage in what we love, what keeps us afloat…
Recently, our theater visited a hospital for our soldiers – we wanted to show them by our example that even with disabilities, one can live a fulfilling life, you just have to choose your way in life. It was evident that they enjoyed the performance, they were thrilled, and we were happy to give them these emotions! Now everyone needs support – to remind people that, yes, it’s difficult and challenging now, but it will get better later!
At the end of our conversation, I asked Natalia what she dreams about – something heartfelt and profound… Her answer moved me to tears. A delicate girl with the soul of a warrior doesn’t ask the Universe for anything for herself. “I dream of Victory!” Natalia says.
