On July 3, 2024, the Refugee Council of Lithuania held an event titled "Exchange of Experience of Ukrainians at MiCenter Lithuania of the International Organization for Migration: An Example of Opening a Business in Lithuania." The event, conducted in Ukrainian, showcased the entrepreneurial efforts of Ukrainians living abroad and emphasized the importance of preserving Ukrainian culture and language for children living abroad.
The main speaker, Svitlana Stepanenko, shared her inspiring journey of opening a Ukrainian children's bookstore in Lithuania. Having lived in Lithuania for two years and raised a three-year-old son, Svitlana single-handedly started an online bookstore called Svitlobook (a combination of "Svitlana" and "book"). You can follow Svitlana's journey and support her bookstore on Instagram and Telegram.
Key Highlights of the Event:
１． Entrepreneurial Story:
Svitlana's bookstore exemplifies Ukrainian entrepreneurship in Lithuania. It provides Ukrainian books, fairy tales, and encyclopedias for children in the community.
２． Education and Child Development:
Svitlana highlighted the significance of Ukrainian literature in raising children abroad, stressing how books, music, and art foster children's creativity and cultural connection.
３． Cultural Preservation:
The event emphasized maintaining Ukrainian identity, language, and traditions in emigration. Participants discussed literature's crucial role in conveying cultural values, including fairy tales and works by Taras Shevchenko.
4. Challenges and Solutions:
The event addressed common challenges faced by Ukrainian families abroad, such as language barriers, and shared strategies for creating opportunities for Ukrainian language communication and cultural engagement.
5. Interactive Discussions and Networking:
Attendees discussed the role of women in Ukrainian literature, the importance of reading Ukrainian fairy tales to children, and ways to nurture Ukrainian language skills in a foreign environment. Additionally, participants enjoyed networking, sharing experiences, and inspiring each other by listening to recent daily life stories.
The event called for continued collaboration and support within the Ukrainian community in Lithuania. Moderator Olena Semenchuk from Ukraine shared her impressions after the event:
“It was such a heartfelt moment to listen to Svitlana’s presentation as her business has such a powerful mission and message.”
This event, part of the Refugee Council of Lithuania's ongoing efforts to support refugees, highlighted the Ukrainian community's resilience and creativity. It demonstrated how cultural preservation and entrepreneurship can go hand in hand, contributing to the Ukrainian community and Lithuania's rich cultural diversity.
We appreciate the support of the US Embassy in Vilnius and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Lithuania, which aligns with our mission to promote refugee integration and empowerment.
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