Elena Zelenskaya in a final interview told her work during the war

Therefore, her work was concentrated in several directions. - evacuation abroad children with oncology, orphans, care over family -type orphanages. “And now I continue to take care of the evacuated pupils of kindergartens. Often, in a new place, they do not have the conditions they need. So we provide everything, ”the first lady said. - a diplomatic mission, including speeches in the US Congress, the UK Parliament, in the UN, meetings with political figures in the world.

“It was important for me to hear that we were happening to us that the war was not somewhere far away. To say that for me a diplomatic mission, including a speech in Congress, was a step for the comfort zone - it's nothing to say. But we all have not have a comfort zone for a long time. However, fear disappears because you have something to say, ”Olena Zelenska said. - creation of its own foundation to assist Ukraine in the areas of reconstruction of medicine, education, humanitarian aid.

“There were more requests for help. But the number of proposals, "How to join Ukraine?" Has also increased? " To make this puzzle of requests and suggestions, the tool - the fund - was needed. I will note that we are raising money abroad to use them in Ukraine, ”the first lady emphasized. - Initiative and participation in the creation of the National Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Program.

“The implementation of the program is now taking care of the Ministry of Health, we are involved in all foreign experience, and at the same time we already have our own, which will definitely need not only us. Good news - big psychological problems can be avoided by knowing how to help yourself and how to get it. We are building such a system, ”Olena Zelenska said. - continuation of school nutrition reform, taking into account the needs of wartime.

“We launched a reform in January 2022, and an attack occurred in a month. There was despair that we had to stop. But we do not stop. For the last few months, we have continued to reform school nutrition under new conditions, for new challenges, when some children are studying at home, there are often no electricity in schools. But we have tips and decisions for all these cases. The learning program for cooking teachers who prepare chefs for schools has started.

And we launched the construction of a kitchen factory in Bucha, along with the American Patrons Howard Buffette. She will be able to feed three surrounding communities, and I hope that she will work since September 1, ”the first lady said. - Continuation of the embarrassment, including the supplement and publication of the "Barrier Directory" - the first in the country of inclusive communication manual. "It has an important section" In wartime ", which answers the most relevant questions.

And we took another step - we printed it, including Braille. In general, the barrier is even more important: by restoring the country, we have to make it better than it was. And to people who received disabilities - to give the best opportunities, ”Olena Zelenska emphasized.

- Continuation of cultural diplomacy projects, including launching Ukrainian audio guides in museums in the world, projects "Books without borders", "Ukrainian Book Shelf" on the spread of Ukrainian literature in the world and among children - temporary displaced persons, Better Time Stories for the creation of personalized audiobooks for children that remained in Ukraine.

“People who quickly leave their homes are unlikely to take books with them, but reading at night is a corner of rest for the family. Normal family evening is really important. Within the framework of the book without borders, more than 200,000 books were published and distributed to children. So they feel connected with their homeland.