In Vienna, First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska met with First Lady of Austria Doris Schmidauer, familiarized herself with Austria's implementation of barrier-free initiatives, and took part in the launch of another Ukrainian-language audio guide.
“We are grateful to the country for all its support, particularly for hosting Ukrainian youth for recovery and rehabilitation for the fourth year in a row,” said the First Lady of Ukraine.
According to her, this visit to Austria will further expand cooperation between the two countries.
“I’m glad to have the opportunity to learn from Austria’s experience and see best practices in supporting people with disabilities,” Olena Zelenska noted.
The First Lady visited the U2/U5 Info Center, which showcases the integration of inclusivity in urban transport infrastructure, and a day center in Vienna for elderly people and those with disabilities.
“Austrian experience in barrier-free mobility is important for our Ministry for Communities and Territories Development, which is currently implementing the ‘Movement Without Barriers’ project. Supported living is now being introduced in Ukraine by the Ministry of Social Policy. I thank Austria for the inspiration and knowledge to help us create the best conditions for Ukrainians,” the President’s wife said.
The First Lady also took part in the opening of the seventh Ukrainian-language audio guide in Austria and the 103rd worldwide. It was launched at the Leopold Museum in Vienna.
“At a time when Russia is destroying our museums, promoting the Ukrainian language at world landmarks is a form of cultural resistance to Russian aggression – a way to counter the erasure of our identity,” Olena Zelenska emphasized.
The President’s wife also met with members of the Ukrainian community in Vienna.
“The audio guide project is also designed to support Ukrainians abroad, so that our people never feel like strangers anywhere – and to help them explore new countries and cultures,” the First Lady noted.