Oschadbank Scales Up Accessibility Culture: Training Sessions for Municipal Enterprises Employees Were Held in Chernihiv and Mykolaiiv

Oschadbank is expanding its large-scale educational program aimed at promoting an inclusive culture in Ukraine. Two-day practical training sessions titled “Accessibility: Proper Communication” took place on May 28 and 29 in Chernihiv and Mykolaiiv. More than 30 representatives of local government, public institutions, and municipal enterprises, including those in social welfare, healthcare, Administrative Service Centers, public transportation, housing and utilities, as well as urban planning and development, attended the events.

These training sessions were the Bank's 10th and 11th events held as part of its nationwide program. Earlier, such training sessions were successfully held in Rivne, Odesa, Poltava, Chernivtsi, Vinnytsia, Zhytomyr, Khmelnytskyi, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Ternopil.

The initiative is being implemented as part of First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska’s program “Barrier-Free Means When You CAN” supported by Tetiana Lomakina, Presidential Commissioner for Barrier-Free Environment.

The training course included both theoretical knowledge and analysis of real-life case studies. Participants learned about the National Strategy for Creating a Barrier-Free Environment and gained practical experience in interacting with people with visual, hearing, and musculoskeletal impairments, as well as those with mental health conditions. The organizers paid special attention to practical case studies, i.e., situations that specialists encounter daily when dealing with citizens, particularly those with combat experience.

Oschadbank partners with the government's “Language of Dignity” program, so the training sessions place a strong emphasis on proper terminology and tolerant communication – the foundation of an inclusive culture.

“At Oschadbank, we are convinced that accessibility begins not with a ramp, but with the individuals and the attitude toward them. We aim not merely to share our experience, but to help communities build a culture of communication where every customer or visitor feels at ease. Oschadbank systematically implements inclusive standards across its branches, and we strive to ensure that this experience becomes a nationwide norm," noted Anton Tiutiun, Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of Oschadbank.

He further added that contributing to the development of a barrier-free society has been an integral part of the Bank's strategy and philosophy for over 12 years. Following the outbreak of the full-scale invasion, Oschadbank reviewed its operations, examined the experiences of countries that have faced challenging events in their history, consulted with experts and customers with disabilities, and launched an updated strategy for promoting accessibility. Currently, all staff members are undergoing the relevant mandatory training, and these approaches are now being shared with the public sector.

Today, Oschadbank is a leader in the financial sector in terms of developing barrier-free infrastructure. Currently, over 750 of the Bank's branches meet all state standards for physical accessibility. In addition, 36 inclusive branches have been designed in-house with enhanced accessibility standards, and 14 mobile branches are operating to provide financial services in frontline and hard-to-reach communities.

The strategic goal of the project is to establish a sustainable network of local trainers specializing in barrier-free communication. Upon completion of the program, these specialists will ensure the implementation of inclusive standards in the daily operations of local government agencies and municipal institutions.