An online course ‘The Speech of the Present’ has been launched on the platform of the High School of Public Governance. The course was developed by the VESTA NGO with the support of the European Union and the International Renaissance Foundation as part of the European Renaissance of Ukraine initiative. The programme was created to improve the communication skills of civil servants, as effective communication is the key to proper support for veterans and their families.

The importance of the course stems from the need to improve interaction between government officials and citizens, especially those returning to civilian life after service. Veterans who have been through war need not only formal support from the state, but also sincere understanding. Unfortunately, however, not all civil servants have the skills to communicate properly. The lack of the necessary tools and approaches often makes the first steps of veterans’ adaptation a difficult stage. The role of the Language of the Present course is to provide such tools so that civil servants can better understand the needs of veterans and become a reliable rear for them.

The foundation of quality interaction is not only professional competence, but also sensitivity, ethics and openness to dialogue. Thanks to the Speech of the Present, government employees will be able to get closer to those who need support, demonstrating that the state really cares about its defenders.
The course consists of five modules. The course covers the general rules of communication, triggers, crisis situations and how to deal with them.