The Story of Valery Momot

The Digital Storytelling for Social Enterprises project was designed to equip participants with practical digital communication skills — website creation, mission-driven branding, and AI-supported storytelling for social impact.

For some participants, the workshops improved their online visibility. For others, they became a turning point. One of those stories belongs to Dr. Valery Momot.

A Family Displaced by War

Dr. Valery Momot and his family were forced to leave Kharkiv after the outbreak of the full-scale war in Ukraine. They relocated to the Netherlands together — Valery, his wife Tatiana, his chronically ill brother, and his 88-year-old mother.

Displacement meant rebuilding life from zero in a new country, language, and system — while carrying responsibility for vulnerable family members. During four years of war and adaptation, the family demonstrated extraordinary resilience. They learned Dutch. They navigated new professional regulations. They supported one another.

Tatiana Momot, a pediatrician by training, is now working as a dental assistant while participating in a professional recognition program to confirm her medical qualifications in the Netherlands. Her determination reflects the broader story of many Ukrainian professionals rebuilding their careers abroad.

Strong Academic Foundation

Dr. Momot holds a Master’s degree in Engineering and a PhD in Management from the University of Kharkiv. With more than 20 years of experience teaching management in higher education, he built a respected academic career before the war. His expertise spans strategic management, organizational development, and leadership.

Yet displacement required reinvention. After relocating, Valery became actively involved in Erasmus+ initiatives supporting Ukrainian refugees. As a volunteer, he contributed to projects focused on:

• Psychological well-being
• Resilience-building
• Social and economic integration
• Digital literacy and communication

Through these initiatives, he not only supported others but also immersed himself in the Dutch civic and social landscape. 

Yet volunteering was not the endpoint — it became the foundation for his next professional chapter. 

Digital Storytelling as a Strategic Tool

Within the Digital Storytelling for Social Enterprises project, Dr. Momot participated in workshops on:

• Website creation
• Communicating mission and impact
• Social media positioning
• AI-powered storytelling tools

For Dr. Momot, whose background is in management and higher education, the workshops were not only about acquiring technical digital skills. They offered an opportunity to complement his academic and professional expertise with new tools for communicating ideas, projects, and organisational missions in the digital space.

Digital storytelling became a valuable addition to his existing expertise, helping translate management knowledge and project experience into clear narratives about purpose, services, and impact tailored to specific social media platforms. 

By combining 20+ years of management expertise, first-hand experience of displacement and integration, and newly acquired AI-driven storytelling competencies, he identified an opportunity.

From Participant to Founder: NL-UA Consulting

The result was the creation of NL-UA Consulting, a new initiative designed to support Ukrainian displaced professionals and aspiring entrepreneurs in the Netherlands.

The company works with Ukrainian migrants who are planning to start businesses in the Dutch market, helping them:

• Understand regulatory and economic frameworks
• Develop business strategies
• Communicate their mission effectively
• Build digital presence through storytelling

Dr. Momot transformed personal displacement into professional purpose.

What began as participation in a workshop evolved into an entrepreneurial platform that empowers others.

The workshops provided:

• Tools
• Digital confidence
• Applied AI competencies
• Strategic communication frameworks

However, the real success lies in Valery’s resilience and expertise. He rebuilt his professional identity, founded a consulting initiative, and now supports fellow Ukrainians in achieving economic independence in the Netherlands.

This is the true multiplier effect of adult education and non-formal learning.

Our workshops were just a small step. The transformation was his — and the impact continues to expand.