Sarah Güttler-Zakharova

Born in Essen (Germany), graduated institute as social worker, worked in social services and also in Human resources. In 2009 together with her associates, she started developing project «Workshops for Disabled People» in Duisburg (Duisburger Werkstatt für Menschen mit Behinderung). These days, 1200 people work here. The main manufacture includes four workshops, two restaurants, bike repair shop, and a shop selling handmade clothes and accessories. Brand is called Ars Vivendi. Currently Sarah is working on the same project in Perm.

Quotes:

• Sometimes your success depends on someone else's decisions. And it takes a lot of time to take them, you wait and wait, and it is very disappointing.
• People are too focused on technology, their gadgets. They forget there is real life around.
• It's a privilege — having an opportunity to make someone's life better. Not everybody has this opportunity. I'm happy I do.

My story:

Every person meeting disabled people for the first time, feels uncomfortable, sometimes even afraid. When I graduated from school, I decided to go volunteering for those we used to call handicapped. It was my true desire. I remember my first day there very clearly, it was challenging, I simply had no idea what to do, how to behave properly. When I returned home, I told my parents, «I will never go back there!» I was really scared. But they told me, «You must try one more time.» I did and decided to stay. While studying at university, I had a chance to work with disabled people several hours a week. These were great times.

Sometimes these people react not in a way we are used to, they see things differently. But it is absolutely normal, and everyone can come to that conclusion after talking to them.

The most precious thing about working in Ars Vivendi is the opportunity to see on the daily basis how people face new challenges and deal with them successfully. We do not focus on things someone can't do, we focus on things that go well. Ars Vivendi is a great opportunity to see how people develop, and being part of this process is happiness and true joy.

I never thought of giving everything up. My amazing family has always supported me on my way. I had an amazing tutor — Roselyne Rogg was at the head of our workshops when they only appeared. She taught me to believe in myself, be brave and walk confidently along the chosen path.
Many people working in our workshops in Duisburg were not happy before. Today they are successful. We do not save disabled people in Ars Vivendi, they are stuff just as the rest of us, and together we produce wonderful things. It is not a place of pity, it is a place of opportunities; people get experience, job here, their lives change. I am proud of what I see.

After marrying Sergey (Sergey Zakharov — deputy of Perm City Council — ed.) and moving to Perm, I felt awkward. It seemed I had no home. It was already not in Germany, but also not yet in Russia. However, it is fine now. Of course, I go to Duisburg and Essen, visit family and friends, and I love it but my home is here, in Perm. There are still language challenges, but I am studying and determined to win this battle.

If we talk about approach to business, then in Germany everything is strictly planned, you know your actions for at least a year ahead. It is more difficult in Russia, you often hear, 'we will decide on it in two weeks', then two weeks more, and more, and then they start saying, 'yeah, yeah, soon.' Of course, you then get result a lot slower but I try to influence this situation. If we talk about everyday life, Russian people seem more reserved, they seldom smile. But when you meet them, start talking to them, you see kindness and warmth of Russians. I mean, it is so sweet when everyone shares about vegetables they picked at their country houses.

Germans don't seem to be happy people nowadays. Most of them have jobs, but if they don't, there is still a great social support system. Yet, people are still unhappy. Many vote against immigrants, they forget about tolerance. Maybe, the reason is that for 70 years straight there were no military conflicts in Europe, and we have just forgotten how horrible conflicts between people can get?

I can't say I regret anything. Maybe, I should have acted bolder, more confident, when I was young. But it is not the thing that suppresses me or comes to me in nightmares.

The main thing about our project is teaching people to live together. Society must understand that being different is good; it is this difference between people that makes life better, makes it real.