Washington 2002-2004 | Testimonials | Sponsors
First International Youth Ecology Forum in Slavutych/Chornobyl
Program Activities 2005
The 2005 Youth Leadership Program opened on Sunday afternoon at the Kyiv
University of Tourism, Economics, and Law, where the students had accommodation
for the week. Nadia McConnell, President of the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation
(USUF), Markian Bilynskyj, USUF Vice President Kyiv, Vera Andrushkiw,
Community Partnerships Project (CPP) Director Washington, and Marta Kolomayets,
CPP Director Kyiv introduced the program, as well as the U.S.-Ukraine
Foundation to the students. At dinner, Oles Doniy, Chairman of the
Center for Study of Political Values, shared his own experiences in
youth political activism, discussing the hunger strike in 1990 in Kyiv,
known as "The Revolution on Granite," that he helped to lead
which ultimately lead to the disbanding of the Soviet Ukrainian parliament
and the resignation of Prime Minister Vitaly Masol.
Monday morning, Vera Andrushkiw, CPP Director, held a session with students on the history of relations between the U.S. and Ukraine, highlighting the important role that the Ukrainian-American community has been playing in these relations, as well as on the history of Ukraine during Soviet times and the struggles and challenges of Ukrainian national identity preservation. The students were also exposed to many hidden facts of Ukrainian history. Next, interactive leadership training on the worldviews and characteristics of leadership was directed by Ihor Dobko of the Lion Association in Lviv. After lunch, the students were given a "virtual day at the Rada" tour of the Parliament building, as well as a tour of the Administration of the President where they also met with representatives, such as, Pavlo Matsepa, Chief Consultant of Main Information Service of the Secretariat of the President of Ukraine. They gave a candid portrayal of the day to day workings of the Secretariat, as well as the limitations of the Secretariat in their efforts of analysis and evaluation of programs. The students were impressed with the dynamism and efforts of these individuals. At dinner at the Hotel Dnipro, the students enjoyed traditional Ukrainian folk music, not only listening, but many joined in singing, including Vera Andrushkiw and Nadia McConnell.
Ilia Shevlyak, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Family, Youth, and
Sports
(wearing bright blue)
explains the scope of the Ministry
On Tuesday, the students met with Ilia Shevlyak, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Family, Youth, and Sports, who discussed the scope of the Ministry which includes youth politics, families, physical activity, the Olympic committee, and orphans and adoption issues. The students had many questions, especially in regards to the plight of orphans and street kids. In his responses, Minister Shevlyak was eager to address the issues and to describe the Ministry's involvement. Next the students arrived at the Ministry of Education and Sciences where Yaroslav Bolyubash, Head, University Level Department and Omelyan Sukholytkyj, Head, International Relations Department talked about the high literacy rate of Ukrainians, and the general tendency for Ukrainian citizens to be very highly educated. They discussed the composition of all 668 institutions of higher learning in Ukraine. Also discussed were the implications of Ukraine's Ministry of Education and Sciences following the tenets of the Bologna Declaration. A lively question and answer session followed where even issues such as corruption were asked about by the students. At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Oleh Shamshur, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, discussed U.S.-Ukraine relations; a highlight included his opinion of Ukraine's accession to the WTO. That afternoon, the students were given a Kyiv highlights tour, as many of them had not spent time in Kyiv. Dinner guests included Maryna Krysa, President of "Help Us Help the Children," and Oleh Skrypka, "Voply Vydoplyasova." Maryna explained her work and both Maryna and Oleh discussed the passion that drives them in their pursuits. Oleh spoke on his views of modern Ukrainian culture and his concept of a leader.
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Wednesday morning opened at the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation office with a discussion from the School of Policy Analysis at NaUKMA. A "Pora" representative discussed the various obstacles overcome during the Orange Revolution. The president of the Youth Center of the Atlantic Council of Ukraine also met with the Youth Leaders. Pizza lunch was enhanced by a surprise visit from Danylo Yanevsky, Kanal 5. Students expressed that they were moved and motivated by his words, as he discussed not only journalism and Kanal 5, but life's choices and the importance of morals and ethics in life and the workplace.
In the afternoon, the participants visited Chornobyl Museum. Particularly
poignant was Natalie from Slavutych's personal interpretation of life
in Slavutych and Prypyat after the disaster, as well as the shared stories
of the students parent's who participated in Chornobyl evacuation and
clean-up. Following the museum visit, students took a much needed rest
on a Dnipro boat tour. At dinner, journalists Andriy Shevchenko,
Natalia Ligachova, "Telekrytyka," Kyrylo Bulkin, "Radio
Free Europe/Radio Liberty," and Dmytro Krykun, "IREX,"
gave their views on appropriate preparation for careers in journalism,
as well as their opinions on how and/or if the field has changed since
the Orange Revoluntion.
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| At the Peace Corps Office with Helen Petrozzola, Deputy Director Ukraine |
With Pora, Znayu, and the Youth Center of the
Atlantic Council of Ukraine at the USUF office
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The first meeting on Thursday was at the Peace Corps office where Helen Petrozzola, Deputy Director Ukraine and Anatoliy Sakhno, Youth Development Lead Specialist explained how to volunteer with Peace Corps and how to solicit volunteers to work in areas of need. Ukraine currently has the largest number of Peace Corps volunteers of all participating countries. At the USUF office, Sheila Gwaltney, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of the United States of America in Ukraine, debriefed the students on the current issues in U.S.-Ukraine relations. She also discussed her personal career path with the Foreign Service. Next, Lisa Heller, Counselor, U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Section, and representatives from American Councils for International Education, and IREX Ukraine presented the students with the many opportunities for study abroad and exchanges for Ukrainian students. In the afternoon, Yaroslav Pylynsky, Director, Kennan Institute, took the group on an informative, historically focused tour of two sites of mass executions, Babyn Yar and Bykivnia. Later that afternoon, Vadim Bodayev, Head of Representative Office, SigmaBleyzer gave insight into entrepreneurial endeavors in Ukraine. Ihor Silchenko, Marketing Director, Softline, one of SigmaBleyzer's investments, gave a talk about the company's business practices and future goals.
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Friday was marked by a bus trip to Kaniv. Upon arrival, a welcome and introduction was given by Mayor of Kaniv, Vasyl Kolomiyets, Fritz Meies of Germany, Chairman, "Friend of Kaniv" Association, and Nadia McConnell, USUF President. Next, Larysa Tomilyeva-Kuhno, Kaniv City Council Secretary moderated a roundtable discussion titled, "Role of Youth in Decision Making Process on Municipal Level." After a brief coffee break, Tetyana Orobchenko, a youth policy expert from Komsomolsk, Poltava oblast held a seminar on "Practical Steps on How Young People Can be Involved in the Decision Making Process on Municipal Level."
After lunch, the students visited the Taras Shevchenko grave and monument. Vera Andrushkiw, CPP Director, led the students in singing the "Zapovit", Shevchenko's testament. She also encouraged the students, only if they wanted, to sign the prepared commitments to leadership at this historic site. The commitments included a promise to continue their work for Ukraine, and in expanding US-Ukraine relations.
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On Saturday, the students went to Pushcha Vodytsya to "The Ark," to participate in a service project with "Father's Care," an organization that helps get street kids settled back into normal lives. The students made great strides in cleaning up and organizing yard work efforts on the grounds. Some of the children, one who lived at a bus station for six months, helped by the organization met and started friendships with the participants. Dinner guests at Mlyn on Hydropark included those who worked on the "Znayu!" project, as well as a few of the Youth Leaders from previous programs.
The final day ended with an emotional and encouraging debriefing session
led by Nadia McConnell, President of the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation (USUF),
Markian Bilynskyj, USUF Vice President Kyiv, Vera Andrushkiw, Community
Partnerships Project (CPP) Director Washington, and Marta Kolomayets,
CPP Director Kyiv. The U.S.-Ukraine Foundation presented a gift of
Ukrainian culture, a pin, and a certificate of completion to the students.
To the surprise of the USUF organizers, the students presented them with
a poem, written by a student, and a vase filled with confetti which symbolized
the materializing of their future and goals throughout the program. The
session ended with goodbyes to new found friends and with inspiration
in each participant to serve Ukraine as a leader.
Presentation of the gift to the USUF organizers from the Participants
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Final dinner at Mlyn on Hydropark