UA Newsletter #1 (ENG)

“Ukrainian Action 2010: Healing the Past.” 4-11 June 2010, Kharkiv region, Staruy Saltiv, Soich resort camp

Finally!

The national project “Ukraine active 2010: Healing the past 2010” has opened. Starting from 4th until 11th of June, 9 young participants from all regions of Ukraine and facilitators from Ukraine, Russia and Australia met in Kharkiv region to prepare for the trip all over Ukraine that is to last 1,5 months. From 4th of June till 8th of July we will be traveling through small villages and big towns in search of answers relevant to the Ukrainian nation. Through the personal stories of Crimean Tatars, Carpathian craftsmen, Lugansk coalminers and soldiers of Ukrainian Insurgent Army, veterans of USSR army and those who liquidated the consequences of the Chernobyl catastrophe, we will be healing the wounds of the past, overcoming the boundaries between understanding of Ukraine by different people. Who is the “hero” and who is “oppressor” in Ukraine?

Who was defending our country and who betrayed it? Why do we have to profess ideology that we inherited?

These are some of the questions we are seeking to find answers to throughout our trip.

In order to change the country for the better we should change ourselves first. We change as we go. Our souls change. The weekly newsletter will tell you about our experience and people we meet along the way.

Enjoy your reading!

Who are you, traveler?

This project would not be possible without its participants, just as the day is not possible without the sun. Who are these people that took on traveling Ukraine in search of common human values and the desire to heal the nation’s wounds of the past in spite of summer heat, discomfort and the ever present camera?

Zoya. (Lugansk, Eastern Ukraine). The head of Lugansk region branch of the national youth NGO “Democratic Alliance”. Philosophy postgraduate student of Eastern Ukrainian national university named after V. Dal.

“My main motivation for taking part in this project was to find answers to the important questions which I’m faced with in everyday life, with my family and friends. My work is associated with taking part in discussions and protests, commenting on different events, but there is certain questions that I still don’t have full answers to”.

Polina.

(Simferopol, Crimea, South of Ukraine). Born in Simferopol in 1983. Graduated in 2005 from Cultural Studies department. Studies Russian, Ukrainian languages and Crimean culture and history. “This year I got involved in the project “Building

trust within multinational Crimean youth” that was initiated by simferopol’s Club of young leaders, which follows “Foundation for freedom values”. I am taking part in the project “Ukraine active 2010” to learn more about Ukraine, Ukrainian culture and identity. It is hard for me to associate myself with Ukraine as I never got the chance to see it for real.

The relationships of Crimea with Ukraine and the world are complex and tragic, and are regularly being reported on in the world media”.

Galechka.

Comes from Nikolaev (Southern, Ukraine). Student and

social activist.

“I got interested in the project “UA active 2010” because I’m Ukrainian, I love my country, but, unfortunately, have little knowledge of it. I would like to get a full idea of Ukraine’s regions, understand why they are so different, though united by one history and find out what can we do to overcome these borders and heal the wounds of the past.

I want my children to live in a united, friendly, tolerant, strong and respected country”.

Shukri.

Comes from Crimea (South of Ukraine). Studies History. Involved in the public activism in Crimea. Member of international organization “Bizim Qirim”.

“I’m interested in cross-cultural problems, especially the future of Ukraine and my people – Crimean Tatars. I’m for tolerance and unity in society – that’s why I decided to join the project “Ukraine active 2010”.

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“Ukrainian Action 2010: Healing the Past.” 4-11 June 2010, Kharkiv region, Staruy Saltiv, Soich resort camp

About organizers…

Apart from the nine guys, who are bravely starting on their long and exciting journey, there’s a friendly team of organizers who are working on this project constantly, as well as different interesting people who are joining in.

About those, who visited project’s participants this week you can read further!  Vlad.

Company development manager, which deals with the production of plastic goods.

I love my work. Actually, it takes the majority of my time.

Oksana.

The member of organizers team.

It was exciting to organize the project and will be very interesting to see the end result.

In my opinion, “Ukraine Active” is a hot topic project. If you want to change the world – begin with yourself, but do it in small doses.

Alex.

I studied psychology and sociology in Australia. There I joined australian social movement, hopping to make positive changes in the world.

Not finding them, was very disappointed, and I was trying to understand, what do I live for. I found my life mission in India. New hopes – new meanings, all thanks to the “Initiatives of Changes”. Since then I became a full time volunteer in this organization. My vision is: big changes start from individuals. For this reason I am here, taking part in the program as a facilitator.

Lissa.

Student of Kharkiv National University after V.N. Karazin, social activist. Member of regional youth organization “Dumka”.

I’ve seen different Ukraine, but not ukrainian one. I mean, on the whole ukrainian. Though, this week I noticed that people from different parts of Ukraine, and even different countries, can happily coexist together. If it’s possible for ten people - it’s possible for the whole country?..Yes, we differ from each other: we have different problems and backgrounds, but we wouldn’t be who we are if we’d all be the same.

Olka.

Initiator and coordinator of this project. Also, regional coordinator of “Foundation for Freedom”. Holder of a master's degree in applied linguistics, translation from/to English and Japanese languages. Comes from L’viv.

In year 2005-2006 having taken part in a similar projects in South Eastern Asia, I got the idea of the project’s format. I’m trying to organize a project, where there would be plenty of space for life stories of ukrainians of different views, religion, social and linguistic statuses.

Natalia.

Works for public organization “Warm House” (Moscow), which helps in social adaptation of women who suffered from military conflicts.

Practicing psychologist. Instructor.

This project is interesting for me, because problems I have recently dealt with concern this project. Ukraine in itself is interesting for me because it touches one of the sides of my identity.

Also, I am interested in History of Ukraine, its nature and people. I hope to see all this during the project. I was really looking forward to working in the international team.

Zoryana. Instructor-Facilitator, member of management group of international organization “Foundation for Freedom”. Has been taking part in the work of international assosiation “Initiatives of Changes” for 10 years.

Mykhailo. TV producer, originally from Kharkiv. My dream is to find friends here with whom I could keep in touch later. I dream to make a film, which would be an achievement not only for me but for “Foundation for Freedom” as well. I want to understand myself better, and especially to understand better the problems of freedom and mercy.

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“Ukrainian Action 2010: Healing the Past.” 4-11 June 2010, Kharkiv region, Staruy Saltiv, Soich resort camp

EGGlish VoEGGbulary Alex is a vegetarian, that’s why the menu for him was created separately – vEGGetarian .

However, unlike having normal varied meals, Aleks had for breakfast, dinner and supper... eggs!  BrEGGfast – breakfast made of eggs vEGGetarian – vegetarian, who has to eat eggs three times a day EGGsercise – exercise with eggs EGGknowledgement – gratitude to cooks for tasty brEGGfast EGGsplosion – can happen with Alex if he will overeat eggs…

EGG-circle – ordinary Australian circle, in which the destination from any point of circle to the center is the same.

ReflEGGtion – reaction of Alex and the whole group at him having again eggs for breakfast ConEGGtion – the quality of eggs to unite people CorrEGGtion – for the day to go smooth, you need…....eggs!

DirEGGtion – way of life and world outlook, built on eggs  Make up your own EGGspression! 

First Impressions Vlad Lesniak - one of the organizers of the project. He participates in the project just for a week. His thoughts about what is going on in “Ukraine Active”.

Why did you decide to help to organize this project?

- When my friends called me and proposed to be in organizers team, I had an injured leg and couldn't be active. But it was nice for me to work with friends. For a week I was thinking whether I should “plug my self into” the project, but then made a decision that this project had a few positive moments and because of them I’d like it to happen. This is a chance for active and young people to see Ukraine and make a decision for themselves if they can change something, and if they can - then how?

What are your impressions after the first week of the project?

- On this project it was the first time for me to try myself as a facilitator and I can say it’s been a useful experience. Also, I took a lot from the stories of participants. As for now, I can't jump into any conclusions – first I need to think over everything that has happened.

P.ost S.cript Preparation period is over. The journey has begun! On June 12th "Ukraine active" stayed in Kharkiv, and on 13 th of June went to Lugansk region. On June 15th we will be enjoying the views of Hortytsa (an island on the Dnipro river in Zaporiggia).

Then the whole week - from June 13th until June 21st, we will research stories of native Ukrainians, Russians, Crimean Tatars, Frackian Greeks, Crimean Karaims and others in Crimean peninsular.

Our trip ends in Switzerland, where we will be presenting parts of the documentary film about our journey and our experience of finding ways to heal the past. And at the same time we will be listening to experiences of participants from 60 countries that will be there.

At the moment not all the participants have enough resources for the flights to Switzerland. For all of them to make it to the “Caux Forum for Human Security” (www.caux.ch), we still need to raise $1500. If you want to help this project to be presented in Caux by all the participants of the project please contact the organizers.

Information: Phone: +38-063-1428922 Additional: +38-067-5266968, +38-097-98-14-372 e-mail of the project: ukrainian.action@gmail.com web site: www.f-4-f.org

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