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CONTENTS: The Week of Trust in Ukraine Meeting with Rajmohan Gandhi Viewpoint: Baranivka A new major IofC project in Baranivks Ukraine A week of adventures Ukrainian Action 2010: Healing the Past Club for Young Leaders 2010 Buidling Trust among Multicultural Youth of Crimea Start with yourself! Club for Young Leaders 2010 in Romania Morality, Responsibility and Freedom in Society VC in Serbia Meeting with Mrs. Inge Thelemann Grütz In brief: Moldova
The Week of Trust in Ukraine What was it? A series of events in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Crimea (Simferopol and Sevastopol), as well as allUkraine photo and essay competitions and media coverage throughout the country. – three films were shown in Kyiv on three days (one of which was Richard Attenborough’s Oscar-winning Gandhi – I recommend it to all!); films related to the theme of trust in one way or another were on all night at the “film night” in Simferopol; and a 48-hour film festival took place in Kharkiv. – A Trust Tree action was held in Simferopol – people passing through the central street wrote what trust meant for them on pieces of paper and received a surprise cookie with a quote on trust. In Kharkiv they decided to engage real trees and held a tree planting action entitled The Peace Tree. – The Crimean team started by exploring what trust meant for them personally and carried out training on the theme of trust for the Week's organizing team in Crimea. In Kiev they opted to use the wisdom of the Franklin Covey training company who conducted training for the Week’s partners and all those interested in the theme of trust. – Kharkiv chose this format to close the Week and held a concluding conference for youth initiatives that were operating in the city in 2009. – the Week itself was preceded by national all-Ukrainian photo and essay competitions. The works of finalists and winners can be viewed at http://www.tyzhdendoviry.in.ua/konkursy – the best photo competition works were exhibited in Kiev and Simferopol and exhibition of banners, photos and pictures on the theme of ethnic trust was organized in Kharkiv. were held in Kyiv and Sevastopol with participation of Rajmohan Gandhi and Ukrainian public figures, such as human rights activist Evhen Zakharov, writer Evhen Sverstyuk, philosopher Kostyantyn Sigov.
EVENTS IN 2010 A entitled "The East and West of Ukraine: the Journey of Trust" took place in Kyiv and looked into the ways of building trust between the different regions of Ukraine. – with young people from a multinational project of the Crimean Young Leaders’ Club, with the Foundations for Freedom coordinating group, with Oleh Skrypka, Viktor Yushchenko and the Indian Ambassador to Ukraine Debabarata Saha. It is impossible to count the number of interviews given by Rajmohan Gandhi during the Week of Trust :) Stories about the Week of Trust and the visit of Rajmohan Gandhi were covered by television channels such as Inter, STB, Channel 5 and News 24 Channel. This is in short account of the activities and events that were fitted into 7 days – from April 16 to 23. Where, with the help of Rajmohan Gandhi and his “team” from Lebanon, the USA, Australia, Mexico and England we tried to draw attention to the matter of Trust in Ukraine by all possible means.
Why the Week? As Rajmohan Gandhi said 'It is a rather dignified experience to put aside all your claims, all the mistrust luggage you have got and have trust just in one week. If by the end of it you understand you have been mistaken, and the relations around have got only worse, you still have another 51 to go!'
Why trust? We were asked many times during preparations: 'Why this particular theme?', ‘Who do we urge to trust, and in whom? ’'and ' Do we really think it is important when there are such a variety of socio-political difficulties in the country?' “We believe that various challenges brought before us by the present day: economic, political, social, environmental, etc. are external symptoms of a much deeper disease that is practically implanted in the mentality of the nation – deficit of trust. Through this campaign, we do not aim to cure superficial symptoms, but rather to 'provoke' deep change to external symptoms, but rather at “provoking” deep change. Each of us can become a tool for such change”, this is how Zoryana Borbulevych formulated the answered these questions when she was “tortured” at the first press conference. In order to create trust, we have to dare and make the words “integrity” and “honesty” the guide to our actions. To invest enough time, energy, willingness to listen and hear, courage to ask questions and give honest answers to them on our part. It is lots of work that has to be started now, if we want to change anything.
1-3 January. Thanks to Lida Zamaraeva the celebration of the New Year by F4F community took place in Odesa. The programme included visit to the orphanage with New Year gifts and entertainment for kids there. 3-17 February. Visit to Club for Young Leaders in Baia Mare, Romania, by Angela Starovoitova and David Curtis. 7-14 March. F4F Course in Serbia. 19-23; 26-28 March. F4F course for Club of Young Leaders in Baia Mare, Romania. 25 April. Beginning of F4F House construction work in Baranivka village, Poltava region of Ukraine. 12-19 April. Global Consultation in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. 16-23 April. All-Ukrainian project “Week of Trust” with participation of Gandhi Voyage team from India, UK, USA, Mexico, Lebanon and Australia. 23-25 May. Regional Meeting in Khersones, Crimea. 1-8 May. F4F Course for participants of Intercultural project of Club of Young Leaders in Crimea, Ukraine. 1-8 May. F4F course in Baranivka with participants from Ukraine, Poland, Switzerland, Holland and France. 27-29 May. Planning meeting for All-European youth training project in Paris, France. 4 June-16 July. "Ukrainian Action-2010. Healing the Past" project. 18-23 June. Training from F4F facilitators Anna Pozogina and Angela Starovoitova in the conference "School for Change Makers" in Liverpool, UK. 14 June-2 July. participation of F4F representative Lena Kashkarova in IofC President Rajmohan Gandhi "Voyage of Dialog and Discovery" in Latin America (Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina). 27 June-18 August. Participation of F4F representatives in conferences and Intern programme in Caux, Switzerland. End of August. Summer Camp in Crimea. 24 August-2 September. Planned course in Baranivka (F4F House construction place).
I would like to end this short report about the Week of Trust in Ukraine with the words of They say that spectators see more than players. As Inese Voika Rajmohan Gandhi, because it is worth (an old and true friend of Initiatives of Change and Foundations listening to his opinion, as someone who has for Freedom, from Latvia) said, '...trust has become the theme world experience and a fresh view of the “on the agenda” of the country for several days.' situation in Ukraine: “On the And of course everybody had one hand, the history of your their personal benefit from it. country is full of suffering So, for me the following and pain. But on the other words of Rajmohan Gandhi hand, you have great talent were a great inspiration: “Yes, and desire to live. You have there have to be limits to trust. to find a way to heal the But there have to be more wounds of the past. Then you limits to mistrust.” I think that will be able to move forward. personally I have reached And this is relevant not only those limits of mistrust for Ukraine, but for other already, just like our entire countries as well. Now the society has. It is time to learn world is waiting for positive Vivid discussion with famous Ukrainian rock singer Oleh Skrypka trusting and build trust… examples of reconciliation On the photo: O. Kashkariova, O.Skrypka and R.Gandhi and conflict resolution. If What next? Ukraine can properly face the The work on trust strengthening will be continued with the– challenge of trust building within the country, Ukrainian Action 2010: Healing the Past project, which will it will get unique experience and will become start in June and is aimed at learning about the events of the past an example for the entire world.” through the life stories of individuals. Immediately after the Week Foundations for Freedom ran a course for the participants Elena Kashkareva of the Crimean Young Leaders’ Club’s Strengthening Trust for Foundations for Freedom Newsletter among Multinational Crimean Youth project. Members of our informal community of Foundations for Freedom will participate in a series of conferences in Caux this summer – some as part of interns program, some helping organizing conferences, some as conference participants.
What have we achieved?
The meeting with Rajmohan Gandhi was really significant for the Club of Young Leaders and participants of the project “Building Trust among Multicultural Youth of Crimea”. Words of Mr. Gandhi were a real challenge for us: will we be able to make Crimea into an example for the whole world? Will we manage to solve our crossnational conflicts in a peaceful way, without using weapons? Our work aims to do that. Rajmohan Gandhi – grandson of Mohandas Karamchand “Mahatma” Gandhi, one of the leaders and ideologists of independence movement in India, whose philosophy of nonviolence has widely influenced development of national and global movements for non-violent reforms. Continuing the work of Mahatma, professor, writer and former MP of India, for more than 50 years now, participates in initiatives aimed at building trust, peace, democracy and those fighting corruption and injustice. He is currently serving as the President of the International organisation “Initiatives of Change”.
Mr. Gandhi repeated a few times, that meeting in Crimea in friendly atmosphere inspired him. We can say the same. The conversation with our guest and his wife made us believe that everything is in our hands. We cannot wait, we have to make changes every day, every hour. We should give example to other people and that will influence the whole of society. Yevgeniya Koroleva, Crimea
VIEWPOINT: BARANIVKA, in Ukraine Valentin Bondarenko and Sergey Tretetskiy, two friends who met in the drama of the Orange Revolution, are spear-heading a new initiative in the serene surrounds of Baranivka in Central Ukraine to lay foundations – literal and figurative – for a new impetus to democracy-building. After meeting in 2004, both Valentin and Sergey had the opportunity to take part in VC. In different ways, the introduction to F4F was important for both, but for Valentin in particular it was the beginning of a completely new direction in life. As we discussed why he considers these ‘Visiting Courses’ so important for young people in Ukraine, he explained quite simply ‘because it changes people and it changes lives.’ By his own admission, he used fully to embrace the culture of corruption in the country, and his philosophy was that ‘life is a game and the first rule is that you take money’. ‘I only thought about myself, and I thought that I was good because I knew how to use the system – others were losers.’ The Visiting Course challenges this approach to life, primarily by facilitating discussions among participants themselves on concepts of humanity, change, values and morality. For Valentin, it was a time ‘for understanding what my life was and what was important for me.’ In his case, this also meant rethinking dramatically his approach to alcohol and drugs, which he has now decided to do without altogether. Though the role that these Visiting Courses have played in the lives of many young people is demonstrably significant, Valentin and others felt both that F4F could be doing more and that the question of financial sustainability needed to be addressed. They recognised that if they could create a permanent base for these courses, huge possibilities would be opened, finances would no longer present quite the same limitation and the experience could be offered to many more people. It was in this context that 18 months ago the idea for a community house was first seriously discussed, but as Valentin explains, ‘at that moment there was neither the money nor the energy for it to become a reality.’ Over time, Valentin became increasingly convinced of the need to get started and build a house from scratch. It hasn’t been an easy exercise getting people on board, but he has had the right support at key points. In particular, with the encouragement he received from friends in Norway during a
New Year camp this year, and other backers as far afield as Australia, the idea has ripened within the F4F team. Early in May 2010 they received the deeds to the relatively run-down house that is already there on one block of land, and the first step will be to work on making it more livable. A Visiting Course was held on the site for the first time at the beginning of the month, with 30 participants living in tents, and sessions
were run in an old army tent they have bought for the purpose. The next stage will be the main building that is planned for the adjacent land, which they are still negotiating their way through a cumbersome administrative process to secure. It would not be unheard of in Ukraine in such a situation to start building and worry – or not, as the case may be – about legal requirements later, but Valentin underlines the firm decision they have made that ‘everything will be done according to legislation. If it’s not possible legally, then we won’t do it.’ To demonstrate that he was serious, Valentin quit his job as Director of Development in a large manufacturing company in Kharkiv to devote his time completely to the project, and now Sergey has joined him. Nadiia Shpytko, who helped with the cooking there during the Visiting Course, has also stayed on, at this stage indefinitely. And not for want of a qualified builder, Andrei Ulianenko, another friend, is also part of the permanent team. The vision is broader than the Visiting Courses, although their part is key. Valentin observes that many people come into discussions with a feeling of ‘what can I do as one person?’ ‘We have to change this mentality’ he says. ‘Everyone can create
history and change the world. This is one way for people to see that, and in the process the team has matured.’ What is more, the process is an inclusive one, and can provide a context other than the Visiting Course for people to become involved in the vision that F4F holds for the country. The shared ownership of the vision and the work is clearly of fundamental importance to Valentin: ‘people feel now the responsibility and carry the responsibility and have all rights to say ‘it’s ours’’. As well as providing a base for the Visiting Courses, it will offer a space for discussion. The Community House Project can furnish the overall vision with a physical space for many of these ongoing dialogues, which each in their way can play an important role in developing Ukraine’s still young democracy.
Reflecting on the Orange Revolution, Valentin feels that despite the negative elements that subsist in the system, it was nonetheless the ‘start of the democratic process in Ukraine. For the first time I saw people in action who want to see change not just in their lives but in the life of the nation.’ For both of them, their meeting was not chance, and the Revolution was no picnic: ‘it was an examination of the people, a test of their courage and to see if they cared.’ Perhaps this friendship between Valentin and Sergey, born among the thousands camped in Independence Square in Kiev at that time, will plant the seed of a new revolution, creating conditions for trust, understanding and personal responsibility that will drive Ukraine forward. Rob Lancaster, 26/05/2010 From editor: Read new article about the last news from Baranivka at http://www.iofc.org/node/50962
A new major IofC project in Baranivka – Ukraine The month of May saw the beginning of a very important they need as much prayer support as and ambitious new project in the east of Ukraine at the possible from the rest of us and whenever beautiful village of Baranivka, in the Poltava region. The possible, physical and material help for Kharkiv Team have anyone decided to create their courageous own IofC retreat centre, enough to go where they have many and work with ambitious hopes and them in very dreams for this new basic initiative. To get to conditions. Baranivka requires a two For this reason, and a half hour train when they journey from Kyiv to a asked if we town called Myrhorod would be and then a taxi ride from willing to set the station to the Retreat up camp on the Centre. The Team have new territory acquired a derelict but Participants of the Visiting Course held on the proposed site of the new community house and run a near Baranikva, Central Ukraine. For the moment, the sessions are in a old army tent. ‘Visiting attractive and traditional (Photo: Rochus Peyer) farmhouse and land in a Course’ there very beautiful valley close to the village of Baranivka for young supporters and contacts from which I understand that when translated means their city and the village, we agreed and ‘Ramshome’. the event took place at the beginning of May, on site, just two weeks after they had The team there are very dedicated and enthusiastic and taken possession. It turned into an three of the men have given up their jobs and are truly adventure we will all never forget and the stepping out in faith to build this new centre even though first event in Baranivka took place, against they have very meagre financial resources, such is their all the odds, but carried through by an amdetermination to make this project a reality. For this reason,
azing spirit of teamwork and common purpose. On some days, there were upwards of thirty people there, all being fed and watered under whatseemed to us westerners there, extreme conditions. The only fresh water available was from the well at the neighbouring farm and the toilets were still being dug even as we arrived on the Saturday. There were no washing facilities of any kind other than water from the well being poured into inverted plastic bottles tied to trees, where you unscrewed the bottle top to release a trickle of water to wash your hands beneath! There was no running water at all in the house but they had been frantically decorating and creating furniture themselves prior to our arrival and they had made a long worktop where all the food was to be subsequently prepared during the whole week. Miraculously, excellent food was produced and served through the kitchen window to we hungry participants on a regular basis and we sat at long pine tables and benches which had quite literally been made by the resident team hours before everyone started to arrive. The washing up process was done on a ‘Caux’ basis where duty teams had responsibility for wash up and clear up. There was a gas cooker in the kitchen but warm water was a rare luxury so I’ll leave the rest to your imagination. A massive military tent had been purchased by the host team and erected prior to our arrival and this served us well during the course, more as a shelter against the very hot sunshine than the wet weather, although that did come towards the end of the week. The field where this was placed was also the main camp site for all the tents used by the participants. The biggest drawback was the mosquitoes which tormented us constantly, probably due to our close proximity to a small lake which was teaming with frogs and fish. For the first time in my memory, our course participants included two French, one Swiss and a one Netherlander who are all employed full timers with IofC in their own countries. This added an interesting dimension to our proceedings and they were all searching for material to use in a Pan European training plan that is currently in the process of being formed as a joint initiative. Regardless of the difficult conditions, the course worked its usual magic and participants responded in a way that we hope for on all our courses, that, as a result of their participation, individuals make
changes in their personal lives and also take initiatives in their public lives to help create a better world. Guys intend to build this Retreat – Training Centre physically themselves, which will take a lot of hard work and effort, not to mention the career sacrifices on their part and this inspiration is born out of the wonderful stories told and written about the sacrifices of our forbears in IofC. At the end of our week, they were very disappointed at the news that a request for financial support had been rejected and they were, for the time being at least, very much on their own in achieving their objectives with this endeavour. They started out with $3000 capital and have received several contributions from smaller groups in Ukraine, Sweden, Norway and the UK, but they will need much more help from us all if they are to be able to sustain themselves and buy materials and services for this project to make it a success. Their current focus is on getting the water and electricity infrastructure sorted out plus bringing the existing house up to a standard that will enable them to survive the coming winter. We had several deep conversations about their project and I am struck by their determination to succeed, regardless of setbacks financially. There is so much they can do themselves and they are prepared to ‘rough it’ for as long as it takes in order to achieve their vision. On their behalf though, I do ask that if you have any way of raising money, no matter how modest, to send to them, it will be received most gratefully and they can make £50 do what you would need £500 or more to do the same thing in the UK. David Curtis, Foundations for Freedom
A week of adventures I believe, many of you’ve heard about a fabulous castle in the middle of Swiss mountains, with a view of a picturesque lake… green grass, caressing sun, people from all over the world in colorful light clothes… Yeah, this is how Caux looks in summer. But has anyone seen it during winter? What is going on there? What does this place live by? That’s what I would like to share with you. Once in 2 years a conference for Europeans is held in Caux. This time it was called “Europe: Responsibility, Hope, Future”. I’d like to mention that a winter conference really differs from the summer’s one. The first thing Ulrike Keller (the head organizer) advised was not to compare with summer and just enjoy staying there. And that was right! The grass turned into deep snow, where kids could play, the lake seemed unreal in a haze, light clothes changed for warm coats and caps, football ground became a skating rink, balls and rackets
swapped with sleighs, skates & hockey sticks, but the sun was still bright & friendly! We knew we were going to experience a real adventure, I can get used to cold showers, drinking well water etc. But nobody can get used to being surrounded by so many mosquitoes! This really was a good self-control exercise and I will remember it forever. The week ended on a high note with a “Skits and Talents Evening”. Each one of the participants had prepared something: a poem, a song, a sketch, a short story. Some even did a humorous puppet show retrospective of the week. What I will remember from this training is a nice simple atmosphere: everybody was there to share conviviality and trust, with the great prospect of ‘Be the change you to see in the world!’ (Mahatma Gandhi). Thank you, Foundation for Freedom for allowing people to experience such intense and positive moments. Anne-Claire Huet, France
Ukrainian Action 2010: Healing the Past tives for healing and reconciliation from hosts and speakers, receiving diverse training on conflict resolution, healing, accepting others; reflecting on Ukrainian and personal past, present and future, taking part in dialogues, working with archives, team-work presentations of personal change and To bring freedom from past burdens and reconciliation in Ukraine serving as personal examples and catalysts of positive change. The Program – 4 June to 16 July 2010. Further long-term activities for the interested. 15 participants from communities with different past, various regional, religious, language and political Ukrainian backgrounds with the common aim to heal the wounds of historical past in Ukraine took part in the intensive 6 week program, which consisted of: living and travelling together, sharing personal life stories, listening to the past experience and initia-
experience, recording a documentary on the course of the program, giving interviews to media,
presenting personal experience and stories of change at the conferences in the Caux Conference Centre, Switzerland. The project is expected to start a series of programs under the common title "Ukrainian Action". The bigger part of our expenses was covered thanks to the hospitality of local hosts sharing for free their houses, food and care, volunteers giving time and energy into the work.
During the project I have discovered that when people share stories of their lives it heals not only them, but me too. I see the threads stretching out and uniting people who have already heard and will hear these stories, people who will become a part of the history of the country. I feel a great lack of information – we didn’t have this knowledge yet, these new realizations and facts that we can get just from confessions of different people. It is so important to fill this lack, to preserve the stories, to publish the materials, to go on and on with these investigation. I am Russian and after the project I went to my historical homeland – the Carpathians – and began writing down absolutely unbelievable stories of the Carpathian Ruthenians. I am planning to go to my father’s home places soon – to Vologda in Russia. Natalia Nelidova, psychologist of the project, Moscow, Russia I had never imagined own initiative to reconciliation as a victory. And for the first time in my life I have seen examples of people who made first step themselves after a deep offence and apologized for their own rancour. Another important realization after the project is a search of deep cause of a conflict and dealing with it. Owing to this understanding I began to solve an old conflict with my sister. In my opinion it is worth to work hard for a couple of month to never come back then. Vasylysa Sheinina, participant of the project, public figure
FOLLOW-UP 2010/2011 July-25 September: Work on the documentary August – September: Individual presentations of the experience gained in the course of the project 15-20 September: fieldwork (collecting life stories) in Transcarpathian region. 25 September: Premier of the documentary and presentation of the project in Baranivka village of Poltava region, with the participation of all the alumni. 28 September – 7 October: Participation in the international seminar on Jewish heritage and past in Bukovyna region. Presentation of the project there. Venue: Chernivtsi (Ukraine), Suceava (Romania). 7 – 20 October: Romania. Working on the new project materials and planning of the continuation of the project for the next year. 8 October: Presentation of the project in the III Ecumenical Social Week in Lviv. From Novemer: further editing of the documentary draft. 4-6 November: presentation of the project and collecting life stories of the Ruthenian ethnic group in Lokhovo village, Transcarpathians. 20 November: Presentation of the experience of the project in Sidney, Australia From November: Work on transcribing the audio records of over 30 outstanding life stories from different regions of Ukraine for publishing the book of life stories. Till 31 December: issuing the full colour report of the project. End of January, 2011: Presentations of the project in Moscow, Russia and negotiations with potential partner organizations. End of February, 2011: Meeting with the founder of the Soviet Dissident movement Vladimir Bukovski in Cambridge, UK. In March, 2011: Public presentations of the project with the participation of the international Action for Life team with the representatives of Latvia, South Korea, Malaysia, Ethiopia, Vietnam. Participation of the alumni in the Peace Circles program for women.
Only people with peaceful heart can be effective in country change-making. For years I was collecting the facts on the loss Ukraine was inflicted through Russian policies and I was taking an active part in different movements for the best of Ukraine. But at the same time I ended up collecting in my heart lots of pain and bitterness towards the so-called "aggressor". The simple act of apology and forgiveness act between me and my Russian friend helped me to clear out the space in my heart for the constructive energy of peaceful efforts, faith in the future, joy. Olha Hudz, the coordinator of the project, Lviv-Kyiv, Ukraine The participants made their personal presentations of own experience at their work places and universities, as well as in the family circles. On the 25th of September the première of a documentary about the materials gathered within the project by young Kharkiv film director Mykhailo Kliuev took place. With the assistance of Norway Embassy we are planning to publish a people’s stories book of Afghan war veterans, deported Crimean Tatars, prisoners of German Fascist concentration camps, veterans of Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists – Ukrainian Rebel Army, representatives of Greek and Karaim communities, workers of Chornobyl nuclear power plant, initiators of rehabilitation movement, participants of the children’s theatre for children with special needs and many others who were heard and who’s stories were written
down during the project. It is interesting that most stories are united not with disappointment and hatred but active attitude to one’s own role in the society, passion and faith in our nation. The project is planned to continue on a regular basis, and in the coming years we hope to create a professional program for a wider circle of participants, including outreaches to other Eastern-European countries.
• Foundations for Freedom • Initiatives of Change International
Tel.: +380 63 142 8922, +380 97 981 4372 E-mail: ukrainian.action@gmail.com Web-site: www.f-4-f.org Olka Hudz, Ukraine
Club for Young Leaders 2010: Step by Step ‘The water sharpens a rock’, the folk proverb says. That is how ‘Club for Young Leaders’ – an initiative from Simferopol, Crimea, Ukraine is trying to influence the world, little by little, through creating a comfortable and positive atmosphere of love and kindness throughin their not very global but still important projects. www.trust.mysimf.org Another project is a photo exhibition ‘Loving is easy!’ that would run from 21, March till end of April.. Anastasia Maximova, an active member of our Club, has gathered 5 young and talented Crimean photographers to bring her creative idea of a photo exhibition to reality. There would be photos of children from Crimean childrens' homes and orphanages, children with difficult destinies and unclear future. We always remember that there are such children, but what are we ready to do for them? And generally – are we able to accept them in our society or will they remain outcasts? Art-project ‘Loving is easy!’ is just one more reason to think about the destiny of our society. We have to give some attention to those who really need it.
Together with another partner, Theodor Heuss Kolleg (Germany) we are running a joint project that consists of 3 stages, which is and aimed at the development of an ‘ecoLOGICAL mentality’ and activating young people. The three stages of the project are meetings and a seminar on project management (which already happened on 4-9, May 2010) in the Crimea, preparation for and running environmental projects during the summer, and a final all-Ukrainian conference in Kiev in autumn 2010. Lena Zysko – a graduate of International Theodor Heuss Kolleg – is the main organizer from CYL, and Olga Dyatel will be a local trainer. http://www.theodor-heusskolleg.de/index.php?id=211
It is already a tradition for the members of CYL, as well as continuous development of our partnership with an international movement ‘Initiatives of Change’, to visit IofC's conference center in Caux during the summer conferences as interns, volunteers, organizers and participants. The conferences are aimed at creating positive changes in the world community. http://www.caux.iofc.org/ru/node/45021 Together with different members of InMOE (Initiatives of Central and Eastern Europe), Club for Young Leaders is inviting representatives from 5 countries (Germany, Belarus, the Czech Republic, Poland and Ukraine). The reason is for the members of InMOE to enjoy some rest in the Crimea during the ‘Indian summer’ in September, 2010, and to take part in a project aimed at activating young people. This will be another opportunity for us to bring our network of organizations together, to look into the roots of apathy, unwillingness to take part in the social life of European countries, to study the issue of motivation and to find answers on what should be done about them. http://www.initiativemoe.de/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=vie w&id=33&Itemid=109 On 22-28, August 2010 representatives of NGOs from 7 European countries (Portugal, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Germany, Georgia and the Czech Republic) will get together in the Crimea in order to exchange experiences and play games on the topic of 'Interactive methods and games as means for educating and activating young people' during a 'Training of Trainers' . The main partners in this project are our amazing friends from a Portuguese NGO ‘Youth Union of People with Initiative’. http://yupifamalicao.blogspot.com/ The projects, described here are longterm projects. And it is just a part of what Club for Young Leaders is doing in the Crimea, Ukraine, Europe and in the world fulfilling our mission – to support the development of spiritually healthy society through running social projects and by personal example based on the principle of ethical leadership. by Anzhela Starovoytova, Crimea
At the beginning of February we started an information campaign advertise our project to potential participants. We made flyers, posters and a website http://trust.mysimf.org/. We had meetings with heads of almost all the ethnic communities that are in Simferopol, where we presented the project. Flyers and posters were spread in the Universities and public places, and we did a presentation on local TV. We received 34 application forms from 10 different nationalities. Our first meeting happened on the 1st of March. All our meetings took place in the conference hall in the Crimean Ministry of Youth. It a great achievement because it is a good step in co-operation with the Government. We had weekly meetings with workshops and trainings on Mondays and Thursdays. In March, participants made presentations of their cultures. It helped them because they had to find out more about their own culture and then tell others about it. Before this we were trained in public speaking and presentations, so that
participants used their new skills to making their presentations. After that we had training and workshops in trust building and team building as well as discussions about stereotypes, world leaders and other subjects.
In April the group was preparing for the “Week of trust”. We organized a short workshop on project management. In a week they’ve organized and an three small projects:
ted the children, played with them and told fairy tales. one important thing was that they talked and painted a lot of pictures on the topic of trust. This meeting was very useful for the group. They said that they learned a lot of wise things from the children. One weekend, participants went to the childrens' shelter, which is outside the city. They’ve got acquainted with the children, played with them and told fairy tales. one important thing was that they talked and painted a lot of pictures on the topic of trust. This meeting was very useful for the group. They said that they learned a lot of wise things from the children.
A third group decided to distribute sheets of paper displaying expressions about trust. These were printed white paper and were hung in taxis and cafés where people could read and smile about them.
Together with the Young Leaders Club, participants of the Multicultural project made a paper tree and asked the citizens of Simferopol to write on it what trust means to them. At the end of this action there was no free place on the tree to write, because so many people wanted to share their thoughts. Also there was a photo gallery on the wall. Pictures were from the all Ukraine competition “Best photo on the theme of Trust”. Participants of the Multicultural project organized also a 'chain of trust' where each person said what trust means for him. What was unexpected was that a famous Ukrainian pop star participated in the “Tree of Trust”. One weekend, participants went to the childrens' shelter, which is outside the city. They’ve got acquain-
A meeting with the president of Initiatives of Change, Rajmohan Gandhi took place on 23rd April. In the afternoon the group took part in the forum “Searching trust in the multicultural Crimea” that took place in the beautiful old town of Chersones. The group also met some people who work on cross-cultural relations in Crimea. In the evening there was a private meeting between Rajmohan Gandhi, his team, the Multicultural Project and the Club of Young Leaders. All participants said that it was unforgettable. We appreciated very much the wisdom that Radjmohan shared with us. After the Visiting Course there will be 'project management' training aimed at giving knowledge and skills to participants for use in their own projects. So, in June participants are expected to create their own project. At the end of the project a couple of participants will take part in the Caux conference “Learning to live in Multicultural World”. by Olena Kruglova
Start with yourself! and Lebanon were facilitators and guests for the course and were an inspiration for us all.
The slopes of the sleeping volcano once inspired great people of art and science to create their famous masterpieces. And in the first days of May a unique team, in its own way, came together, including representatives from more than 10 different nationalities, faiths and cultures. The group’s uniqueness was not only in its multicultural dimension, but more importantly in its openness to change, striving to move beyond war and ethnic conflicts towards peace and a place where people can realize their full potential, irrespective of their nationality or faith background. In the beginning we should say a few words about the aim and participants of the project ‘Building trust between multicultural youth in Crimea’ (the Multicultural Project), which is run by the ‘Club for Young Leaders’, based in Simferopol. The main aim of the Multicultural Project is to bring together young Crimeans by organizing regular meetings for them where they can learn about the cultures of different nationalities living in Crimea, as well as take part in discussions and training. The aim is that in the future, these young people will work together to run other important projects and programs in Crimea. The Visiting Course was one of the key steps for the Multicultural Project. Moreover, different activists from Foundations for Freedom and Initiatives of Change in Latvia, USA, Australia
The course consisted of sessions, discussions, games and trainings as part of a process of selfdiscovery and personal development. It has helped to inspire consideration of the blocks that build the foundation of human nature: eternal values, morals, principles, spirituality and ideals. These are the things that make a human different from animals, something that can unite all humans, irrespective of their ethnic background and faith. Unfortunately, amid the stream of problems and events of our daily routine, we devote very little time to reflection on these central concerns. It was only in the setting of such a week-long course that we were able to think about such subjects deeply enough! A friendly atmosphere and emphasis on selfexamination have helped many to be open to changes, to put priorities right in our lives, and, possibly, to look at ourselves, the world around us and our role in it, from a different perspective. Thanks to the accommodation, work and cooperation, the team managed to get to know each other better and to make good friends. Credit for that should also be given to the international course faculty: Anna Pozogina (Latvia), Anna Bondarenko, Zhenya Shymina and Iryna Tkachenko (Ukraine), Chris Breitenberg (USA), Rob Lancaster (Australia) and Wadiaa Khoury (Lebanon). They were a very important part of the team, its driving force, and managed not only to speak, but to listen as well, which often is even more important. But the main thing is that they were the batteries of the course, charging everybody else! Morning time for research and development (R&D), and quiet times, as well as evening ‘Storytelling’ greatly helped us to understand others bet-
ter. Quite often our personal opinion and incomplete information about other people not only stops us from relating to other people’s thoughts attentively, but also prevents us from hearing them. ‘Storytelling’ made a deep impression - one can only wonder at how unique and special the lives of each person are, and at the same time how much common ground can be found between two seemingly completely different people. The course became the most vivid proof that it is not nations that divide people, nor cultural differences and traditions, but apathy and inattentiveness to the problems of others, lack of understanding, and even more often politicians who use differences as their weapon in fighting for money and power. In Koktebel, even the language was not a barrier to stop Russian speaking participants from befriending the ‘English speaking corner’ (that was a joking name given to the English speakers, who always sat together in the same corner for interpreting). Moreover, the anglophones became the real soul of the group: their world-view, life principles, unselfish service to the idea and purposefulness can be a good example. Beautiful songs full of meaning sung by Chris Breitenberg and Rob Lancaster became the ‘salt’ of the course. And for Waddia Khoury - our Lebanese guest, it was enough just to be present in the group in order to encourage us with her never-ending positive energy! And the main point that the author of these lines took from the course is that change starts with oneself, we need to carry it to others, not to stop at what has already been achieved, and to try and turn our aspirations into actions. I know that Ukraine and Crimea are currently in desperate need of change in all areas of life, and first of all in people’s minds. Ordinary citizens barely believe in their own power and capacity to solve even one problem. They rely too much on somebody else to do it for them, but as a rule, such an attitude brings only new disappointments. Only few realize the need for an aim and desire in order to
bring personal and social change. It is very good that there are more young people among us who care, who understand a simple truth – you reap what you have sown. The future of Ukraine and the Crimea greatly depends on us! One can start small, with something that doesn’t require huge organizational resources and time. To clean up rubbish in the park or to plant trees one only needs a day of productive work, and yet the concrete results would be striking. We also don’t need titanic efforts to show by example that different nations can not only co-exist peacefully, but can also work together to solve common problems faced by society. A little boy from the slightly naive but very instructive movie Pay it Forward made a great plan for changing the world. He started with only a little help provided to one specific person, so that he could help somebody else. The idea of helping each other, in its essence, is like successful development of net marketing all over the US. So it is in any activity – everything starts with a foundation, that later builds like a snowball with other bigger and more ambitious initiatives. To finish off, I would like to quote Azize Ablaeva, a student of Tavrida National University, who was a participant of the course: Going to Koktebel, I didn’t expect any radical reevaluation of my moral values, nor did I think that this Visiting Course would help me to sort myself out, to answer some important questions at the time, and help to put my priorities right. It gave me an opportunity to communicate more closely with people who I knew already for two months and to learn about their world views. They became my very good friends, with whom I’ve now shared part of myself and my soul. In our everyday life there is no time to think about the things we reflected on in Koktebel. You are busy with day-to-day problems, although you know how important life values and guidelines are, but still put these thoughts aside for later, when acute problems have to be dealt with. After the course I felt very calm, balanced, and full of strength to implement all the decisions that I had during the course. And now I take every step according to moral guidelines and life priorities’. Andrei Mastykin, participant of the Visiting Course
Club for Young Leaders – 2010 Baia Mare, Romania The CYL in Romania was initiated by Diana Damsa, an Action for Life 3 alumni, who had seen the need for leaders in her country who would base their decisions on firm moral grounding rather than on self-interest. The Club meets twice a week, for training, support and encouragement and had started in late January this year. Members include students, mothers and people in the workforce aged between 18 and 31.
Taking to the streets, club members gave out flowers to the ladies of Baia Mare. This had been made possibly through an application of a grant and keen negotiations with a local florist. Each flower had a tag with some interesting information about the 8th March celebration and reached 60 women. CYL participant Andreea Vontea, an assistant
Since its beginning from 26th Jan 2010, Club for Young Leaders (CYL) has successfully completed 15 meetings and one project. With the blessings of the Mayor, the sessions are held in the council chambers. Each meeting has been a mix of fun, experience based learning and lots of sharing. After getting to know each other, sessions have ranged in topics from listening, to environmental awareness and lessons on cooperation. The Club has been fortunate to have been visited by international IofC friends. Dave Curtis (UK) ran the group through the cooperation game red/blue. The group competed vigrously to be the winner only to find that the game relied on cooperation. The lessons were well noted and many participants wanted to replay the game. This was followed by sessions looking at corruption, presentation skills and temperaments. Angela Starovoytova (Ukraine) also helped run the Club giving her insight on leadership styles, explored the nature of change and conducted fun team-building activities. The group really appreciated having her around and it was great to hear about the activities of the CYL Crimea which we hope to link with at some point. CYL participant Mihaela Sima, an accountant, stated “What I like about it is the fact that the coordinators teach us the theory by practising, not by writing, or traditional teaching.” The Club has appeared in local media through a press conference. The media reported on the start of the Club and the international guests, raising the visibility of Initiatives of Change here in Romania. International Women’s Day saw the start of the Club venturing out from training and into action.
manager in the corporate world said, “Club for Young Leaders … helps us to see the big picture, to relate and socialize with other persons of different ages and interest. Communication is maybe one of the biggest problems of human relations nowadays. The Club gives us this opportunity to learn from each other and to learn from people with different experiences, to learn how to be a team and what a team means.” Our next step is completing a Foundations for Freedom (F4F) Visiting Course. We are lucky to have two more international guests coming to help run this new phase of the program. Already, one of our members, Stefania Bujor, has represented us at the Serbian F4F course held this month. A first small step for CYL reaching out to the wider IofC network. Diana Damsa, CYL participant Andreea Vontea, an assistant manager in the corporate world said, “Club for Young Leaders … helps us to see the big picture, to relate and socialize with other persons of different ages and interest. Communication is maybe one of the biggest
problems of human relations nowadays. The Club gives us this opportunity to learn from each other and to learn from people with different experiences, to learn how to be a team and what a team means.” Our next step is completing a Foundations for Freedom (F4F) Visiting Course. We are lucky to have two more international guests coming to help
– It was the first time since May 2004 that there has been a Visiting Course (VC) in Romania. This was no ordinary VC either (if there is such a thing), as instead of the usual format it was split over two extended weekends. Commencing on a Thursday evening and going until after lunch on Sunday. Additionally, mid-week there was a session on teambuilding. This course was run specifically for the Club for Young Leaders (CYL) participants of Baia Mare. The CYL in Romania had been initiated in January this year by Diana Damsa, who saw the need in her country for moral leaders making decisions based on vales rather than self interest. The Romanian VC was facilitated by two special guests from overseas. Anna Pozogina from Latvia has been active with the Foundations for Freedom network for over 7 years. Helping her was Alexander Birnberg from Australia who is a full time volunteer with IofC. Although he has not been a VC facilitator before, he has worked with IofC since 2005 and has coordinated international leadership development programs. Situated in a beautiful all wooden traditional farmhouse, half an hour from Baia Mare, participants were challenged to discover the true meaning of freedom as well as its paradoxes. The typical format and flow of the course was used, however, because of the split over two weekends, the facilitators found that they were able to make adjustments to accommodate where the group’s development had reached. Also, this format allowed people who would otherwise not be able to participate because of work commitments to join in.
run this new phase of the program. Already, one of our members, Stefania Bujor, has represented us at the Serbian F4F course held this month. A first small step for CYL reaching out to the wider IofC network. Diana Damsa, Romania
A special evening of sharing life stories created a new bond within the group. As the first weekend closed, we were greeted with the amazing sight of new life bursting out and all the snow of winter having disappeared. One participant, who missed the first weekend, explained with surprise “this is a different group!” The second weekend completed the process. The group discussed the topic of freedom, seeing the difference between real freedom and unbridled behaviour, leading to the need to ‘walk the talk’. Participant stood up in turn, committing in front of the group to new actions, decisions and directions. Of course, a VC would not be complete without a talent show. The acts ranged from post-modern comedy, poetry recital, singing, to Australian magic and even a book review. All topped off by vigorous Scottish dancing and then a free Salsa lesson. Now two months after the VC the impact of the course is still evident in the friendship and teamwork within the CYL. This different format did create some difficulties, the main one being that the participant numbers kept fluctuating and some participants were not present for all sessions. Indeed, some missed either one weekend or the other which led to disparities of understanding. This was especially difficult for the concept around inner listening (R’n’D) and the idea of the Absolute Standards. The CYL recently received the letters they wrote to themselves from the course and there was a lot of reminiscences of the good time had. Diana Damsa, Romania
Last week saw the first ever visiting course in Serbia facilitated by an international team of four – Olja Ivanovic (Serbia), Yevgenia Shymina (Ukraine), Anna Pozogina (Latvia) and David Curtis (UK). This was the culmination of years of effort by Olja to host such an event and with a little help from Angela Staravoytova from Crimea, she was rewarded by the response from the participants who considered the week to have been a life changing time spent working together. I quote below from an email I received from a University Lecturer who participated – ‘I was really inspired with the course - it made me start thinking about things like honesty, unselfishness, purity, love, morality and forgiveness – I have also started thinking about the change. The first change that should happen is the change in us, we need to start changing, as individuals and then we can expect change in other levels. I think this course triggered in me personally some buttons, and gave me tools, so that I can start making changes in me – ‘ It was with some trepidation that we approached this event because we realised that the majority of the participants were older than usual – ged 30 to 50, although one 18 year old participant had travelled to join us from the newly formed ‘Young Leaders Club’ in Romania. We always include a fun element with some silly games and what we call ‘energisers’. There was no need for us to worry. The participants threw themselves into everything we offered with vigour and we had a wonderful atmosphere prevailing very quickly – and as for the Scottish Dancing - they loved it!
The weather had been restrictive as we were high in the mountains and it snowed every day. We were staying in wooden chalets across a field from the dining room which doubled as the training room, so outdoor activities were strongly curbed, but the home produced food more than compensated for that in a different way. Everything we consumed was produced there on the farm – it was superb! My expectation is that several initiatives will spring from this event. A participant, Miodrag Skundric (Misha), who is a lawyer by profession, drew up a declaration of intent to start an F4F Club in Serbia which everybody signed. I now regard us as having a Serbian Team and already I have heard that three of them are planning to attend the Regional Meeting in Crimea, if they can find the money to get them there. Another participant, Elena Nikolic, is working on setting up a project at the private university for Journalism and Communication where she works as a teacher of Greek Language. She wants to base a work stream on the ideas and principles she has learnt on the course and next year, 2011, she hopes to award the two best students with a trip to Caux or to the new Hope University Summer School programme. I could go on with several other interesting project ideas but just mention these to demonstrate the enthusiasm that is emanating from the group. Just watch this space! David A Curtis, 18/03/2010
Meeting with Mrs. Inge Thelemann Gürtz Over the Season's holidays I had the joy and the privilege to meet in person one of the F4F benefactors, Mrs. Inge Thelemann Grütz, an elderly lady from South Africa who has been supporting for the last years, through the Fund she started, many young people from Eastern Europe to go and experience Caux.
age (92!) and the limitations this age brings in terms of movements and physical abilities, she keeps a vivid vision for the world and interest in how she can contribute to bringing hope and positive change around. Mrs. Inge is very much aware of the current situation in the world. Her tiny room is filled with books. She loves reading and getting good information. She is passionate about history and shares with great pleasure the books she considers relevant. She loves receiving news from F4F friends and reads carefully all our newsletters and reports. Therefore I encourage you, dear friends, especially those who have been able to go to Caux due to her kindness and generosity, to write to her personally and say more about yourselves, about your experiences in Caux, in F4F and in life in general. Also share with her your vision for your life, for your country and for the world. Diana Damsa, Romania To write to Mrs. Inge Thelemann Grütz please use this address: Deutches Altersheim, 73 Oates Street, Groenkloof, 0027 or email Meryl and Pieter Horn at mhorn@iofc.org.za who will print your email and pass it on to her.
Inge Thelemann Grütz receiving gifts sent by F4F friends
Eastern Europe has a special place in her heart. She herself originates from East Germany and has a special empathy with people and nations who suffered under socialist or communist regimes in Europe. She also mentioned a few times in our talks the role Caux has played in her life - therefore the conviction she has for helping young people to get to Caux to experience healing and new openings for their lives and their nations. During the three weeks I spent in South Africa we managed to meet three times – once at the IofC center in Pretoria (and the home of Pieter and Meryl Horn) and two times in Deutches Altersheim, the home for the elderly where she lives. We spend very pleasant moments together but what impressed me most was the fact that in spite of her
Inge Thelemann Grütz and Diana Damsa
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It is now nearly fifteen years since the first F4F course was held in Moldova. A small 'community' of friends developed, helping each other in trying to apply the idea of seeking inner direction in their lives and work. In this time democracy has also started to mature. Some of those from that first, and later, courses are now in positions of responsibility, still commited to the ideas they first heard about as students. They work in teaching and training others, in the increasingly free media, Government administration, and even in politically appointed positions of responsibility, strengthening the country's foundations for freedom" 'Moldova is a small and some might say insignificant country but it could well be pioneering a model for its larger neighbours'. Miles Paine
Dear Reader,
We would like to thank everyone who has contributed to making this issue of the F4F Newsletter. If you think that someone else you know should receive it or if you have any suggestions, please contact the editors Dasha Kolesnyk at kolesinka@ukr.net or Oleksiy Stasevych at oleksiy.stasevych@gmail.com. Also, if you have some thoughts or news you would like to share in the next Newsletter, please, send your articles to Dasha Kolesnyk! Thank you.