F4F Newsletter, October 2011 (ENG)

FOUNDATIONS FOR FREEDOM NEWSLETTER 7-B Vul. Vyshniakivska, Suite 394, Kyiv 021 40 Ukraine Tel: +380 44 574 6499 :: e-mail: info@f-4-f.org :: www.f-4-f.org Issue 48 // October 2011 CONTENTS:

UKRAINIAN ACTION: DIALOGUE ON THE WAY TO CHANGES

PERSONALITY. ALEX BIRNBERG: 'I ENJOY WORKING WITH OTHER FACILITATORS!' SELF­TESTED. ZHENYA SHYMINA ABOUT THE WEEKDAYS OF AN AFL TRAINER

OUR MEETINGS. COMMUNITY BUILDING IN BARANIVKA

HAVING A CUP OF TEA. CONVERSATION WITH VICTOR PARLICOV ABOUT ETERNAL VALUES, HIS WORK AND PERSONAL LIFE

EAST AFRICA & ROLLING STONES

A STORY ABOUT PLASTIC BAGS

F4F WITHOUT BORDERS. 'HELLO' FROM COLOMBIA

OUR PROJECTS. NEWS FROM SUDAK, CRIMEA

FROM THE FIRST HAND. F4F AUTUMN HAS STARTED WITH A VISITING COURSE MOSAIC. CHISINAU MEETING CIVILIZATIA NOUA. “QUIET TIME” ­ THE HEARTBEAT OF OUR TEAM

IOFC JAM SESSION IN MENA REGION

BARANIVKA VOLUNTEER PROGRAMME

OLYMPIA POP ABOUT HER TIME IN CAUX IN SUMMER 2011

Ukrainian Action. Dialogue on the way to changes The world is torn apart by contradictions. That is how it was before, and how it still continues. But can one change anything around without changing oneself? or without changing one’s own attitude to other people?

A dialogue – an international meeting of the members of Foundations for Freedom took part on 18­23 September 2011 in the Crimean village Koktebel, in the famous house of Aunt Anya (hospitable woman, who welcomes IofC friends for many years now). The group got together to discuss differences and mismatches that exist nowadays on post­ Soviet territory.

Organizers told us, ‘We were carrying this idea for a while. We are striving to build honest dialogue around our common history and its individual interpretation, around the past in our families and communities we live in’.

There were guests from Romania (Diana Damsa and Raluca Ocean), Moldova (Vitalie Cracan), Belarus (Ljubov Pranevich) and Russia (Natalya Nelidova) apart from Ukrainian representatives. Bhavesh Patel ­ young talented trainer from Great Britain has agreed to moderate the process.

The program of the Dialogue was quite diverse. It consisted of watching movies on specific topics followed by energetic discussion; quiet times in order to be alone with one’s own thoughts; small­group’ work to try and understand others better and to feel the mood of each participant, and of course, life­stories, which always bring people together. Exercises with picture cards, run by Natalya Nelidova became a real gift and an excellent relaxing method. However, the main attention during the meeting was given to the Open Space format.

Read more on p. 13

CAUX. THE WORLD UNDER ONE ROOF

THE STORY OF ONE CONVERSATION. “WHO WANTS TO VISIT ELDERLY HOUSE?”

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PERSONALITY. Alex Birnberg: ‘I enjoy working with other facilitators!’

Alex Birnberg is one of the coordinators of the Action for Life program. This is the fifth time that Action for Life is running.

This time it is a 5­month program, 2 of which were intensive training in India followed by another 3 months of ‘Action’ in different countries. The aim of Action for Life is to bring up a new generation of changemakers, equipped with integrity, honesty and faith who are committed to bringing transformation in the world, starting with themselves.

— What do you feel about the Regional meeting?

— It was really fun to be with friends from all over the Eastern European region.

There is such talent, skill and wonderful people in this network.

This meeting gave me great hope, and at the same time highlighted the great need in making such a Alex Birnberg with his dad network function.

— What has been the most difficult think of AfL?

— There are many challenges on AfL. As part of the coordinating team, there are lots of decisions to make, with little information or time. It is always stressful too, because we want to make the best possible decision, and we know it can really affect people. Even something as simple as assigning teams for fieldwork or for the ‘action’ phase is a difficult decision. We need to think of so many factors to try to make the best team possible for each of the different ‘action’ areas. However, the most difficult thing is to try to help each participant with their inner journey. This requires a lot of sensitivity, care, patience and above all wisdom. Each day, I need to see how the team is doing and how each individual is going in their personal growth.

— What has been the most pleasant thing on AfL?

— The most amazing and rewarding thing on AfL is to see the participants grow in courage and conviction, finding new hope and answers for their life. This outweighs any of the problems or challenges. Also, I really enjoy and appreciate working with the other coordinators. We have to really trust each other and have very good team work to be able to make AFL happen. And sometimes, when we are lucky, the whole community gets together and does something amazing, something you couldn’t imagine that it could do, those moments are very special.

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EVENTS IN 201 1 January­April. Hosting international group from ‘Action for Life’ programme in Romania, Moldova and Ukraine 26­27 February. Regional F4F meeting in Chisinau, Moldova 5­8 March. Screening of the documentary films within the “Ukrainian Action­2010: Healing the Past” project in Kyiv, Ukraine 26­27 March. Ukrainian Community building meeting in Baranivka, Ukraine In April. Training­course for International ‘Farmers' Dialogue’ programme in Rwanda run by International F4F team 1­7 May. Visiting course for ‘Multicultural Activists of the Crimea’, Ukraine 6­9 May. Training sessions in Baranivka: Project Management, Efficient Communications, Volunteers Management 6­15 May. Residential course “Inside change: creating foundations for action” in Lebanon based on the format of the F4F Visiting Courses July­August. Organising, running and participating in international programmes and conferences in ‘Initiatives of Change’ Centre in Caux, Switzerland: ­ Network and Capability­building workshop ­ Caux Scholars Programme ­ Caux Interns Programme ­ Caux Artists Programme ­ Trust and Integrity in the Global Economy

­ Caux Forum for Human Security, etc.

June­October. Volunteer Programme in Baranivka, Ukraine 7­13 September. International course “Social Development. Personal Development. A project of European Dialogue” in Ukraine for ‘Initiatives of Central and Eastern Europe’ network 18­23 September. Dialogue: on the way to changes. International meeting of the F4F members within the project “Ukrainian Action­ 2010: Healing the Past” in Koktebel, Crimea, Ukraine

— Why are you doing AfL??

I had an amazing experience of change and personal renewal when I was a participant on AfL3. This gave me the conviction that more AfL programs should take place. When I was sharing this conviction, I was challenged: if I really think AfL should happen, would I take responsibility to see this come true. From this, it was clear to me that yes, I need to take that step if I want to see something good come to the world, it won’t just happen by itself.

After finishing AfL4 as a coordinator, I went on to do other projects with IofC as a full­time volunteer. Then the possibility that AfL5 could not go ahead spurred me into again and I came to assist. My heart is really in this, because now I have seen it not just help me, but it is a program which gives so much to so many.

— In your travels, you see many different cultures, what is the same or different?

Of course, each culture has its differences. Some times these are more obvious and sometimes they are harder to spot at first. In fact, it is the little differences which can catch you out more than the big differences. Yet from all the different people I have met in all different cultures and circumstances, one thing remains: we are all human beings and share so much in common. We share very similar fears, hopes and desires.

We share very similar fears, hopes and desires.

We share similar ways of dealing with the stress and disappointments in life, and we all share the need for more wisdom and awareness in how to deal with this.

— What is the main lesson you have learnt through AfL? There have been so many lessons! I have learnt so much about myself, about the world and about life issues. One of my new key understandings is the need for conscious morality. Before really engaging with the idea of inner reflection, I was living a fairly normal life, but I did not understand all the forces which were pushing me in making the decisions or reactions which I took. It was only with this disciplined approach of a daily time of reflection that I could see more clearly why my life was as it was, and why I was making the decisions I was, and why I held the opinions I held. As I became more aware, I was then able to make different decisions, decisions based on living out a specific ethic, rather than a reaction to what was happening around me.

Daria Bohutska

SELF-TESTED. Zhenya Shymina about the weekdays of AfL trainer During AfL programme I have visited 3 countries: India, Indonesia and Malaysia.

The main lesson I’ve learnt during this time is to be patient and understanding.

All the countries, cities and people I had to encounter were absolutely different and totally unlike Ukraine and Ukrainians. So judging others from the top of my head is a lost case with no use and no learning. I tried to master the art of patience in its all aspects.

From the practical perspective I went through the training to be a facilitator of ‘Peace Circles’ program, together with AfL team have conducted about 20 presentations and workshops on the topic “Building international and inter­ religious trust”. Also as a team we have successfully run ‘Tools For Change’ conference, which included preparation, sessions and follow­up again as part of the team. I’ve learnt to sleep on the floor and to take only cold shower (there was no hot water in Indonesia) and to eat greasy and spicy food without gaining weight ;)

One more lesson is that all conflicts we have are with people, not with ideas. Meaning, as long as I understand and realize that there’s something bigger than superficial emotions uniting me with others (there’s something in the basis of everything, the basis of everyone’s value system), it is much easier for me to deal with day­to­day and other misunderstandings.

And I believe that there are positive intentions at the core of everyone’s behavior.

In general I really enjoyed the time spent during the program. It is like our Visiting courses, but longer and deeper. And I also missed borsch and sour cream a lot ;) Evheniya Shymina Page 3

Our meetings. Community Building in Baranivka Regional Meeting of Ukrainian ‘Foundations for Freedom’ team took place on 26­27 March in Baranivka and Velyki Sorochyntsi. Local activities and common projects were discussed in the framework of the meeting.

Frankly speaking, when I heard about the Regional meeting, I didn’t really want to go there. There were few reasons for that. In my mind such events tend to seem like a ‘ritual’. Certain high talks, plenty of Quiet times, our dear coordinators, who are organizing such meeting, and total lack of understanding from the ‘low beings’ of what to do with it. Usually meeting, communicating, and as a result had fun together and chilled out. Later on people started coming to the thought that due to the big number of participants, it is quite hard to have good conversations during the meeting, and that it is better to meet separately in a smaller group.

I was doing it together with some friends of mine when we were visiting Baranivka.

But Lida Zamaraeva and Lena Kruglova talked me into going. I didn’t regret it for any minute.

What was different in these meetings from other ones that I was taking part in? First of all, it was constructive. We have got people, who are doing real work. First of all those are Crimeans – members of Club for Young Leaders, those who, by the way, are doing real projects and the team of the project ‘Volunteer in Action’. The guys are doing simple and specific activities: organize international festivals, help elderly people, clean rubbish from beaches, and reconstruct monuments. I noticed at least two obvious benefits in doing such work. First of all, as I have already mentioned, such activities are very specific, and secondly, they are simple and easy to understand. That is why they can inspire other people and attract them to join you under your flags. The effect would be way stronger.

Another positive point is that there were not only F4F people during the meeting. When a new person appears, Page 4

he brings fresh thoughts and ideas. I would fully support this to become a new practice. There can be one problem here – those people should have similar values.

And the guys from the Kharkiv organization ‘Multi­Kulti’ seemed to have similar spirit to us.

For me who is not very socially active, this meeting was kind of a shake up and an attempt to look once again at what I am doing in life and for what reason. Of course, no one is saying, ‘Hey, lets quit jobs and start helping people!’

Possibly, one shouldn’t even regard socially active people as higher then others.

However, it seems very useful to me that we have opportunity to see different people and different ways of life. I think it helps to find one’s own path.

And still, resuming, one can say the following – the ice has moved. Now F4F is not only the place where people are trying to find themselves, find good friends and have good conversations.

Now, this way or another, people are trying to do something. Each has one’s own way to it. Baranivka, CYL and new people who are joining us are examples of it.

P.S. I cannot forget mentioning Olha Bolibok. I admire her energy! Such a feeling that there is an engine inside her.

And I also trust her sincerity.

Vlad Lesnyak

HAVING A CUP OF TEA

Conversation with Victor Parlicov about eternal values, his work and personal life One of the ‘elders’ of ‘Foundations for Freedom’ in Moldova, Victor Parlicov, who is an active public figure, has agreed to talk about his life, to philosophize about eternal values and to talk a bit about his work.

Darya Stepanets (D.S.): More than a year ago you became the Director­General of National Energy Regulatory Agency in Moldova. It is quite a high post on the scale of the country, isn’t it? How did you manage to get such a post?

Victor Parlicov (V.P.): Indeed it is. I am my own boss, accountable only to the Parliament of the Republic. When I was working in a well­known Moldovan non­governmental organization, I was criticizing the work of this particular structure where I’m now working. How did I get there? Once I collaborated with the Mayor – I helped to handle and sort out the situation in the area of heating systems. That’s how we met.

Later he asked me for advice regarding a new candidate for the post of Director­General of National Energy Regulatory Agency (ANRE). I wanted to try myself for such an interesting and attractive post, but I rejected that idea because it was awkward to propose myself. However, my wife has convinced me in substantiality of this idea, and the very next day my candidature was examined and approved by the Parliament. Everything happened very fast. Golden formula – ‘right time – right place – a chance’.

D.S. What did you start with on your new post?

V.P. At the very beginning of my job I decided to start with reforms. First of all I have made our agency a public one. I was actively working with media telling the public what exactly we are doing. This was the right step, because previously the Agency didn’t cooperate much with media, so it remained a mystery what exactly the organization is doing. Obviously, this openness wasn’t a simple thing to gain. The “stones” came raining down – people began to talk about corruption in the Agency, about the secret collusion with businessmen. But I didn’t react to that and went on speaking about my work persistently and openly. Gradually, there were less “stones” aiming at me. The trust to our company and our work grew and strengthened. I must confess that I wanted very much to start my work with reshuffling and firing some of the personnel. But a wise man told me: “You shall at first look thoroughly around and then you may start firing people. Firstly, you should understand what’s going on there, who and how they work there.

Don’t hurry to turn people against you with any quick actions.

You are new there, and they were here for a while”. Then we had the energy sector auditing done. Now we work diligently on every single case.

D.S. Why is your work valuable?

V.P. Due to my post I am now able to assist positive changes in my country applying IofC principles. Now we work diligently

on every single case.

D.S. Why is your work valuable?

V.P. Due to my post I am now able to apply positive changes in my country applying IofC principles.

D.S. What role has IofC played in your life?

V.P. There’s no doubt that our first teachers are our parents, their example and upbringing.

They are the people who instill in us all the values we need when we are kids. At least, in my case that’s what happened. Then comes the time of friends, and after it comes the time of public organizations, where one may show one’s worth in a specific action and meet like­ minded people. In my time “Foundations for Freedom” program became such an organization. After meeting with F4F an idea came to me that I have to do an important and big thing for my country. There were some opportunities I had to decline for the sake of this idea. For example, I refused to become a financial director at one prominent international company. I didn’t like nor was attracted to the core of business, which is gaining profit for oneself. Where’s the country then? Besides that, knowing how business works here I was sure that I would have to cheat. Another interesting option was to go to study abroad. Again, I felt that it wasn’t my way. I may say that IofC gave me the strength to achieve my goal.

D.S. How do IofC principles combine with your work?

V.P. In the beginning it was easy for me to introduce IofC principles in practice. For example, not taking bribes. But there was another difficulty. I am a kind and gentle person by nature. It is hard for me to be tough with people, and the leader needs to stand firm. Gradually I started to learn firmness in relations with colleagues. Recently a complicated situation happened and I had to act firmly. I called some of the people to my office, discovered the reason for the mistake, and determined who was guilty and what had to be done to solve the situation. After that incident I noticed a kind of tension among my colleagues. But now everybody knows that everyone would be accountable for the Page 5

work done carelessly.

D.S. How do you explain love? What does it mean to you?

V.P. Love is not what the writers are writing or poets admire. Poets tell about an exalted feeling, kind of bliss, being up in the clouds and dreaming about the loved one. To me, love is a conscious choice to devote your life to a certain woman, willingness to do anything possible for her to be happy. I have come to understand that loving is not easy. It is a constant work on oneself. Love is an effort, a will, and the ability to forgive. And recently I I understood that love also displays itself in the ability to listen. Apparently, a woman does not always need alternatives to solve her problem, which are easily given by a rational male’s brain. Sometimes she needs empathy and support, she just wants to have a heart­to­ heart talk, to share emotions. To me this moment has become a real discovery! People are right when they say that all men are from Mars and women are from Venus. Previously, I perceived love as emotion. But emotions may end and twist. I used to love several women at the same time. In the theory of “true love” this is impossible. I had to think a lot before I could understand simple truths: 1. You have to put yourself in awkward situations by asking questions to understand what’s really going on.

Ask yourself again and again: what’s driving me? Why do I act this way? What do I feel and why, and do I need it at all?

2. You have to carry the ideal of love in yourself. It’s important to know and feel what you are seeking in love ­ then you do not need to worry about different things. You know precisely what are you looking for.

3. IofC gets into all spheres of life. Principles of the organization may have to be applied every day and everywhere in your activities.

Getting back to answering your question, I would like to add that when I met Ann, I felt something completely new for myself. I learned what it means to be with somebody not twice per year but constantly.

From the very beginning there was fear that we would get tired of each other. However, after two years living together it seems to me that we managed to keep our feelings fresh. I like being together, feeling cared about and to care.

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Ann is listening to her husband attentively, smiles and adds: I think the feeling of freshness and novelty in relationships is kept due to the times when we are apart.

Few times a year I visit my parents in Russia for a month or two. It is an opportunity to start missing each other, to think about long­distance relationships. And how pleasant these airport meetings are! Probably, these moments are among the most pleasant ones for us!

V.P. I remember the day when Ann met me with flowers in the airport when I was getting back from an ordinary business trip. It was very touching.

D.S. When you changed your marital status, did you have to change any habits or lifestyle?

V.P. Yes, I had to change something in myself. For example, I had a terrible ‘seizures’ regarding computer games. Before I could play 25 hours a week. Now we arranged to limit this time up to three hours. This is our family rule that I observe. I think it happens to many couples when two completely different individuals start living together. In our case it happens peacefully. We try to explain, listen to each other and find the option that suits both.

D.S. What do you do during your free time?

V.P. The new job took away much time. From 8 a.m. till late evening I’m in the office. That is why free time is very valuable and is being spent in good quality. We often go out for walks with Ann in the evenings, which helps to stop thinking about work at least for evening time. And this is also a good opportunity to spend some time with a loved one. Playing guitar is quite relaxing. I have stopped doing it now and feel that I miss it. I also like playing pool and bowling. Sometimes I manage to play basketball.

D.S. What do you think about the future of F4F in Moldova?

V.P. I am very glad that it was Chisinau, where a F4F Regional meeting took place. It was a very inspiring event for us. I want to have an active Moldavian F4F team, I want to have interesting projects, to involve new people. Diana Damsa is a wonderful example for us.

Due to her enthusiasm she is doing amazing things in Romania. There are lots of “old” F4F people in Moldova. We have got the great potential and gained experience. I hope we would unite our efforts and do something together.

Darya Stepanets

East Africa & rolling stones

If I had to describe this year in one sentence, it would be a phrase from ‘Forrest Gump’ – ‘Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you are gonna get’.

As a graduate of ‘Action for life’­2 (AfL) I always wanted to experience it once again, perhaps when I am more mature, well­established in life, in other words one day in the bright future. I always knew I was going to visit Africa, perhaps one day...when I will have lived my life and have nothing to lose. And not before too long, not without much resistance to what I believed was my annoying inner voice and Cosmic signs, I found myself joining AfL­ 5 as a Support team member during the outreach in East Africa, and, of course, without saying a word about it to my parents. But this is another story, perhaps for another time.

My journey started in Kenya, where I arrived on Orthodox Christmas Day. We, mzungo (white people in Swahili), were warned about the crime rate in Kenya and the very same evening we witnessed it on the spot. Head priest of the Retreat Center in Nakuru, where we were based, got robbed in his house on the territory of the center guarded by 4 guards with machine­guns and 2 dogs :( In Kenya I was particularly shocked by the history of tribal violence (and, as a result, by camps for Internally displaced people) and touched by post­ conflict longing and readiness for healing and reconciliation done by ordinary people from Kikuyu and Kalinjan tribes. Story of Joseph Wainana (read more on the IofC web­site www.iofc.org) inspired by its strength, vulnerability and God's spirit in action. I was challenged to realize that there I was talking peace while some of my relationships were not clean from grudges. I started working on it through

cleaning some stuff within and correcting some relationships.

Another encouraging and amazing story comes from a young guy Andrew from a village in Rift Valley (repeatedly referred to as ‘the forgotten valley’ ) who was the first person in his village who made it to College and uses his celebrity status (according to his words) to transform his village (please read more on the web­page of International Far­ mers' Dialogue www.fd.iofc.org.

Five years ago he heard the name Ini­ tiatives of Change, got inspired by it and started using it for the initiatives in his village. Some results of his work, there are currently 10+ projects run­ ning: women stopped brewing alcohol, so domestic violence decreased, men are involved in vegetable growing, women – in pottery, kids go to school, homeless boys run kiosk and use money to pay for school and go to school in turns, youth grow passion­fruits, high­school graduates from the region run roadside businesses on the highway etc.

It challenged my tendency to moan, to groan and to complain about life hardships and limited opportunities.

East African youth conference was a good place for international teamwork, cross­cultural learning, deep sharing and commitment of young Africans to run it annually in the next 8 years. And while reflecting about the conference I recall one story we use in F4F course. It tells about a traveler who once came to a village and saw people working hard rolling the stones up the hill. When he asked what they were doing, some responded, 'We are rolling the stones up the hill'. Others said, 'We are making a living to feed our families'. Others replied, 'We are building a cathedral on the hill for the communities around this area'. So what actually were we trying to achieve by the conference. To be honest, most of the time I was helping my friends to roll Page 7

the stones. And the question which still bothers me – what is that that we are doing with F4F in East Europe? What is it that makes us roll the stones with more spirit and energy?

'It is not money that makes things happen but an interest and willingness of people', said one of the community change­makers we met in South Sudan. Our hosts there – some work in government and some in NGO sector – gave a picture of a new country with huge needs for everything, including healing and reconciliation. The country is devastated by the war but was so much looking forward to 9th July 2011 – an Independence day. There were more weapons than people in the country. Thousands of people have been traumatized, especially those who had been taken as boy­soldiers. We listened to a number of heart­ breaking stories at a 3­day workshop on conflict­ transformation we ran for youth in Juba (capital). What do you say then about forgiveness and reconciliation after all they have been through? This particular experience made me appreciate Ukraine's independence and peaceful way we gained it. I was reminded once again of many things I take for granted in life. I spent only a couple of days in Uganda. One can still sense some heaviness from two major atrocities in the past – dictatorial regime 1971­79 and

gorilla war in 80­ies. While my AfL team stayed in Uganda (to run a dozen school programmes and to meet the King of Bunyoro) I proceeded to Rwanda to co­ facilitate F4F course for the International Farmers' Dialogue. It was a very powerful gathering as a dialogue for farmers and especially as an honest dialogue over the past and steps to reconciliation (please read more on Farmer' Dialogue web­page www.fd.iofc.org).

African cultures and worldview differ a lot from European ones, history is complicated and dubious. One can easily get a cultural shock. However, wherever we went we met outstanding people of courage and strong spirit, who are the answer to a question­mark­shaped African continent.

Zoryana Borbulevych

A STORY ABOUT PLASTIC BAGS

Prelude …For more than a year I take my own plastic bags for shopping (I mean not the big ones but the small transparent ones for one­time use). If shop assistants still pack goods in a bag irrespectively of my request not to do so, I transfer my purchase to my own bag and give them back theirs. I came to that idea myself at some point.

Frankly speaking, at the beginning doing so was a little bit awkward – I felt like I was doing something bad or incomprehensible, and what would people think is completely another matter! But the longer I was doing it, more normal it became for me. People working in the shops I often visit got used to it and stopped asking anything anymore. However, before that the usual reaction has been something like 'why don’t you take the bag, it's free, after all!' I was suspected of saving shop’s money. Some of the shop­assistants even got offend and became aggressive, but now I don’t care about others thinking bad about me :) So, one evening I was buying bread in a shop where the saleswoman remembered me. But she gave me bread in a plastic bag saying that her hands got dirty during the day and that she would better give me loaf with a plastic bag on her hand. At the same time a 20­25­year­old guy came in. He saw me taking out my own bag and moving the loaf into it.

I went out of the shop towards the bus stop to go home. While Page 8

I was waiting for my bus that same guy came around. He saw me and started asking if it was me buying bread just a moment ago, and whether I was for ecology, and where the idea came from, and for how long I was already doing it, and whether there was any sense in doing so when there are other 800 000 people living in Lviv… He said he thought he was the only soldier in the battlefield (regarding ecology), but has never thought of anything like that (meaning activities) before. I replied that he is not the only one, and that I can be responsible only for myself and for no one else… Briefly, be the change :) And I also told him that I was pleased with his direct appeal since this was the first time I saw the straight reaction from somebody. During all the time that I have been fighting with plastics many people noticed that, but nobody said anything.

Inspiring! Hooray! There are people who think the same but they are too shy to show that. It’s pleasant to realize that I am doing something not in vain.

Yuliya Kutsmida, Lviv

F4F without borders. 'Hello' from Colombia

This letter could be named as notes of F4F people from abroad.

Saying “abroad” I mean a country as far from Eastern Europe as Colombia, where I had the very big privilege of being a guest of the dearest of my heart in my IofC family – the family of Helena Salazar.

One week ago I crossed the Atlantic Ocean and reached Ecuador to start my pilgrimage to Latin America. A deep need for finding answers to many questions collected during the last year I lived in Baranivka and it forced me to make this step. It is very difficult to be objective in situations where you are involved very deeply and emotionally. That is why I felt a need to leave Baranivka and to go far away to have time and space for reflections and thoughts.

the very essential topics in our life. To talk about God, calling, solitude. Helena presented me MRA (Moral Re­Armament – previous name of Initiatives of Change) books “Secret of Frank Buchman” by Peter Howard and “The Revolutionary Path” by Frank Buchman.

Reflecting on these books I suddenly realized huge importance and value of the process taking place in Central Ukraine, Poltava region, village Baranivka. The process of building Foundation for Freedom Community House/ Conference Centre. And I also realized that only by denying himself a man can make a really big and important thing letting God guide one’s life and efforts.

Three days ago I left Quito (capital of Ecuador) and took a bus to Bogota (capital of Colombia). After a 34­hours trip I was warmly welcomed by Helena I realized how much I need to Salazar and her husband Ditlof. work on myself to become an Helen Salazar, Colombia Discovery of a new country started for me effective and important tool for with the visiting Sunday morning mass in a very comfy church doing good. I want to thank very much Helena nearby. It was a perfect spiritual impulse for me. In the evening Salazar and to express my gratitude to her as of the same day I was already sitting with Helena in a very warm our senior IofC friend who has so much love atmosphere remembering our first meeting – 5 years ago at the and care to share and inspire younger reception of Mountain House IofC centre in CAUX, Switzerland. generation to find their path.

As 5 years ago we were talking about faith. I felt how much it is Serhiy Tretetskyi, Columbia important to have a senior friend, with whom you can talk about

OUR PROJECTS. NEWS FROM SUDAK

On 23, February 2011 men in Sudak (town at the coast line in the Crimea) were pleasantly surprised: the women of the town were congratulating them on that Day of Motherland Protectors, and presents were handed to them by ladies on roller­blades. This is how volunteer activities of youth network ‘Multicultural Activists of Sudak’ (MAS) have started.

It was followed by numerous spring activities and projects: Spring Day, 8 March – Women’s Day, Day of Earth, project “To read is fashionable”, and Health Day, and a separate Day without Smoking.

On 16, April MAS was observed in one of the yards of the town. All guys and girls were equipped with paint, brushes, sweeps and shovels, making that territory look nice with the motto ‘Let’s make Sudak clean!’.

We haven’t forgotten to pay attention to the older generation on the day of Liberation of Sudak (2WW), and to congratulate veterans on the Victory Day. SUDAK FOLK FEST­2011 took place on 21, March 2011. MAS group have organized and run it. Citizens of the town had an opportunity to meet not only Crimean cultures, but also such countries as Malaysia, Ethiopia, Germany, Latvia, Romania, Korea, Algeria and India. Participants of ‘Action for Life’ programme have visited Sudak and presented their countries there. Very lively communication, new friendships and interesting discoveries have especially impressed younger generation of Sudak.

So, in June there was another wave of the festival called SUDAK FOLK FEST KIDS. Elena Pydovinnikova Page 9

FROM THE FIRST HAND

F4F Autumn has started with a Visiting Course

From 7 to 13 September a Visiting Course "Social development. Personal development. A project of European Dialogue" took place in Koktebel (Crimea, Ukraine). It was run by F4F for the member organizations of a Network Initiative for Central and Eastern Europe – (InMOE).

30 participants from Ukraine, Czech Republic, Poland, Germany and Belarus were discussing, playing and were also spending good time together.

Faculty members were experienced trainers Angela Starovoytova and Anna Bondarenko (Ukraine), Robert Werner (Germany), Bhavesh Patel (UK), Ulrike Keller (Switzerland) and Ljubov Pranevich (Belarus).

Both participants and course organizers told what they remembered from that week.

Angela Starovoytova, one of course leaders: On the programme

Main aim of this course was to share 'Foundations for Freedom' methods with the member organizations of InMOE in order to develop better cooperation and trust between them. It is a pilot course. We wanted to see whether the course fits for European young people. My colleagues from Central and Western Europe were often telling me that Visiting Course won't be effective for representatives of their countries, because the topics of values and spirituality are not interesting for European youth, and facilitation style is different from what they are used to. However, the course was warm­heartedly and well received.

The participants have positively accepted that all topics were logically lined­up, and the sessions were well connected. We tried to make the programme maximum informative, to give more scientific data, because previously the course Page 10

wasn't focused on intellectual aspect. As a result, the participants have stated that they would have preferred to spend that time on discussions.

On values

Central European youth is more ready for the topics of values and spirituality. They study it at school. It has become a discovery for me after this course, that young people from Europe immediately understand how values and moral aspect can be applied for the society as a whole, however, at the same time they don't see how it relates to their personal life. For us the topic of internal values is new. However, our guys understand how it can be used in personal relationships, families, at work. But they find it hard to understand how it can work in the society. It hasn't been a problem for us to come up with common values, which once again proves that yes, we are different, but in any case, we still use common moral principles, which are similar for everyone.

On difficulties

Every morning we were gathering in smaller groups for quiet time. Participants were open from the first day, were sharing personal feelings, memories. 10­ 15 minutes was comfortable quiet time for them, but longer quiet time wasn't very easy for them. Not many are ready to spend so much time with oneself alone.

On alcohol

This course was one of the rarest ones, when the topic of 'No alcohol during the course' hasn't even been raised. I think that regular use of alcohol during the week was influencing the clarity of mind. The guys were fresh, but the brains, it seemed to me, were getting tired quicker. Although I might be mistaken, blaming alcohol in it.

About visiting courses

This year there were two visiting courses in the Crimea. There is a possibility to have more, if the need arises. But one cannot forget about preparation and follow­up work. The whole course takes not only a week, but much longer. It is important to remember about the moral potential of the facilitators, because the course takes a lot of energy. A certain preparation of the faculty members is needed. The effectiveness of the course depends a lot on the level of their spiritual development.

Edem Ibragimov, representative of Crimean Tatar Youth Center (Crimea, Ukraine):

I wasn't very keen to go for this course, as couldn't clearly understand why I needed it. Now I can say it is right, that such courses take place. Let there be more of them, so that more people can take part in them.

During the course I started thinking about things that never crossed my mind before, have re­ evaluated many points of view I had. The method Ioanna Slawinska of Quiet Time seemed to be useful. I remember life­stories sharing that has helped me to understand why we became who we are.

Sometimes it seems you are the only one of this kind, that no one else has such problems.

However, it appears, that we worry about similar things, and it helps to treat hardships differently.

Ioanna Slawinska, Poland, NGO ‘East’:

When I've read about the course on Internet, I didn't know what to expect. Even after receiving the programme, I still couldn't understand how everything would be happening. I was expecting to meet people from different countries, to get to know more about Ukrainian culture and how to develop myself personally. I got much more out of it. The course is thought through in such a way, that a person goes along a certain path of personal

development. I liked quiet time. It was something new for me, and I would use it in the future as well.

I remember 'Red and Blue' game.

We've lost, but it brought new knowledge to us. I was glad to meet Bhavesh Patel, who has a Olha Diatel different perspective on the world, different from mine. Was interesting to see everything through someone else's lenses. We lived in a beautiful place called Koktebel. When it is so beautiful around, it stimulates you to become more beautiful inside as well.

There are always some people present during Visiting Courses, who are not part of the general programme, but their role is quite important. The cooks do not just feed the participants and facilitators, but they also observe the process from outside. It makes their comments as interesting as of main participants of the process. This time Olha Dyatel and Zhanna Svirivoda, representatives of Crimean Club for Young Leaders, were volunteering in the kitchen. Both of them have experience as trainers during the courses. However, they felt pretty comfortable in their new state as well.

Olha Dyatel: I myself took part in the course before, then was a junior trainer. Now I wanted to look at the course from another perspective – from the kitchen. I can definitely say now, that values are values, but when one gets to satisfying one's stomach, then many forget about the topics discussed during the sessions. Some can easily leave others hungry, by taking an extra portion. But I liked working in the kitchen. And would gladly come for the course again to do cooking!

Ievgeniia Korolova, Crimea, Ukraine

Photo: Ljubov Pranevich, Dmytro Prytulenko Page 11

Mosaic. Chisinau Meeting Regional Meeting of F4F representatives from Ukraine, Moldova, Romania and Belarus took place in February 2011 in Chisinau, Moldova.

During the meeting we have discussed the future of ‘Foundations for Freedom’, development strategy and future plans.

Participants from Acton for Life (AfL) programme took part in the meeting as well.

Here are some interesting phrases and curious comments after the meeting.

Cristina Eni: ‘Thanks to Parlicov for his ability to delegate!’

Regional meeting took place in Chisinau.

Cristina Eni was the main organizer. Victor Parlicov is the head of F4F in Moldova, and apparently, has skillfully managed organizational matters with Cristina’s wish to help.

Victor Parlicov: ‘I’m earning more then a President’.

Being straightforward in his expressions and striving towards absolute honesty, Victor Parlicov, on one of the government meetings with media has announced his income, which turned out to be higher than official salary of the President of Moldova.

Rue, AfL participant: ‘Having visited Eastern European countries, I saw that local girls are soft and kind, however, they can stand up for their opinion, can be implacable on certain questions, as well as independent, confident and clear in decision­making. No way they can be compared to Malaysian women’.

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Yeon Yuk, AfL trainer: ‘During the Quiet Time I was often reflecting about my wife. Thinking about our relationships, I came to the conclusion that when people are free from each other, they gain true love.

Having opportunity to live separately, they choose to remain together. Absolute love is impossible when domestic and financial issues or fear of being alone are keeping them together.’

On the comment ‘You have left everything for the sake of Baranivka, your job, home, have changed the rhythm of life! It is so noble and strong, such an altruistic action…’ Serhiy Tretetskyi has responded without much thinking ‘It is still not clear, whether it is Baranivka that needs Tretetskyi, or Tretetskyi needs Baranivka’.

Diana Damsa has told an interesting story for the Regional Meeting in Chisinau while presenting ‘Peace Circles’ program.

‘A woman from Sudan has confessed during our conversations that she managed to realize how wrongly she behaved in the beginning of her motherhood. Both her and many other women were singing lullabies to their sons with the words, ‘My little boy, when you grow up, you would become a warrior, you would kill people and take part in a bloody war. Ah, my boy, we gave you birth and bring you up for that…’

A woman was crying for a long time in astonishment how blindly the mothers of Sudan were inserting such terrible thoughts and ideas in the minds of their children from generation to generation’.

Prepared by Daria Bohutska

Ukrainian Action. Dialogue on the way to changes Continue... Beginning on the p.1

Each of the participants was able to announce those questions, which were vital for him or her. In the course of the event we managed to talk about Soviet monuments and sculptures, which are still standing in our cities.

We have shared our fears, have thought about extremism in Eastern Europe.

We have discussed the future of the ‘Healing the Past’ project, etc.

Each conversation was personal – we spoke what we thought, we were not ashamed of our emotions and feelings, we respected others, however, still remembering our own point of view.

Before the closing the group has tried to form action plan necessary for the successful development of ‘Ukrainian Action’, and bringing real benefits to Ukrainian society.

Among other things, there was a thought about the necessity of running such Dialogues for wider population, and a decision to start a wide PR campaign. Another step in distributing information about our project is active cooperation with other NGOs and media.

One could hear phrases like, ‘I know for sure this and that, and not going to change my point of view’. Dialogue looked like a dream, quite unreal.

But with every new month of our work together it started to become more and more real. Some of those invited didn’t come for the meeting. It is normal. We know that whoever came were the right people. Just that everyone would be ready for such dialogue in his/her own time. One needs to understand that it is a very deep topic.

‘Healing the Past’ is not just a Ukrainian project. We have started with our own country, but it is related to the whole of Eastern Europe. It is important that Polish, Serbs, Latvians and representatives of other countries joined as well.

To be honest, I didn’t expect members of F4F would get so deeply involved with these topics.

Glad I was wrong. During the meeting I could see my friends and colleagues were sincerely interested in the questions, were ready to look at different periods of history, to search for compromises or at least to listen to other points of view, not sticking to one’s own only. “I don’t know who to thank for that – God or Bhav!” (laughing)

“I don’t know who to thank – God or Bhav!”

Comments from project organizer Olka Hudz­ Sakuma: We have started project ‘Healing the Past’ last year. Members of F4F have immediately started big PR work. However, at some point it became clear we were the ones who needed honest conversation first. There was no absolute understanding even inside our team.

Ievgeniia Korolova Photo: Ljubov Pranevich Page 13

Civilizatia Noua. "Quiet time" - the heartbeat of our team After many years of little organised activity within our team we started having more or less regular weekly quiet time meetings. This was mainly due to the visit of Action for Life 5 — Eastern European team to Moldova in February this year. Three of us, Igor Ene, Cristina Eni and Victor Parlicov, committed themselves to make sure that among three of them, two of them will come together for 15 minutes of quiet time. Others could join when possible.

We collected a few thoughts on these meetings:

"I think of this as a heart beating, and pumping blood through the invisible vessels within the body of our team."

"Quiet times are the basics for me. My personal hope is to find guidance and challenges for my life.

I also hope we can follow in real life our inner calls and dreams together as friends for life."

"Our QT meetings are definitely something I look forward every week! I see it as an opportunity to stop and reflect on the way I live my life; its like a wake up call from the day­to­day activities. Also our team is an amazing group of interesting and inspiring people, from whom I learn and look up to!"

At the moment we have interrupted the meetings with a series of discussions on Change, facilitated by our dear friend Bhavesh Patel.

We are meeting for three hours every week for five weeks. It seems that it was part of the bigger plan to challenge us and think again about the change part in Initiative of Change.

With warmest greetings from Moldova, Civilizatia Noua (A New Civilization)

Vitalie Cracan, Moldova

IOFC JAM SESSION IN MENA REGION From 6­15 May 2011, I joined 10­day residential course – Inside change: creating foundations for action – that took place at Notre Dame University, Lebanon. I was part of the faculty together with Prof. John Carlisle, from the UK, and Yeon­Yuk Jeong, from Korea.

That course was the first programme of its kind to be conducted in the region of Middle East and North Africa (MENA) by IofC. Young participants of the course presented five Arab countries ­ Yemen, Egypt, Sudan, Tunisia, and Lebanon.

At times, the course reminded me of a jam session or jazz session as few themes interplayed at the same time ­ the programme was based on the format of the Foundations for Freedom Visiting Course and the Caux Interns Program while greatly benefiting Page 14

from Professor Carlisle experience in business consulting and Yeon­Yuk's long­term full­time commitment in IofC. Besides, the participants themselves were very creative (extremely musical) and open, that created within a couple of days an atmosphere of cozyness, trust, fun, curiosity and courage to experiment.

The programme encouraged the learning in both an inside dimension (through quiet times of inner introspection, reflection of one's life in regards to absolute standards, creating one's vision and a number of exercises on personal development), and in practical skills on project management, cooperation, communication, action planning etc.

In between the course sessions, we attended different lectures at Notre Dame University where

we presented our course, IofC work in general and interacted with the students and the lecturers, debating about IofC vision for the world and the question of personal dimension needed for commitment in IofC. Besides, the participants themselves were very creative (extremely musical) and open, what created within a couple of days an atmosphere of cozyness, trust, fun, curiosity and courage to experiment.

The programme encouraged the learning in both an inside dimension (through quiets times of inner introspection, reflection of one's life in regards to absolute standards, creating one's vision and a number of exercises on personal development), and in practical skills on project management, cooperation, communication, action planning etc.

community in Beirut, where we heard the sharing of two men who were the living proof of possible Lebanese reconciliation. One of them is Muslim, one Christian, who were former enemies in Lebanese civil war and then reconciled openly and have used their violent history for peace­building. For those of you interested in the story, it is highly recommend to watch a film Two men, one war, 33 years on on IofC web­site (www.iofc.org) and also to read more in Michael Henderson's book No Enemy to Conquer.

During those ten days we could also enjoy the richness of Lebanese culture. We visited Byblos — today is believed by many to be the oldest continuously­inhabited city in the world – is a Mediterranean city, which is believed to have been founded around 5000 BC. We were hypnotised by the beauty of the Jeita Grotto caves, which, aside from being a Lebanese national symbol and a top tourist destination, the Jeita grotto plays an important social, economic and cultural role and is a finalist in the 'New 7 Wonders of Nature' competition.

And, of course, Beirut itself is a melting pot of cultures, peoples with an outstanding architecture, ancient Roman Baths and refugee camps within one city.

Zoryana Borbulevych

In between the course sessions, we attended different lectures at Notre Dame University where we presented our course, IofC work in general and interacted with the students and the lecturers, debating about IofC vision for the world and the question of personal dimension needed for a change.

The most memorable and touching, though, was our common quiet time and sharing with senior IofC Page 15

BARANIVKA

VOLUNTEER PROGRAMME

At first we were full of doubts. Who being mentally healthy would want to go to a countryside to work 6 hours a day 6 days a week for free? Not just to dust furniture or bake cakes, but for a hard physical work? Not knowing us personally, not being at the Visiting Course, having heard nothing about Foundations for Freedom or Initiatives of Change?

Strangely enough, there were quite a lot of these ‘crazy people’! From July to mid October 46 people took part in a Volunteer Program­ me in Baranivka.

Who are heroes?

these

• There were mostly young people from 20 to 30 years old.

However, with their parents came also children of 1 year old and 14 years old.

• The majority of our volunteers were Ukrainians, though there were quite many volunteers from other countries – Russia, Belarus, Moldova, Romania, USA, UK, France, Germany, Switzerland, Norway and Lebanon.

• Few people came from abroad being friends willing to support our initiative, while for the majority of volunteers it was a first contact with IofC/F4F. • All of them have lots of energy, will to be helpful and, as a rule, a great sense of humour!

How did a usual day of a volunteer look like?

Every day (apart of one per week day off) consisted from 6 hours of working and 6 hours of leisure time.

Quiet Time started at 6 am for the organising team, while for volunteers it was optional. By the way, if in July nobody opted for it, by August majority of the house inhabitants was gathering around the fireplace where we were spending time being silent and sharing our thoughts.

An ‘official programme’ started by breakfast at 7:15 followed by a short meeting. We would get to sleepabout 11 pm – the earliest to leave would be permanent inhabitants of the house, while ‘newcomers’ would enjoy informal conversations till late at night.

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What exactly did they do during working and leisure time?

Volunteers were helping out at the construction site, veggie garden, cooking and preserving fruit and vegetables for wintertime and cleaning the territory. They dug a trench for the sewerage system, strengthened the foundation of the existing house, demolished an old roof, cleaned up a ‘grannies house’ and built up a workshop.

Also they spoiled us with delicious food and helped us to earn money on Sorochyns'ka Fair.

During free time we were learning form each other different things – from how to make brownies in 5 minutes and provide the first medical aid to how to make soft and straw toys. We did games and exercises on team building and went for a swim to the riverside and for a walk among the hills. In the evenings we would gather around the fire for playing all kinds of games and singing songs; sharing sharing about ourselves and organisations and initiatives we were involved in.

During days off quite a few went to nearby villages Opyshnya to visit a pottery museum and Sorochyntsi to famous Sorochyns'ka Fair.

For how long did volunteers stay?

Originally we requested volunteers to come for not less than 2 weeks, but

according to applications we understood that for some people it’s too long time and allowed to join even for a couple of days, when the interest from a volunteer side was long­ term support of the project.

What kind of feedback did we receive?

Out of 46 people just one left the project unsatisfied. In fact, that were us who asked him to leave due to disobeying the rule of our house being an alcohol free place and refusing to follow a working programme of the day.

All the rest of volunteers expressed that they had enjoyed their time in Baranivka. The most pleasant thing was to hear that they feel here like at home and ‘accepted as they are’. Even more pleasant was to see them coming back, bringing over their friends and relatives and recommending other people to come. Some even started thinking of buying a house somewhere in the village.

What did it mean for us as programme organisers?

For me personally it became the biggest inspiration of the year. Just to know that there are so many unselfish people around makes life more bright and pleasant.

And to see that our House becomes a meeting place for such people where they can ‘recharge’ each other by exchange of their skills, knowledge and experience and receive inspiration for further work makes me feel like it’s already a part of a dream about Baranivka becoming true.

For this I express my deepest gratitude to everybody involved – first of all our volunteers themselves, then of course those who helped out in spreading information about the programme and the last, but not the least – IofC Sweden who supported financially the programme making it possible from a very practical point of view.

Thank you so much!

Volunteer programme coordinator, Lena Kashkarova

Olympia Pop about her time in CAUX in Summer 201 1

Olympia Pop took part in a week long training session for facilitators of ‘Peace Circles’ programme (July 2011) – peace­building programme for women all around the world.

It is hard to express in words what ones feels about Caux and the people met there. One thing is for sure, that it is a unique expe­rience of a place where all are accepted no matter what their nationality, religion, colour or wealth is. All are treated equally. There you are helped to develop yourself and that is possible as long as you are willing and opened to it.

with the help of a few wonderful people this miracle happened. My dream came true and I managed to see that great place and learn things that will help me for the rest of my life, and it won’t be only to me but also to those to whom I pass on the things I've learned. Step by step, challenge by challenge, the change for the better can occur. I realised it is not the destination that matters most but the journey as well. How you get to a destination and the way you choose your journey in life is a matter of personal choice. And if we manage to understand each other and to help each other, the journey will be a success, and the destination could Olympia Pop (on the left) and Diana Damsa be heaven on earth.

I never believed that I would be able to go to Caux, due to many difficult circumstances I am in. But

Olympia Pop, Romania Page 17

CAUX. The world under one roof This summer in Caux for most of us was possible due to the generous support of Inge Thelemann GrĂźtz, a lady from South Africa, who has provided her financial support towards participation of representatives from Central and Eastern Europe in Caux conference and programmes. We are sincerely grateful for her ongoing contributions, encouragement and inspirations for many years. These are some reflections on their time in Caux.

Learning to live in a multcultural world

My name is Simona Torotcoi, I am a Roma girl, I live in Romania (now I am studing in Budapest) I am 21, and I enjoyed this conference in July 2011.

Before going to Caux I heard a lot of things, from former participants, about how participating in such conferences or other programs changed their lives and how much energy they got from there and how they got involved in activities and actions in helping the others.

In May 2011 I participated in "Teacher's meeting" in Rome in a project made by Glocal Tour. I stayed there only 5 days and when I came back in Romania people asked me how is it in Rome and I said that I didn't like the atmosphere regarding the people on streets, homeless that there are people from different African states. I felt like I was not in a safety mood there and honestly, I looked at them with some kind of bad thought.

I came to the conference with two thoughts. The first one was, of course, to learn what can I do about the Roma situation in Romania and not only and their relationship with the Romanians. The second one was to try to understand myself how that a lot of immigrants are coming to European countries. And why are they where they are and what are they looking for?

The first thing that came into my mind when I reached there was how the Caux Hotel is working on the base of voluntary work and I was amazed, it looked like a model for our contemporary society. Of course, the speakers there were great I learned a lot of things from them. Also the comunity group was the one I liked the most because I had the chance to speak more with people there who told me about their jobs in their countries and how Page 18

they do it.

The learning track was the best: Honest Conversation and Trust building (Cricket White). Here I had the chance to see that some of the issues in Romania from an educational point of view were like Muslims from a religious point of view: we both needed a dialogue between parents and children – both living in some kind of host community. Another idea that was written on the paper for Romania was the construction of a dialogue between the Roma and Romanians as host and guests communities what they both give and what they both want and how they can reach a common point in getting on well each other. At a personal level, after leaving Caux, the first thing I wanted to do was to create a group of Roma children and to start with them some activities so that in time to make them good citizens in their society and leaders in their turn for other Roma children. I began to do that. We first prepared for a show with Roma traditions in a group of almost 20 who sing, danced and acted. Then in my village we projected a film in a big room and it was almost full of people and children (both Roma and Romanians). At the beginning we had some kind of session on how they can control their health and so on.

Now I have started school in Budapest and I have to be there, and when I am going back home, I have big plans for them and not to forget about the ones written on the paper.

In conclusion, Caux was a great experience, I really want to participate next year in such conferences and to make public to the Roma people what Initiatives of Change is doing and how useful it is in one's life and how can change your in your life can affect you and and others also.

Simona Torotcoi, Romania

Caux Palace as a global living­room

After 10 years of involvement with IofC, arriving to the Mountain House feels like a homecoming. It is like a huge living room, where I meet old and new friends, where there is always someone to share with, to cry with, to laugh with, to disagree, to sing, to exchange news...often over delicious meals.

Last summer Caux invited the world with its current turbulences under one roof – North Africans brought the energy of the Arab Spring, the Europeans shared thoughts and feelings about massacre by a right­wing extremist in Norway, young Muslims from Europe gathered for peace­building training, Creators of Peace and Caux exhibition talked about the women who are taking initiatives, some shared deep concerns over degraded land and environment generally while the others work on the deficit of moral and spiritual values in economics and politics. I hear lots of thoughts, especially among IofC youth, regarding the potential of and how the House is being used. From year to year, though, I admire those who put the efforts and, despite some criticism and scepticism from within IofC network, make the best (within their knowledge) of Caux Palace at the moment.

I also feel at home in the House on the mount because wherever I go there I meet people from Eastern Europe, especially those young fellows who identify themselves with Foundations for Freedom. I find it fascinating to observe how anyone who wants to (and none has to), often without F4F help, may find one's place in the House according to one's gifts, skills and passion. I see familiar faces among Caux Interns and coordinators, kitchen and allocation staff, conferences planning teams members, among the participants and facilitators.

I was in a quite unusual for me role in Caux last summer – a Caux Scholar – representing there “Ukrainian actions: Healing the past” project.

Since it began in 1991, over 300 students from 86 countries have participated in the Caux Scholars Program, which takes place each year in July in Caux. Students focus on the moral and spiritual dimensions of peace­ building and on the relationship between individual transformation and change in the world. Last July nineteen students and young professionals from thirteen countries gathered in Villa Maria to focus on “Exploring justice: Transitional, Restorative and Indigenous Applications”.

The most powerful aspects of the programme: study of conflict and peace­building, participation in the Caux Forum for Human Security, presentation “Conflict Where I Come From”, visit the UN in Geneva, hike, tour, and Montreux Jazz Festival.

Through the month we continually faced the challenge to access our own conflicts and develop our ideas through classroom exchange with each other and presenters, guest­speakers. Personal challenge for me was to recognize that I would often engage mentally in cultural judgement of others, often based on a quick judgment of their obvious identity. I would assign behaviours or responses to others within seconds of setting eyes on them. Even though I consider myself to be reasonably culturally sensitive I catch myself doing it daily. All my previous cross­cultural experience proved to help me quickly recognize what I do rather than interrupt it or ideally prevent it. I did not accept all of the cultural messages I have been given so far, ignoring some because they did not fit into my map of the world. I am obviously so little aware of my cultural identity that I often act automatically without being conscious of my decision­making style and responses.

Caux Scholars Programme was an experience of a learning community, mainly thanks to homely atmosphere among the Scholars and a thought­ provoking syllabus (with many open question rather than ready­made answers).

As we explored the concept of justice I kept thinking about F4F Mission, which “aims to foster the development of a truly free, democratic and just society...”. What is justice? What meaning each of us puts in value of justice? Is justice possible to achieve?

How would it look/feel like in our countries? And finally, what kind of justice are we trying to establish in “Healing the past” and F4F generally?

And this is probably the topic for another article and an invitation for YOU to share your thoughts with us all.

P.S Though it may seem a bit out of tune of this article, however I must confess that the Taize nights at Caux – singing in the chapel across the road ­ was the most powerful highlight of Caux 2011 personally for me. Special thanks to Diana Damsa from Romania!

Zoryana Borbulevych, Ukraine Page 19

To be an intern in Caux

First of all, before talking about my experience in Caux I want to share prehistory about why I decided to visit this place as an intern.

So, I have been involved with activities of Club for Young Leaders in Crimea already for three years. I heard a lot from my friends about this unique place — Caux, were a lot of people from all over the world gather together for conferences and serving the house.

Every year I was thinking: “After finishing university I will go to that place”. I decided to go as an intern because I wanted to feel this atmosphere that I heard about from others.

I want to share not only certain experiences but also some thoughts and emotions that I had during my staying in Caux. I hope it will give you better understanding how important that time was for me.

First day in the evening I joined Taize songs, that took place in church every day. It became for me very important event that helped me to get new understanding what God is to me.

We had discussions about God with one of the interns. In his culture he has no understanding of God, so he was wandering “Why do we believe in “something?”. And that intern became an example for me because his researches and conclusions about faith during his stay in Caux was so deep and wise. Also the next morning after our discussion, during Quite time I had a thought that “God teaches us lessons that keep us from wandering into similar situations”. So, I fully trust it. “To do Gods will but not his work”—the other important point, that I’m still trying to understand more, because I feel that there is something for me in it.

Serving. It became central idea for me from the very beginning. I realized, that I started to forget about it. So I tried to explore myself. Because my serving is spreading just on several people and not on everybody. So it was a question for me: do I really want to serve or just observe the examples.

From the first days the very important and hard question for me was how to organize my time. Because I still had some things to do that came from home life, at the same time there were a lot of interesting people near me and also I needed time for myself. So I was thinking a lot about priorities, about effectiveness of my time and it was really tough. But it was great after some time, because I felt a lot of benefits in the end from good time management.

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I learned more about changes. So it wasn’t new information for me but it was new idea for me: level for change: I have needs ­ I need to change something ­ I do something about it. It was very interesting for me to analyze that in my life there are different levels for different areas. In some of them I am at the level of acting, in others ­ at the level of recognizing problem, etc.

“Plans are good, but always stay Open to God’s direction” It was also interesting idea for me in case of time­ management.

I was thinking a lot about different spaces in my life. I usually have my study, youth projects and it usually takes all my time and energy. I want to find space for my future family. I decided for near future first to plan my time and my rest and then work around it, because usually I was planning just work and in that case I had no time for anything else. Now I want to have ‘to do list’ for myself in the same amount as for my work.

Very important for me was to rediscover people.

Because very often I trust my first impressions and also I can forget about the fact the person has his history. So one of the greatest experiences was changing opinion about people that I didn’t like before, even more than that, they became my closest friends.

I’ve read a book about history of Caux. It was amazing and inspiring example for me and it helped me a lot to understand the place better.

Also in this time in Crimea our friend was repairing our community house, so I was wondering why the idea of building a conference center united so many people. “…our young cook came in and gave us her bank book in which week by week were recorded all the savings…”; ‘…were deeply touched by this sacrifice which had been made to encourage us to take the first steps in our great enterprise …” ; “family jewels, life insurance policies and houses were sold; money put aside for car journeys or washing machines was given…”. I was really wandering what inspired people so much. And at the same time I was reading my emails about news from Community house, it was hard for initiator, because not many people joined his idea of

building a conference center united so many people. “…our young cook came in and gave us her bank book in which week by week were recorded all the savings…”; ‘…were deeply touched by this sacrifice which had been made to encourage us we took the first steps in our great enterprise …” ; “ family jewels, life insurance policies and houses were sold; money put aside for journeys of cars or washing machines was given…”. I was really wandering what inspired people so much. And at the same time I was reading my emails about news from Community house, it was hard for initiator, because not many people joined his idea of rebuilding and improving our house.

So I was trying to understand what is lacking in that idea in the Crimea.

than me are so actively involved with IofC, and that they spend their lives with things that I am trying to provide now. I really hope to stay in contact with some older friends.I understood that lately my position in life was to complain about nothing but myself.

I had thoughts that I was not in the right place and for somebody it could be better and more important experience than for me. But finally I told to myself: “I know where and why I will use my experience, and even now I can see concrete results.

In Caux I started to take certain steps towards good relationships with people. I mean conflicts situations or big misunderstandings. I had a great experience of solving this kind of problem and I am really grateful for it. My time in Caux helped me to see clearer the ways of creating good relationships with my surrounding.

So it is just small part of experience that I can find now in my notebook that I usually was using in Caux for interesting thoughts. I think it had deeper influence on me that I still cannot identify.

Great experience for me was also communicating with older people who were supporting ideas of IofC during all their lives. I found it a great possibility to take some ideas and experience and inspiration. In Ukraine we have really young team, so I was impressed by the fact that so many people who are much older

I am really happy about my time in Caux, and grateful for it, and I hope my staying there was useful for the house as well.

I asked very important questions, that I should ask myself in some situations: What benefits do we have from conflicts? What benefits do I have from not doing anything? For me it became very interesting instrument in behavior analyses of myself.

It's so cool when you are sitting at the table, and around you ­ Italy, Greece, France, Egypt, Hungary, Finland, and you are such "Ukraine" among them.

And have a chance to see all these people without travelling to each of these countries separately, and asking people about their lives.

This is a huge discovery of various countries in the active process of dialogue, opening new traits and qualities in yourself, develop your own capabilities and ­ for me – a great opportunity to realise all qualities and skills acquired over the years.

For example, journalism. I studied 5 years at university and worked 5 years as a journalist, studied to find common language with people, understand them, respect their opinion, think about the problem. And now here we are dealing with projects ­ this is the same "article", but a global and interactive, and the same people, just from all

During my time in Caux I also was preparing for leading a seminar about multicultural relationships in Siberia, Russia. Now I’m using this experience in communication with different cultures.

Olha Diatel, Ukraine

around the world. You can open Ukraine to them. I think a lot of those people, whom I got to know in Caux, go to their country with good memories of Ukraine, which I had the opportunity to present.

And a seminar (Network and Capability building workshop for young IofC activists from Europe) gave a lot to me in theoretical terms. I understood what IofC is at a deeper level, what is the strategy of the organisation, its methods of work, ideas and principles, and now I have the strength and inspiration to realise these goals in my country.

Together we can create a new society of harmony and peace.

Lilia Matviiv, Ukraine Page 21

The story of one conversation. 'Who wants to visit elderly house?'

Simferopol initiative "Club for Young Leaders' often comes up with an issue or reaches agreement about something through their Google­mailing list.

Reading these online conversations it is easy to understand what the team is living for, what it does, and how small ideas take on new life turning into big projects.

Here it is only one piece of correspondence represented by which team's activites can be evaluated.

14th June Julia Kisulina: Who wants to visit elderly house?

Do you have such a wish? To go there in a group.

Without any programme and any concert for now.

We come there. Head nurse would tell us what to do. May be to feed someone, or to talk to someone.

No one would be forced to do anything. We can just BE there… (to start with… If a group of activists forms itself, then we would organize different events.

Think about it.

Maryna Yakhnis: Hi, I would like to join.

Julia Kisulina: Horray! Great! First visit (most likely) is on 28, June

Dmytriy Kruglov: I’m interested, I would go if you take me.

Julia Kisulina: Would grab you!

Elena Zysko: Wow! Cool idea! If I were at home, I would have joined as well! Good luck! Julia – you are great!

Julia Kisulina: Oi…(*­_­*) thanks for support!

When you are back – welcome to join. They would be long­term visits, I hope.

24th June Julia Kisulina: Meeting on 28 June (Tuesday) at 10.30 on the bus stop Nadinskogo.

Even if you don’t manage this Tuesday, there are many other Tuesdays ahead.

Probably, no need to ask. Here you either feel the wish inside or not. At first we would just be talking to them. And may be, it is not just at first, but we would be always talking to them (don’t be afraid, no one would ask us to carry pisspots)! There are old ladies and men who cannot walk they don’t see anything else apart from 4 walls and a neighbor.

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Personally, it is hard to imagine such a life…

Nothing makes it different from prison, no one needs you. They are still alive. By showing that they matter one can bring in a drop of warmth in their lives.

And Maryna (from Baranivka) has also suggested to write down their stories. This seemed to me like an interesting idea.

Anastasiia Maksymova: I want to join very much. The main thing – not to miss the date..)!

29th June Julia Kisulina: http://vk.com/topic­28312740_24731148 5th July Julia Kisulina: VISIT #2 (Names are changed)

I want to talk about Anton. He is 40, and he has a severe disease ­ disseminated [multiple] sclerosis.

It has nothing to do with loosing memory. This disease is like scars all over the nerve system.

Anton is carpenter by education, before the disease has worked as a restorer. He has restored window frames in Khan’s Palace, and different furniture.

When Anton was 25, he got paralyzed. He stopped walking. Now he manages to move by himself a little bit, but he doesn’t leave his room.

He explains it that outside other house­mates are drinking, and he doesn’t want to see it, cause he cannot stand drunk people. His mother and father have always been drinking, beating each other up and beating him as well. When Anton got paralyzed, next to him appeared a woman – Maryna, who supported him. She was looking after him, and was his stimulus to get up, to do exercises, to live.

When Anton and Maryna had their wedding, his parents had a fight, and the father has hit mother’s head on the glass window…

Before that, when they had a usual quarrel, the mother has drunk some vinegar. The father wasn’t allowing Anton to call emergency, cause he was afraid to be accused of what has happened, and to be sent to prison. Anton still has managed to save his mother. After that his mother during the fight, has grabbed a knife and hit the father.

The father wasn’t allowing Anton to call emergency, cause he was afraid to be accused of what has happening anymore.

Anton himself used to drink and to smoke before, but has quit a while ago. Now, sitting in his room, he is reading spiritual literature. He has divorced his wife. However, his ex­wife remains his best friend.

She regularly visits him and cares about him. While we were sitting in his room, she has called a few times.

Anton is a smiling person, he has beautiful and kind eyes. Now he is searching for the meaning, and sometimes it seems to him that there is none. We hope that by spending time with him we would help him to find it. He is still so young, and I don’t think that it is his place to be among old and helpless.

Now he has 1st group of disability. He stopped looking after himself and stopped hoping for recovery. It would be great to give him back his faith!

Then we visited an angel – Elena Andreevna, ex­ teacher of English. Today she was reciting ORIGINAL SHAKESPEARE! My heart even stopped beating. Elena has devoted her whole life to English language. That was her calling. She would really love to give someone English lessons. Next time I am planning to visit her with my notebook, pen and a book. Joyful for her, useful for me. Those who are willing, join in, we would study together. In the past she was translating scientific works for symposiums. She is sad, that she cannot use her knowledge for the good of people.

5th July Dmytro Kruglov: Thank you for stories…

Anna Bondarenko: Thank you, Julia, I have no words, just loads of thoughts appear in my head after reading such a story! I would try to write when I’m back to normal after reading it, and if I don’t choke from the feeling of gratitude to you for doing it.

Julia Kisulina: Oi, Anya, your comment has nearly brought me to tears! I do not doubt that it is very important. Sometimes, it seems to me that it is the thing of my whole life – any care for such special people. And other times, it is a bit sad to me that people around do not understand it and regard it as useless waste of time. But when someone appears, who understands that it is important, I want to celebrate. Thank you!

UPCOMING EVENTS IN 201 1 /201 2 11 November 2011. General meeting of INGO F4F in Ukraine (Kharkiv, Ukraine)

16­20 November 2011. Participation in training on Strategic PR for NGOs and general meeting of 'Initiatives of Central and Eastern Europe' Network that we are part of (Berlin, Germany) 28 November – 6 December. Visit of 'Healing the Past' delegation to Cambridge, UK

11­14 December 2011. Participation in 'The First Year Harvest – Human Rights in the Arab spring: present situation and opportunities for the future' conference, Cairo, Egypt 8­12 January 2012. Participation in 'Making Democracy Real' dialogue at Asia Plateau, India

27 February – 4 March 2012 (potentially).

Visiting Course in Fort McMurray (Alberta, Canada) 23­25 March 2012. F4F Regional Meeting in Baia Mare (Romania) 30 March – 6 April 2012. Ethical Leadership course for CYL and NGOs in Baia Mare (Romania) 5­12 May 2012. Visit to Lorraine, France for young people from Central and Eastern Europe

1 July – 8 August 2012. Conferences, Intern programme in Caux (Switzerland)

Team, which worked on this issue:

Materials: Daria Bohutska, Ievgeniia Korolova Translation: Anzhela Starovoytova Photos: Liubou Pranevich, Serhiy Nechvolod, authors and others Proofreading: Miles Paine Design and make up: Oleksiy Stasevych

Join us at Facebook: http://www.fb.com/foundationsforfreedom

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FOUNDATIONS FOR FREEDOM NEWSLETTER 7-B Vul. Vyshniakivska, Suite 394, Kyiv 021 40 Ukraine Tel: +380 44 574 6499 :: e-mail: info@f-4-f.org :: www.f-4-f.org Issue 48 // October 2011

We would like to express our special gratitude for those who keep on supporting us for many years by sharing their wisdom, knowledge, commitment, finances, prayers, words and actions of encouragement and inspiration both individually and through different foundations. Our main donors, of course, are our long­term volunteers, who give their time, resources and skills to the work of Foundations for Freedom. Here are some of the names who we would like to appreciate for their longest support: ­ George and Mollie Richards ­ Sheila Andren ­ Elisabeth and David Lock ­ Tony Sursham ­ Barbara and Patrick Rode ­ Jim and Peggy Buckman

­ Inge Thelemann Grütz ­ Irene Prestwich Trust and many others.

Our sincere gratitute, Committee and Management group of F4F

Dear Reader,

Thank you for your attention. First of all we would like to thank everyone who has contributed to preparing this issue of the F4F Newsletter.

We are inviting you to share your interesting experience, thoughts, ideas in the next issue, as well as the comments and suggestions to the issue. Please, send them to the team of editors: Ievgeniia Korolova at jake@bk.ru, and Oleksiy Stasevych at oleksiy.stasevych@gmail.com.

If you would like to subscribe someone else or unsubscribe from receiving our newsletter, please, send the request at info@f­4­f.org.

Please, note, you may find the archive of all the newlsetters at www.iofc.org With gratitude, your team of editors.

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