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Events | Speakers | Music | Exhibits

Vice President Biden reaffirms U.S. support for Ukraine
July 20-22, 2009
Vice President Joseph Biden's two-day visit to Ukraine July 20-22 resulted in extensive coverage by broadcast, print, and Internet media. During the visit the Vice President appealed to Ukraine's leaders to work together to support further progress on democratization and economic reform in Ukraine. In his meetings with President Yushchenko, Prime Minister Tymoshenko, and members of the opposition, the Vice President reiterated the U.S. support for Ukraine's sovereignty, and continued economic development as the country progresses toward Euro-Atlantic integration. The Vice President made headlines nationwide with his speech at Ukraine House to an audience of nearly 500 government officials, NGO leaders, business people, students, and journalists. Similarly, his remarks after meeting with President Yushchenko reiterating the commitment to the U.S. - Ukraine partnership, and U.S. support for Ukraine's Euro-Atlantic integration, dominated the front pages and top news stories around the country. Media reaction continued for several days, concluding with analyses and in-depth articles in major Ukrainian weekly political and economic journals.

UGRAD Re-Entry Seminar
July 3, 2009
On July 3, 2009 IREX hosted a re-entry seminar for 20 recently returned Eurasia Undergraduate Exchange Program participants. U.S. Embassy representatives and IREX-Ukraine staff welcomed the newly arrived UGRAD program alumni and discussed with them challenges they would face at their home universities as well as the positive changes they can make as alumni in their communities. The group was also briefed on alumni opportunities and resources available to them through various alumni programs such as PAS Alumni grants program, Alumni.State.gov, and the Kyiv Alumni Resource center .The group was joined by 19 outgoing Eurasia Undergraduate Exchange Program participants and competed with them in a "U.S. History and Culture Trivia." The winners received sets of books and publications provided by PAS/ IRC. During a pizza party that followed the seminar, the group had a chance to meet with PAO Chris Fitzgerald and shared their thoughts about education and life in the United States and discussed possible projects they can implement now that they have returned.

PAS intern Jay Treloar Discusses American Life with U.S. bond Ukrainian Students.
June 26, 2009
On June 26th Public Affairs intern Jay Treloar spoke at a pre-departure orientation for Ukrainians who will study at American universities. The topic of Mr. Treloar's presentation was "Life in the US," and he discussed how to find housing and open a bank account, American food and shopping, healthcare, and transportation in the US. American Councils for International Education organized the orientation for the 25 student participants, all of whom are enrolled in graduate and undergraduate degree programs in the US.

Open World alumna conducts a youth leadership program in Berdyansk.
June 5, 2009
Berdyansk NGO "Spivdruzhnist" started a project titled "We are Leaders." Partially supported through a PAS alumni grant, it aims at promoting civic activism among youth, involving young leaders in decision-making processes and advancing the role of local youth NGOs in sustainable development of their communities. 25 student and community leaders participated in an internship program at local government bodies and had a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the daily operations of local governance and decision-making processes. They learned how citizen action groups could interact with officials to influence social and economic development in this region, with special focus on youth-oriented programs. The results of the internship program were discussed at a round table that brought together representatives of local authorities, educators, student self government bodies, NGO activists and local media. The main goal of this meeting was to promote cooperation of all stakeholders in developing initiatives and programs that help increase youth participation in public life. The next stages of the project include a Student Forum for youth NGO leaders and a Debate Tournament "Berdyansk -2009." For the purpose to educate the public about the role of young people as community leaders and to highlight the contributions they made to their communities, a guide-book "Leaders about Leadership" will be compiled, published and distributed among the project's target audience. The project is carried out in cooperation with local Department of Education and youth programs authorities.

Academic Freedom, University Autonomy and Education for Sustainable Development.
June 12 - 14, 2009
An international conference "Academic Freedom, University Autonomy and Education for Sustainable Development" took place in Yalta on June 12 -14, 2009. One of its plenary sessions - Academic Freedom and University Autonomy - was organized by the Ukrainian Fulbright Alumni Association in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and financially supported with a PAS alumni grant. Around 100 educators, including rectors of leading Ukrainian universities and experts in the field of university administration participated in an exchange of ideas on the latest developments and common trends in university administration. Special focus was made on such issues as de-centralization of the current system of university administration in Ukraine as a prerequisite for promoting academic freedom and academic integrity, effective ways to stimulate internal capacities of universities and build sustainable institutional infrastructures. Two American university presidents and 4 American Fulbright Scholars joined their Ukrainian counterparts in this lively discussion and presented an American perspective on the issues relating to university autonomy and academic freedom. Members of a formally created Association of Universities signed an "Olbia Declaration" that has become a formal basis for their further cooperation in promoting academic freedom and university autonomy in Ukraine. They also worked out a set of recommendations for the Ministry of Education as to what particular changes/provisions regarding academic freedom and university autonomy should be included in the Law on Higher Education in Ukraine.

Chernivtsi First Annual Drama Camp and Festival
June 8-12, 2009
From June 8th - 12th students from Chernivtsi, Ukraine and neighboring villages convened at a campground in the Carpathian Mountains for a weeklong English language drama camp. Supervised by local English language teachers and three Peace Corps Volunteers, the fifty student participants were divided into six acting troupes. Each troupe composed an original script in English and created their own costumes. Three professional actors were on hand to teach the campers about acting and to guide them in their creative endeavors. The camp also included hikes in the Carpathian Mountains, a day of swimming, and an education "mock auction" that rewarded campers for successfully completing tasks in English. On the final day of the camp, the campers performed their original plays to a packed audience of parents, friends, and relatives.

The training "Conflict Solving Program at Schools" held in Luhansk.
June 8-9, 2009
The training "Conflict Solving Program at Schools" funded by PA education innovations small grants program took place in Alchevsk, Luhansk Oblast on June, 8-9, 2009. The building of Center for Youth Social Services where the training was held gathered about 30 participants - secondary school teachers, schools psychologists, social workers, NGO representatives and government employees. The training was conducted by the trainers of the Center for Common Ground, a Kyiv based NGO and aimed at equipping educators with skills and knowledge of peer mediation program as a constructive method of conflict resolution at secondary schools. The audience learned how peer mediation programs at schools can form understanding and acceptance of the main principles of the democratic society: respect for other members of society, tolerance, and responsibility. The activitiy aims to decrease the level of aggressive behavior among teenagers and encourage tolerance. At the end of the training the participants and organizers expressed their interest in organizing a follow on training for those who would like to create a school conflict solving centre where school students work as mediators to help their peers in solving the conflicts by means of restorative approach in September.

Cultural Events Archive

Public Affairs Section (PAS)
Counselor for Public Affairs: Christopher Fitzgerald
Cultural Affairs Officer: Susan Cleary
Press Attache: Nancy Pettit
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