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Kateryna Yushchenko Calls Upon the Diaspora to Take More Active Part in Building Up Ukraine

Full text of the address

June 18, 2008, the Second International Scholarly Conference “Diaspora as a Factor in Strengthening the Ukrainian State within the International Community. The Ukrainian Diaspora in the Global Context” opened in Lviv. Its organizers are the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, Lviv Oblast Rada, Lviv Oblast State Administration, Ukrainian Global Coordinating Council, Lviv Polytechnic National University, and International Institute for Education, Culture, and Contacts with Diaspora. Renowned specialists in education, politics, science, economy take part in the conference along with public figures, representatives of Ukrainian communities abroad and Ukraine.

Head of the Supervisory Board of the Ukraine 3000 International Charitable Foundation Kateryna Yushchenko sent an address to the participants of the conference, which was read out by Head of the Board of Directors of the Foundation Oleksandr Maksymchuk at the conference’s opening ceremony.

Mrs. Kateryna said that the Ukrainian Diaspora has always been one of the most active and quoted some of its attainments.

Simultaneously, Mrs. Yushchenko spoke about the opportunities Ukrainian organizations abroad have missed. In her view, the Ukrainians abroad haven’t been active enough in the Ukrainian state’s infant years. Mrs. Kateryna believes that the Ukrainian patriots should have used the unique opportunity to support Ukrainian history and culture, take part in solving the problems of the current patients care and social systems, education, and raising the young people.

“I hope this conference will give you the opportunity to discuss these many issues,  stimulate the large organizations to design and implement effective, large-scale programs, and the individuals and small organizations to find their place in Ukraine’s development. Ukraine – as a state, but more importantly, its people – are waiting for your involvement,” Mrs. Yushchenko wrote.

Also in her speech Mrs. Kateryna calls on the Ukrainians abroad to take an active part in the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Holodomor manmade famine, quoting a series of issues in which, in her opinion, the Diaspora organizations should contribute.

“I also would like to take this opportunity to call out to you – return to Ukraine, help build our country from within, not observe and judge it from without. Ukraine is our mother, and as much as we justify to ourselves that we can help her more from afar, that is not the case – she needs us close and involved, not pining from a foreign land,” the address reads.

Additionally, Mrs. Yushchenko’s address announces the start of the Ukraine 3000 Foundation’s new grant program for the Ukrainian diaspora called “Flourish, Ukrainians”.  This program will be similar to those we run for Ukrainian culture, Ukrainian schools and for rehabilitation institutes for the disabled.   “The program will be open to any Diaspora organization outside Western Europe, the US, Canada or Australia who make interesting and effective proposals to build Ukrainian programs abroad.  Grants will be in the amount of 2500 to 25,000 hryvnia, and can be for books, instruments, costumes, films, technical equipment, internships, exhibits and other projects,” Mrs. Kateryna says.

The Diaspora as a Factor of Consolidating the Ukrainian State in the Global Community: Ukrainian Diaspora in the World Civilization Second International Scholarly Conference is being held in Lviv June 18-20, 2008. Its agenda envisages plenary and section sessions, round tables, and presentations. Topics of the sections:

• Diaspora attainments in the humanitarian, technical, and natural science spheres: global and Ukrainian context.
• Role of the Diaspora in lobbying Ukraine’s interests in the international community: entering the EU, WTO, NATO, passing pro-Ukrainian laws.
• Diaspora in the context of globalization: problems of integration into foreign environment and preserving national identity.
• New wave of emigration: attainments, losses, and prospects.
• Young generation of the Diaspora as a source for consolidating a positive image of Ukraine in the world.
• Church as a spiritual center uniting the Ukrainians abroad for preserving their national identity.