Computers for schools in Ukraine meant to assist Ukrainization (07/22/90)

Computers for schools in Ukraine meant to assist Ukrainization

by Roma Hadzewycz

JERSEY CITY, N.J. - Sixty computers destined for Ukrainian-language schools in Ukraine were brought to Kiev recently by Dr. Roman Voronka, a vice-president of the Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund.

From Ukraine's capital city, Dr. Voronka told The Weekly in an interview shortly before leaving for Ukraine, the computers were to be taken to schools throughout Ukraine - primarily to the most Russified areas of the country.

The intent of the project is "to make Ukrainian-language schools more viable and prestigious," Dr. Voronka emphasized and, thus, to promote Ukrainianization.

The 60 computers comprise the first of three shipments that will bring 200 computers to Ukraine by the end of the year. Funding for the computers has been promised by philanthropist Marian Kots, a CCRF board member, and the Rev. John Shep of Wisconsin, a Ukrainian who is a pastor of the Lutheran Church .

The first shipment of Ukrainianized ("but not Russified," Dr. Voronka added) computers cost $78,500, a sum that was equally split between the two benefactors.

Another $4,500 worth of software and peripherals also were covered by Mr. Kots and the Lutheran Church.

The computers, Dr. Voronka noted, are IBM clones (VGA card and VGA color monitor, extended keyboard and nine-pin printer - for those in the know). They will help children in Ukraine in accordance with the CCRF's charter which notes that the fund provides assistance for educationally deprived youths.

Through the intercession of Marijka Helbig of Scope Travel, which covered Dr. Voronka's airfare to Ukraine, Lufthansa airlines shipped the computers free of charge to Frankfurt. From there, Dr. Voronka related, they were shipped gratis via Aeroflot to Kiev.

The project was brought to fruition also with the assistance of Leonid Ivanenko, chairman of the committee of computer specialists at the Institute of Cybernetics in Kiev, and Roman Hawrylak of the Ukrainian Engineers Society of America.

Ambassador Gennadiy Udovenko of the Ukrainian SSR Mission to the United Nations also assisted, according to Dr. Voronka, by contacting the Ministry of Higher Education which promised to help with the customs authorities in Kiev.

In Kiev, a committee consisting of representatives of the Taras Shevchenko Ukrainian Language Society, Rukh (the Popular Movement of Ukraine for Perebudova), the Ministry of Higher Education and Dr. Voronka of the CCRF was to determine the distribution of the computers.

Dr. Voronka stressed, however, that the final say on which schools receive the computers was to be his. He added, "We are absolutely confident that the computers will be distributed to those schools that we in the United States choose to receive the computers."

He also noted that he and the CCRF wanted to be sure about the distribution before going ahead with the next two shipments of 70 computer systems each - with the second shipment slated to be sent in late August or early September.

In conclusion, Dr. Voronka told The Weekly that the Rev. Shep had indicated that there may be more matching funds from the Lutheran Church for more computer shipments in 1991, provided that the CCRF can secure matching funds.

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