THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FORUM (06/27/99)

THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FORUM

Ukrainian National Foundation supports educational and charitable endeavors

The Ukrainian National Foundation, an affiliate of The Ukrainian National Association, is soliciting funds to help prepare children from rural areas of Ukraine to enter universities. This scholastic preparation of younger students will be held at the National University, of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. Because the quality of education in rural areas is not up to par, their attendees cannot compete with city students to enter universities. For example, only 2 percent of students at Kyiv-Mohyla Academy are from rural schools. On the other hand, villages in the rural areas of Ukraine cultivate Ukrainian traditions, which is why it is important to recognize the value of educating these children who have a strong Ukrainian identity, who will in turn become the new elite and leaders of the country.

With this purpose in mind, the National University of Kyiv- Mohyla Academy has organized a department that will academically prepare students who come from rural areas for university life. The students board and study at the university for one year. The cost of a student's board and study at the university is $1,000.

The Ukrainian National Foundation is prepared to sponsor 10 such students at a total cost of $10,000. The UNF is appealing to readers of Svoboda and The Ukrainian Weekly, as well as all interested community members, to support this special drive.

The Ukrainian National Foundation has had 501 (c) (3) status, since 1996, which means donations are tax-deductible. The Ukrainian National Foundation was created in 1992 to further promote humanitarian, cultural and educational programs in Ukraine, the United States and Canada. One of the primary goals of the foundation is to provide students from the Ukrainian diaspora in North America and in Ukraine with scholarships. It publishes children's books and gives aid to orphans and the needy. To date, the foundation has been involved in the following projects:

In 1996, the foundation approved funding for the publication of a colorful Ukrainian children's storybook called "Ivasyk Telesyk" in an edition of 10,000 copies.

The foundation sponsors the English Teachers for Ukraine Program, which, since 1991, has sent over 400 volunteer teachers to teach conversational English in 84 cities throughout Ukraine. Over 4,000 students benefited from these courses.

The foundation also sponsors the "Summer Institute on Current Methods and Practices in TESOL." Qualified and experienced ESL (English as a Second language) professionals from the U.S. present lectures and workshops at two-week training sessions at each center. The courses are designed to acquaint Ukrainian teachers with the newest methodologies and applications in language instruction.

The Ministry of Education of Ukraine selects teacher-participants from all of the 30 pedagogical institutes in the country to attend these unique training sessions. The first such course was held in Kyiv in 1993; courses were later held in Kharkiv, Vinnytsia, Lutsk, Luhansk and Ivano-Frankivsk. Resource centers for teachers of English were established in each of these cities. Teaching materials, videotaped training lessons and other teaching aids are available year round at these centers.

The foundation has promoted and organized fund-raising efforts for the Lviv-based Vasyl Stefanyk Scientific Library of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. The funds are to be used to obtain rare items and cultural artifacts, restore rare publications, and purchase of new literary publications. Much has been written in our press reporting on this fundraising drive. To date the foundation has paid out $70,000 for the library's needs.

The Ukrainian National Foundation continually aids in fund-raising efforts for the Ostroh Academy.

Recently, the Ukrainian National Foundation has been conducting a fund-raising campaign for the victims of the floods in Zakarpattia. The aid is directed to repairing homes of the elderly, physically handicapped and families with many children. Medical supplies, vitamins and antibiotics have been forwarded to the Zakarpattia region.

UNA assists Immaculate Conception students

WARREN, Mich. - Eighteen students graduated from Immaculate Conception Ukrainian Catholic High School on Sunday, June 6. Among them were four UNA members, who received financial aid from the Ukrainian National Association. The four recipients were photographed during the graduation rehearsal with Principal Sophie Rudnicki and Detroit District Chairman and UNA Auditor Dr. Alexander Serafyn. They are (from left): Lina Shibanova, Andrew Bluj, Julia Sobol and Nicholas Tobianski.

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