NEWS AND VIEWS: What can and what should the diaspora try to do for Ukraine? (10/24/99)

NEWS AND VIEWS: What can and what should the diaspora try to do for Ukraine?

by Alexandra Isaievych Mason

NEW YORK - The Ukrainian American Professionals and Businesspersons Association of New York and New Jersey on Sunday, October 10, held a panel discussion on "What Can and What Should the Diaspora Try to Do for Ukraine?"

Moderated by Bohdan Vitvitsky, UAPBA vice-president, the panelists included: Askold Lozynskyj, president of the Ukrainian World Congress; Alex Kuzma, director of development for the Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund; Mary Kruger, foreign service officer with the U.S. Department of State; and Roman Procyk, executive director of the Ukrainian Studies Fund.

The forum produced a fruitful exchange of ideas, and most speakers agreed on the main contributions that can be made by the diaspora for the benefit of Ukraine. No one, speakers or attendees, had any doubt that the diaspora can and should try to help Ukraine, despite some disappointments in Ukraine's progress since its independence.

While everyone agreed that money is very important for any assistance efforts, the main resource that the diaspora can offer Ukraine is hope, optimism and a "can do" attitude. The mere fact that someone outside Ukraine cares about Ukraine and Ukrainians cannot be overestimated in its significance. Participants also noted that much-needed and carefully targeted financial, technological and advisory assistance can make a difference for Ukraine's people.

Mr. Lozynskyj concentrated on two issues. First, he suggested that it is important for the diaspora to remain a diaspora and not just an ethnic group. He explained this as maintaining the political relevance of Ukrainians in the United States by focusing on local politics and by fostering development of youth organizations and Ukrainian schools in this country.

Second, he reminded listeners that Ukrainians are fortunate because Ukraine is very important geopolitically since its existence separates Russia from its imperial past and because of the Ukrainian presence in the United States, the only remaining superpower. Thus, Ukrainian Americans can influence the course of global politics by influencing U.S. politics.

Despite divisiveness and the need to improve organization, the Ukrainian American community has had a number of political successes in influencing U.S. policy towards Ukraine. However, there still is much the community can learn from better organized ethnic communities. Ukrainians in the United States can also play a very important role by influencing Ukraine directly, Mr. Lozynskyj added.

Mr. Kuzma agreed on the importance of active participation in the political process. The CCRF which Mr. Kuzma represents, is focused on the enormous health crisis that currently affects Ukraine. Ukraine's population has experienced a net decline of 2 million people, due in part to a very high infant mortality rate and the fastest growing AIDS rate in Europe. Despite these grim figures, Mr. Kuzma emphasized that much can be done by a small determined group of individuals, if leveraged with even minimal outside support. Ukraine has talented medical professionals who are determined to remain in the country despite lucrative offers elsewhere.

In Mr. Kuzma's experience, in order to be effective, outside aid must include: vision and focus; a serious commitment of effort, time, and money; careful selection of partners; reward for local initiative instead of fostering dependence; and leverage of community efforts with aid from other organizations. Many American organizations outside of the Ukrainian community are often eager to help Ukraine; among them are corporate foundations, Catholic and other religious relief services, and Jewish community organizations. Following these guidelines brings measurable, visible and sustainable results, and the greatest resource of all - it offers hope to people in Ukraine, Mr. Kuzma stated.

Another great way of reaching out beyond the Ukrainian community in the United States is by offering American schools, especially charter schools, help in teaching schoolchildren about Ukraine. Mr. Kuzma said this can be done by making presentations in schools and providing educational materials to the schoolchildren and teachers who are often very eager to learn and to help in international aid projects.

Ms. Kruger has significant experience with U.S. aid to Ukraine as the longest serving American diplomat at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv. She saw first-hand that U.S. aid to Ukraine is indeed effective in transforming lives and changing people's thinking. Ms. Kruger noted that there is increased emphasis in official U.S. aid to Ukraine on assisting individuals and the non-profit sector. She expressed admiration for diaspora's involvement in Ukraine and especially for those many dedicated individuals who came to stay in Ukraine.

She said her most striking first impression about Ukraine is its remarkable isolation from the West and Western intellectual thought, which, unfortunately, continues to this day. That is why exchanges of visitors and ideas, as well as moral support for the reform-minded individuals cannot be underestimated.

Ukrainian community organizations can become involved in official exchange programs through educational and community connection programs, Ms. Kruger continued. There is a need for more Americans willing to go to Ukraine on the academic Fulbright program. It is important for American students, teachers and professors to travel on exchanges to Ukraine, and there are numerous ways in which Ukrainian American organizations can get involved in these exchange programs. Information about these programs is available on the internet at http://www.usis.kiev.ua.

Mr. Procyk remarked that every organization that tries to help Ukraine needs to choose wisely, as there are some things that are difficult to influence, but some important fields in Ukraine are very small and even a small amount of assistance can transform them. Examples can be found in some academic fields like medieval studies or classical studies - fields that are important to develop if Ukraine is to better understand its past and build a strong and vibrant society. There are also important areas in building Ukrainian culture that need business-like approach, Dr. Procyk continued, where business people would see opportunities to get involved and to help Ukrainian culture in the process.

The trouble is that often certain important concepts are misunderstood in Ukraine, said Dr. Procyk, like the true meaning of democracy, that is, that democracy is not just about majority rule, but also about giving respect and voice to minority; or that non-profit organizations should be allowed to have revenue as long as they spend it on their stated charitable goals. It is important to support truly private organizations in Ukraine, he said. When working with government institutions, it is important to help them participate in international forums that facilitate Ukraine's integration with the rest of the world. The diaspora does not contribute enough young people to the field of Ukrainian studies - there are now more opportunities than ever in the field and increasingly non-Ukrainians are the ones who work in the field, Dr. Procyk observed. As well, the community can greatly help Ukrainian culture by supporting Ukrainian publications through subscriptions.

One of the most profound statements during the discussion was by Mr. Kuzma. He said that if we in America, who were raised on stories about "The Little Engine That Could" and the "can do" concept start feeling despair, how can we expect people in Ukraine to keep up their hope? Transformation of Ukraine's society starts on the individual level and the more people think that they can make a difference, the sooner Ukraine will become a vibrant democratic society, Mr. Kuzma underlined.

| Home Page |