Inaugural Youth Leadership Program gives students an up-close view of Washington (09/01/02)

Inaugural Youth Leadership Program gives students an up-close view of Washington

by Andrew Nynka

WASHINGTON - Vadim Ostrovsky is young, 22, and curious. His classmates laugh and seem embarrassed when the time comes for them to ask questions but, giggling happily, they turn to Vadim - they say he always has questions to ask.

If an answer comes back unclear to Vadim he continues asking, undaunted and nearly relentless. His questions prod for more depth; they spring quickly with a sense of innocence and curiosity. Vadim, like his classmates, wants to learn more about life here in Washington.

Vadim's questions, direct and sharp, can be uncomfortably straightforward.

But organizers of the first annual Youth Leadership Program that brought Vadim and 12 other students here to Washington say that's exactly the point. "It's here in D.C. that you could do something like this," said John Kun, vice-president of the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation.

When Vadim recently questioned three Washington political aides on the need for congressional caucuses, he said, as he attempted to paraphrase their explanations: "So this group is like a hobby - I still don't understand completely what the caucus does." While the aides, looking at each other for support, maintained the need for a caucus, his classmates smiled uncomfortably during the interaction - Vadim seemed unsatisfied and unconvinced.

Later that day, Mr. Kun said "the point of the program was to give students an opportunity to interact with the Washington system, to experience the public policy process and to develop an understanding of how to take a more active role."

Staff at the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation - which developed and hosted the August 3-9 program - said the 13 students, some like Vadim and some more timid, did exactly that.

Their interactions included meetings with lobbyists, former ambassadors, congressmen and congressional staffers, NGOs, as well as Ukrainian priests and social organizations in Washington. They were given the opportunity to visit many of Washington's political establishments, such as the Kennan Institute and the Young Republican National Federation. They also attended a viewing of CNN's "Crossfire" TV program.

Many of the students, like Kristen King of Toledo, Ohio, called their experience unique and said they were pleased with the week's program. Ms. King, who is not Ukrainian, added that it was her interest in Ukraine that got her to apply for the leadership course.

Mr. Kun characterized the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation's debut program, billed as the Youth Leadership Program 2002, as a success. He also added a different perspective of the program's result, saying that it was just as important for all of the people with whom the students interacted, as it was for the students themselves.

"It's important for U.S. leaders to see a group of 20-somethings who want to be in D.C. during the heat, in the summer. It opens their eyes to Ukraine," Mr. Kun said and added jokingly how appropriate it was that the humidity gave students a total Washington experience.

But officials at the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation also said the idea for the program developed because they saw a void. Namely, that Ukrainians are under-represented in Washington politics, as well as in leadership roles outside of diaspora organizations.

"The effort here," Mr. Kun said, "is to introduce these students to future possibilities - to what Ukrainians are doing in Washington and to leadership opportunities." The program was modeled on the template used by other successful ethnic organizations that bring their youth to the nation's capital. The hope, he added, is to see these students progress as leaders and advocates of Ukraine.

The program brought together a diverse group of college-age students from around the United States. Some, like Americans Markian Dobczansky of Maryland and Damian Zajac of New York are active in the Ukrainian diaspora community in the United States. While others, like Bohdan Pecheniak and Vadim, are originally from Ukraine but attend schools in the United States. Still others hailed from Michigan, Ohio, Virginia, Florida, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Vadim, organizers said, is part of a new generation of Ukrainians. More and more it seems the Ukrainian diaspora views them optimistically as Ukraine's future. Like Vadim, their curiosity is a signal of an eagerness to learn what for many years was kept from them. Officials at the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation said they recognize the importance of future leaders like Vadim and, Mr. Kun added, the fact that people like Vadim have questions and are asking them is important.

Interestingly enough, Vadim speaks only Russian and, though his English is still somewhat new to him, it is remarkably good. He often appears uncertain of whether he has phrased a question properly - which makes his seemingly fearless commitment to ask questions all the more impressive. Students and organizers in the program with Vadim seemed to agree and added that he, like the program, had been interesting.

Mr. Kun said the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation is already focused on running the program again next year with only minor changes required. He also stressed the need for such a program.

"There's a new interest in Ukraine," Mr. Kun said, referring to some Washington officials who see Ukraine transitioning Westward.

Organizers noted that because the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation covered most student expenses, conducting the program proved costly. Asked about the possibility of providing such a program in Ukraine Mr. Kun said doing so would require additional funding, however, the possibility to do so is not unthinkable.

In the meantime, Vadim and the 12 other students have moved on to their fall semesters at college. Some of the students said they intended to further explore their interest in Ukraine, while others said the program showed them what they did not want to pursue. However, many of the students seemed to agree that, although short, their time together in Washington proved rewarding and memorable.

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