2002: THE YEAR IN REVIEW

A new U.S. project focusing on Ukraine

Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization announced a new project modeled after the U.S. Peace Corps called Project PAX. The project's goal is to help the people of Ukraine by providing direct technical assistance in various social programs. The project will send highly trained Plast scouts age 18 to 35 into Ukraine to provide expertise in child care, education, the environment and health in order to contribute to the betterment of Ukrainian society. The project would donate the skills and knowledge acquired by Plast scouts in the U.S. to Ukrainians, while simultaneously giving American scouts an opportunity to rediscover their Ukrainian roots and would also help to preserve their unique cultural heritage.

In an interview conducted by the Voice of America radio program on October 5, Ihor Mykyta, president of the U.S. National Plast Command, said that participants in the project would travel to Ukraine for six to eight weeks, from the middle of May to the end of August. To date, the Plast U.S.A. website has eight specific projects listed, all sponsored by the Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund.

Other suggested topics include: the restoration of memorials, the renovation of an orphanage, work with the physically handicapped at an orphanage, development of public relations for a museum, as well as projects that seek to improve the way hospitals and orphanages use technology to keep track of patient records still other suggestions listed on the Plast U.S.A. website, include work with children, the environment and medical and educational institutions.

The initiative for different projects, Mr. Mykyta said, would come from interested scouts but an application must be accompanied by the support of a sponsor and would need to be approved by the U.S. National Plast Command. Additionally, the sponsor must secure room and board for a Project PAX participant. Any individual who is interested in Project PAX or would like more information should contact the U.S. National Plast Command by writing to Plast KPS - Project PAX, 144 Second Ave., New York, N.Y. 10003; calling, (212) 533-8991; visiting the website http://www.plastusa.org/kps/paks.php; or e-mailing [email protected].

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, January 12, 2003, No. 2, Vol. LXXI

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