Future leaders attend USUF Youth Leadership Program (09/21/03)

Future leaders attend USUF Youth Leadership Program

WASHINGTON - The U.S.-Ukraine Foundation hosted its 2003 Youth Leadership Program (YLP) on August 2-8. This special "Washington experience" introduces college students, age 18-22, to some of the essential elements of leadership in a weeklong program of meetings and discussions at some of DC's key institutions.

Through interaction with leaders in Washington, students learn about public policy, the political process, U.S.-Ukraine relations, the importance of the Ukrainian American community in U.S.-Ukraine affairs, the organizations active in Ukraine, the need for activism and the wide genre of careers available in Washington.

Youth Leadership Program participants are selected on the basis of their academic excellence and proven leadership experience. Learning from last year's experience that international students gain and add much to the overall value of the program, the foundation opened the 2003 Youth Leadership Program to international students, particularly to those with demonstrated experience in U.S.-Ukraine relations and/or Ukraine-West relations. Of the 13 students, there were four Ukrainian citizens, one Polish citizen, seven Ukrainian-Americans, and one American.

The 2003 Youth Leadership Program participants were: Alexander Aguilera of Papillion, Neb., a freshman at the University of Nebraska at Kearney; Vasyl Dutchak of Chernivtsi, Ukraine, a graduate of the International Business School in Groningen, the Netherlands; Volodymyr Hirnyk of Stamford, Conn., a student transferring from International Business School in Groningen, to the University of Connecticut; Aleksandr Kalashnik of Binghamton, N.Y., a recent graduate of Binghamton University (SUNY); Volodymyr Makar of Brooklyn, N.Y., a student transferring from Mount Allison University in (Canada) to the University of Amsterdam; Orest Sopka of Parma, Ohio, a junior at Carnegie Mellon University; Wolodymyr Szczupak of East Setauket, N.Y., a freshman at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Rustem Umerov of Kyiv, a senior at the National Academy of Management (Kyiv); Nataliya Chapovska of Ternopil, Ukraine, a senior at Bethany Lutheran College; Tamara Heimur of Randolph, N.J., a recent graduate of New York University; Justyna K. Jerzewski of Chicago, a senior at DePaul University; Lada Roma Pastushak of Richboro, Pa., a freshman at Rider University; and Natalie Shevchuk of Matawan, N.J., a senior at the College of New Jersey.

Program activities

The official program opened on Saturday evening at the home of Robert and Nadia McConnell, president of the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation. YLP participants, USUF staff and interns, and other friends of the foundation were present. Guest speakers Maj. Gen. Nicholas Krawciw (U.S. Army, Ret.) and Ambassador William Green Miller, former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine gave formal presentations on their careers with the U.S. Department of Defense and State Department and their insights on the prospects and problems of U.S.-Ukraine relations.

Students met with Paula Dobriansky, undersecretary of global affairs, and Steve Pifer, deputy assistant secretary for European and Eurasian affairs at the U.S. State Department.

Ms. Dobriansky, a Ukrainian American, currently oversees humanitarian assistance to Iraq and Afghanistan and has worked with several programs in Eastern Europe in the past, including Ukraine. She explained that, despite the exigencies of Iraq and Afghanistan, there is a constant: "Ukraine matters." Though U.S.-Ukraine relations went through some rough times in the second Kuchma administration, Ms. Dobriansky affirmed that the objectives and goals of the United States remain the integration of a democratic Ukraine into the Western community.

One of the most memorable meetings of the week was with Gloria Steele, deputy assistant administrator of the Bureau for Europe and Eurasia at the U.S. Agency for International Development. Ms. Steele highlighted some of the target areas of USAID's programs in Ukraine, such as HIV/AIDS, corruption, agricultural reform, trafficking in women, and the importance of programs like the Youth Leadership Program that support the development Ukraine's future leaders.

Ms. Steele then opened the meeting to the students and asked for their comments on the Youth Leadership Program. Mr. Umerov, a student at the National Academy of Management in Kyiv and a native of Crimea, said, "I didn't know the definition of transparency before this program. Now I know the definition of transparency because I have seen it. I can now return and share what I learned here back in Ukraine."

The students also responded to some of Ms. Steele's opening comments with their own suggestions for new USAID activities in Ukraine. In regard to AIDS and HIV, Mr. Makar explained, "Ukraine's youth has no occupation. There are no longer pioneer clubs from the past. They are a 'generation of hooligans' and have nothing to do. What needs to be done about this? We need to organize clubs and activities for youth in the small and large cities in Ukraine."

Mr. Dutchak added, "Education is a problem as well - I think that's why drugs and HIV is such a problem. Ukraine also needs programs to keep its young men within the country. Many have nothing and leave Ukraine because they don't want to be on the street and don't want to get involved in illegal activity."

Participants also met with George Beebe, special advisor to the vice-president for national security affairs, at the vice-president's Ceremonial Hall in the Old Executive Office Building. Mr. Beebe commented on the war on terrorism, which he said is also a war of ideas to make the world safer, better and more secure. Ukraine needs to be part of this effort as a "producer of security, not a consumer." As Ukraine reforms internally, "it will become an example and can demonstrate what success is to the rest of the newly independent states," he stated.

To understand the Ukrainian perspective on U.S.-Ukraine relations, students met with Volodymyr Yatsenkivskyi, minister-counselor at the Embassy of Ukraine. Mr. Yatsenkivskyi outlined the history of U.S.-Ukraine relations, the role of the Ukrainian American community in those sustained relations, and motivated students to believe in the future of U.S.-Ukraine relations by taking part in them. "We can be successful if you can be successful. A lot depends on you to make a difference. Everything is in your hands. Anyone who wants business with Ukraine can have it. Today is a time for opportunities," he underscored.

Participants learned about the power of advocacy in a panel briefing with three of the founding members of the Action Ukraine Coalition, former Congressman Charles Dougherty and Vera Andryczyk and Zenia Chernyk of the Ukrainian Federation of America. The panelists spoke on how Action Ukraine works to advance a democratic Ukraine by developing more effective channels of communication between the U.S. Congress and the Ukrainian American community.

Earlier in the week, students also had the chance to hear Michael Sawkiw Jr., president of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, speak about the history of his organization and the important role of the Ukrainian American community in his work.

At a meeting at the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation, Vera Andrushkiw, program director of the Community Partnerships Project, provided a brief history and role of the Ukrainian American community and introduced the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation, its beginnings, current projects and how they can get involved with USUF.

In another panel, the foundation welcomed three former Peace Corps volunteers in Ukraine, Ken Bossong, Jason Campbell and Michael Kiefer. Each discussed their reasons for choosing the Peace Corps, their work and the realities of life abroad, offering entertaining stories, and some of their most rewarding experiences.

In addition to the meetings around town, participants had the chance to attend leadership training seminars at the Close Up Foundation, the nation's largest non-profit and non-partisan citizenship education organization. Close Up Vice-President Charles Tampio led group discussions on leadership styles, the nature of leadership in democracy and how to determine one's personal leadership skills.

The program concluded on Friday morning with a certificate ceremony at the Taras Shevchenko Monument in downtown Washington led by USUF President McConnell, Vice-President John A. Kun, CPP Project Director and Program Coordinator Miriam Bates. Mayor Petro Pshenyshniuk from Pervomaisk and Mayor Roman Sushko from Kalush, two Ukrainian officials visiting with the Community Partnerships Program, also attended. Both mayors expressed their gratitude for being invited to the closing ceremony and their hope that Ukraine's youth will one day have the opportunity to participate in a similar program.

The USUF is already looking ahead to the third annual Youth Leadership Program 2004. The foundation's hope is that the Youth Leadership Program will inspire many in the Ukrainian American community's next generation to follow lives of leadership and service on behalf of the immediate community and U.S.-Ukraine relations.

Like last year, the 2003 Youth Leadership Program was free to participating students. All program costs, including lodging, were borne by the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation. The foundation is very appreciative of the financial support provided by individuals and organizations of the Ukrainian American community.

| Home Page |