TORONTO – This year marks 50 years of the Ukrainian World Congress (UWC), the international coordinating body for Ukrainian communities in the diaspora that represents the interests of over 20 million Ukrainians via a network of member organizations and ties with Ukrainians in 53 countries.
To raise awareness of its history, present activities and plans for the future, the UWC has planned a range of anniversary events in Ukraine and in the countries of the Ukrainian diaspora with the goal of engaging the participation of its network, Ukrainians in Ukraine, friends of Ukraine around the world and the international community.
The 2017 celebrations include the following:
• “Celebrating Cooperation” – in Kyiv on August 26.
• “Celebrating Identity” – in Lviv on August 27-29.
• “Where it All Began” – in New York on September 16.
• “Shaping the Future” – in Toronto on November 10-11.
In addition, a series of international conferences will be held in Ukraine, the United States, Argentina, Belgium and Canada. The schedule and topics are as follows:
• “UWC at 50 and Beyond: The European Context” – August 28 in Lviv at Lviv Polytechnic National University
• “UWC at 50 and Beyond: The North American Vector” – September 16 in New York at the Princeton Club.
• “UWC at 50 and Beyond: The South American Vector” – September 30 in Buenos Aires.
• “ UWC at 50 and Beyond: European and Euro-Atlantic Forum” – November 7 in Brussels at the European Economic and Social Committee.
• “UWC at 50 and Beyond: The Roadmap” – on November 10-11 in Toronto at The Old Mill.
Some of the UWC’s member organizations had previously hosted 50th anniversary celebrations in April. These took place in Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Poland.