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Ambassador Taylor attends FLEX PDO
On July 7, Ambassador Taylor met with 60 FLEX finalists at their Pre-Departure Orientation. He congratulated them on their success, pointing out that only 4% of the more than 7,000 students who applied were selected. The Ambassador encouraged each student to get involved in their school and community in order to make the most of their exchange experience. Each student then introduced themselves, many proudly announcing the states in which they will live for the upcoming academic year. Ambassador Taylor ended his visit with a question and answer session.

"Together We Shape Ukraine" student conference in L'viv
Twenty-two students from six Ukrainian cities gathered in L'viv on May 29 - June 1 for a PAS-sponsored conference. The group is working together on the project "Time to Live Green," addressing environmental concerns. They divided into five committees (fundraising, public information, organization, design and volunteer recruitment) and began to map out a strategy for clean-up and green-up projects in their home cities, aided by volunteers and city administrations . During the next three years of working together, students plan to expand and amplify their strategies, to include such activities as youth education, "Carry In, Carry Out," and advocacy. Students presented their plans to a panel of experts, who commented on the goals and potential ways to achieve those goals.

School Life DVC
On May 27th, 2008, students from New Jersey and Kyiv conducted a DVC, the third in a series of PAS-sponsored conferences held this year linking St. Joseph High School in Hammonton, New Jersey, with Gymnazia 32 and Gymnazia 267 in Kyiv. This "End of the Year" conference featured PowerPoint presentations from St. Joseph on school life and the U.S. presidential elections, a video presentation from Gymnazia 32 showing the "Last Bell" ceremony which ended their school year, and a video presentation from Gymnazia 267 showcasing the school's presentation of "Romeo and Juliet." A highlight of the event was an impromptu dance session, with students from both sides of the Atlantic breaking into dance demonstrations - comparing U.S. and Ukrainian music and dance styles.

Ambassador Taylor Opens American Studies Center at Chernivtsi National University
On June 2, Ambassador Taylor participated in the inauguration of the American Studies Center at Chernivtsi National University, expressing the Embassy's support of American Studies in Ukraine. The Center is developing the first degree granting program in American Studies in Ukraine and will serve as a model for other Ukrainian institutions of higher learning.

PA-Kyiv sponsors Regional American Studies Summer Institute on U.S. Elections
On June 2-7, Chernivtsi National University hosted the 9th annual American Studies Summer Institute, an event that brought together 45 junior university faculty members from departments of history, political science, journalism, as well as English language to learn about principles and practices of U.S. elections and enhance their understanding of how political processes and federalism work in a mature democracy. Ambassador Taylor addressed the opening session, focusing on foreign policy and the strong support of all major presidential candidates for Ukraine and its NATO aspirations. This was followed by an intensive week-long program. IIP Speaker Professor Andrew Busch of the Department of Government at Claremont McKenna College, American Fulbright scholars and Embassy officers gave presentations on the electoral college, campaign financing, grassroots organizing, campaign management, polling, and demographic trends. At the conclusion of the program, participants held mock U.S. presidential debates. The program promoted regional collaboration on American Studies curricula development.

Embassy hosts Rule of Law DVC between Ukraine and Arkansas
On April 4, the American Embassy hosted a Rule of Law digital video conference between Ukraine and the Arkansas Bar Association as part of the World Justice Project, which seeks to raise public awareness of how Rule of Law affects the daily lives of people throughout the world. American panelists included Arkansas Supreme Court Justice Annabelle Clinton Imber, Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Richard Bell, and Tyson International Group Senior Director for International Business Development Bill Teeter. The Ukrainian side was represented by experts in law, business, agriculture, public health, and sustainable development, as well as an audience of students, educators, and USG alumni from various fields. Following the program, Arkansas participants noted that the lively discussion had engaged members of both audiences and provided a valuable perspective on Rule of Law, including observations about the relationship between Rule of Law and education, regulation of the medical profession, availability of basic services, economic progress, and basic human rights. A Ukrainian expert on public health also remarked on a new found appreciation for the importance of including legal experts in working groups aimed at the reform and regulation of Ukrainian public health. With so many leaders of Arkansas business, government, and the bar association present at the meeting, the event built on the already solid relationship between several Ukrainian universities and the Arkansas School of Law in Fayetteville. These relationships were first established in 2005, when one of the Arkansas School of Law professors participated in the Fulbright U.S. Scholar program.

President Bush and Secretary Rice Connect with Students
On April 1, President Bush visited School 57 in Kyiv, a specialized public school where all students study English. While at the school, President Bush participated in a number of events which gave him the opportunity to connect with the students on a personal level. The first, a discussion with members of the Student Council, gave students an opportunity to meet the man behind the office. Following the discussion, the President and Mrs. Bush were treated to a youth performance on HIV/AIDS. A PEPFAR-funded collaborative effort between the Peace Corps and the "Opika" charitable fund, the skit focused on a youth who acquires HIV infection through risky behavior but then cheats death with community support. The President said a few words of thanks and posed for photographs with the group. Arriving 15 minutes ahead of the President, Secretary Rice chatted informally with students assembled for the performance.

First Ladies Discuss Breast Cancer
During the trip, Mrs. Laura Bush and Mrs. Kateryna Yushchenko, accompanied by Mrs. Deborah Taylor, visited the Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine, where they met with a group of 11 Ukrainian breast cancer advocates and survivors. Among the participants were representatives from the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Global Initiative, the Kyiv City Hospital and Kyiv City Administration, the Ukrainian Journalist Foundation and breast cancer survivors. All participants are actively involved in training programs and awareness campaigns organized by the Komen Initiative, and are breast cancer prevention and treatment advocates. The open discussion focused on problems Ukrainian women face in receiving early diagnosis and treatment; lack of appropriate patient education and rehabilitation programs; and the role of international organizations, as well as Ukrainian NGOs and breast cancer advocates, in developing programs aimed at lowering breast cancer mortality rates in Ukraine.

Embassy Kyiv Marks Black History Month with DVC on Diversity and Globalization
On February 27, forty American Studies instructors and students from various academic institutions, Fulbright alumni and scholars, as well as grantees of the Democracy Commission student government initiative, marked Black History Month by participating in a digital video conference "From the Civil Rights Movement to Diversity and Globalization: A Historical Context for Transformational Change" with Professor James Anderson from the University at Albany. The U.S. professor started the program by speaking about the importance of the African American movement in U.S. history and in American cultural life. During the following discussion, participants shared views on the mission of higher education in today's multicultural environment and discussed how diversity and globalization enhance academic excellence.

"American Experience and New Models in the Ukrainian Motion Picture Industry"
On February 21, PA Kyiv hosted a roundtable on current trends and problems facing the Ukrainian film industry. The roundtable was initiated by a group of Ukrainian producers and cinema professionals who had traveled to the United States on an International Visitor Leadership program titled, "Film as a Reflection of National Identity." The event attracted more than 30 key players in Ukrainian cinema including producers, journalists, studio owners, and ministry representatives. The animated discussion, opened by DCM James Pettit, lasted more than 3 hours. The discussion focused on various models within the American film industry that might be used to jumpstart the Ukrainian film industry.

English Conversation Club Discusses Issues of Diversity and Tolerance in the 21st Century
On February 19, more than twenty teachers and other professionals met at the English Teaching Resource Center at Kyiv-Mohyla Academy to discuss issues of tolerance. The discussion was moderated by English Language Fellow Carol Palecki. Societal problems such as racism, discrimination, women and minority rights, tolerance, globalization and political correctness were discussed. Participants compared how human rights issues are addressed in Ukraine and the United States. They also debated over questions such as gay marriage, multi-racial marriage and changes in gender roles in contemporary society.

Combating Narcotics and Drug Abuse Problems Discussed in Kyiv
On February 22, a group of seven prominent Ukrainian social activists and government officials met to discuss Ukraine's drug problem via teleconference with Dr. Donald Vereen, a University of Michigan expert and formerly a drug expert at the White House's Office of National Drug Control Policy. The discussion, organized jointly by the Economic and Public Affairs Sections, allowed the Ukrainian experts to learn from American successes and failures in stemming drug use and rehabilitating drug addicts. Dr. Vereen advocated for research-based solutions and spoke of the importance of approaching drug use as not just a criminal issue, but also an issue for social services, medicine and the judiciary. The event, covered by local media, demonstrated the USG's engagement on social issues in Ukraine, and both sides expressed an interest in more in-depth policy discussions in the future.

Open World Alumni Meet Representatives of U.S. Host Organization
On February 21, Seven Open World alumni from programs relating to Rule of Law, Education and Non-Government Organizations met with Sandra McCormick, and Mary Anderson, President and Vice President of World Services of La Crosse, the American host organization for the Open World program. During the meeting, the alumni described their impressions about their U.S. experience. The Ukrainians were most impressed by the scope of volunteerism in the United States, as well as by U.S. patriotism, community empowerment, and the treatment of children. Alumni also provided their feedback on their U.S. stay program and shared information about potential activities and future plans.

Moot Court Competition in Donetsk
On February 15-16, the Economics and Law Faculty of Donetsk National University hosted a Moot Court Competition organized in cooperation with the Student League of the Ukrainian Bar Association (UBA) and the Ukrainian law firm Chernyavsky, Kalinska, & Partners. The project was financially supported through the ECA Alumni Small Grant program. The main objective of the competition was to increase the preparedness of Ukrainian law students to enter the country's legal system by providing professional experience. Judge Bohdan A. Futey, who serves on the U.S. Court of Federal Claims in Washington, D.C., and previously served an advisor to the Working Group on Ukraine's Constitution, was invited to begin the day's competition with a presentation on Rule of Law, a topic that Judge Futey has been closely involved with in Ukraine since 1991.

U.S. Embassy Hosts Fulbright Orientation
On February 7, PA Kyiv hosted an orientation for U.S. Fulbright newcomers and accompanying family members. CAO Courtney Austrian provided welcoming remarks, followed by briefings from the Political Section, American Citizen Services and the RSO. During the orientation, Fulbright Fellows also received information about the IRC, Windows on America, LEAP Centers, IIP publications, USG-sponsored exchange programs for Ukrainians and Education USA advising centers.

"Future Without AIDS" NGO Briefs Embassy
On February 5, ACAO Karen Robblee visited the "Future Without AIDS" NGO to debrief DoS-funded Humphrey Program alumnus Dr. Oleksandr Neduzhko about the applicability of his U.S. experience to Ukrainian reality. Dr. Neduzhko is a practicing physician as well as the NGO's Director of Medical Programs. The meeting was an informative presentation of a project that Dr. Neduzhko recently completed with the assistance of an H. Humphrey Program Alumni Grant. The purpose of the distance-education project was to increase HIV/AIDS awareness among medical doctors in order to improve prevention. The NGO has created a successful network of professionals from different fields, including medical doctors, public servants, teachers, and representatives of local government, all committed to stopping the spread of HIV/AIDS in Ukraine. Dr. Neduzhko's alumni project is already educating physicians throughout Ukraine, and the efforts of the NGO have the potential to serve as a national best practice.

U.S.-Ukrainian "Student to Student" News Video Conference
On January 29th, local Ukrainian students participated in a "Student to Student News Video Conference" with students from St. Joseph High School in Hammonton, New Jersey. The program, hosted by PA Kyiv, began with short video and photo presentations from each of the schools, discussing student in-class and extracurricular activities in the United States and Ukraine. During the discussion that followed the presentations, students shared discussed their interests, hobbies, school systems, their classes, travel, sports, lifestyle, and future goals, as they tried to build on common ground and foster mutual understanding. The conference was also posted on the St. Joseph High School web site.

Ukrainian Educators Mark Martin Luther King Day
On January 16, instructors from many of Kyiv's universities and other local school teachers attended a seminar dedicated to Martin Luther King, Jr. and his role in Civil Rights Movement. English Language Fellow Carol Palecki introduced the teachers to the topic with a slide show covering Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s life and ideals. The participants also listened to his famous "I Have a Dream" speech and discussed the positions for which he fought. Teachers not only learned more about the Martin Luther King Day but also discussed classroom activities that could be used to teach students of various ages and abilities about this important figure in U.S. History.

Corruption and Honor Codes Discussed in Kharkiv
On January 12 the Kharkiv NGO "Eastern-Ukraine Development Fund," in cooperation with the youth organization "Student Bratstvo," organized a roundtable discussion on "Corruption in Higher Education and the University Honor Code" as part of their Democracy Commission-supported project aimed at promoting Student Government in the Kharkiv Oblast. 31 representatives of student government groups and five regional youth non-governmental organizations attended the roundtable to discuss the recent cases of corruption at Kharkiv's universities and the most efficient ways to combat corruption. The University Honor Code was offered as one possible method to eliminate corruption, with youth and student leaders agreeing that the first step in combating corruption is to raise public awareness of the problem. At the final session the participants discussed their practical measures and steps to introduce a University Honor.

Lutsk Highlights Gender Issues
On January 11, the Volyn Regional NGO "Gender Center" organized and conducted public hearings on gender issues in Lutsk as part of their Democracy Commission-funded project to establish equal rights and opportunities for women and men in the Volyn Region. The purpose of the public hearings was to collect and generalize proposals and recommendations regarding the resolution of gender problems. Over 150 participants discussed proposals and recommendations regarding the resolution of gender problems and the implementation of equal rights laws in Ukraine. The public hearings also stressed the need to include the gender component into all regional programs of social and economic development, for example education programs to overcome gender stereotypes, eliminating the difference in salaries between men and women, and providing equal employment opportunities.


Cultural Events Archive

Public Affairs Section (PAS)
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Cultural Affairs Officer: Courtney Austrian
Press Attache: Nancy Pettit
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