Pledge to Institute for Ukrainian Diaspora Studies at Ostroh Academy

By Anna Kuzmych-Wynar

During the forty-three years of its existence, the Ukrainian Historical Association has actively promoted Ukrainian historiography, including the history of Ukrainian Immigration and Diaspora as an integral part of the history of the Ukrainian People. In keeping with its mission, UHA has pledged to donate twenty thousand dollars to the Institute for Ukrainian Diaspora Studies and the recently created Chair of Ukrainian Diaspora History at the National University of Ostroh Academy (in Rivne, Ukraine). The Institute was established in 2002 on the unanimous recommendation of all members of the Academic Council of Ostroh Academy. Dr. Alla Atamanenko, a professor of history at the Academy, was appointed its director. Prof. Atamanenko is a member of both the Ukrainian Academy of Arts and Sciences in the U.S.A. and the Ukrainian Historical Association, and is also head of the UHA Center at Ostroh Academy. The Chair of Ukrainian Diaspora History, the first in Ukraine, was created as part of the Institute in October of 2006. UHA was the major promoter for the establishment of both the Institute and the Chair at Ostroh Academy because of the need to conduct serious scholarly research in this area of history within Ukraine, as well as, to introduce into the educational curriculum, at both high school and university levels, subjects that cover the various aspects of Ukrainian Immigration History and Ukrainian communities existing throughout the Diaspora. The University administration, particularly its rector, Professor Ihor Pashichnyk, enthusiastically supported establishing the Institute and the Chair at Ostroh Academy.

In order to close the serious gap that exists in historical and sociological knowledge in the area of Ukrainian Immigration and Diaspora, the Institute is actively developing programs and planning activities in a number of important and interrelated areas. One such area is building a strong centralized library and archival collection that will serve as a resource centre for scholars seriously pursuing research in Ukrainian Immigration and Diaspora History. An important objective for the Chair of Ukrainian Diaspora History is in the sphere of education, which includes designing teacher- education courses as well publishing textbooks and other materials that can be used by schools and universities. Presently, the Chair is planning to develop special seminars for university professors as well as for teachers that will focus on examining the various aspects of Ukrainian Immigration and the Diaspora. The purpose of these seminars is to assist educators in developing and implementing such courses for students at their own institutions. To date, Ukrainian schools and universities do not offer a comprehensive educational program devoted to accurate and factual teaching of Ukrainian Immigration and Diaspora history. What little had been taught in the past was based on Soviet ideology and misinformation aimed at forming a negative mindset toward the Ukrainian migr communities, especially those in the West. On the basis of data from the Ukrainian World Congress, presently there are 20 million people of Ukrainian heritage living outside the borders of Ukraine. In order to develop a positive relationship between the citizens of Ukraine and the Diaspora, it is imperative to continue research on and education about the many causes behind the four waves of emigration, the establishment of Ukrainian migr communities, the contributions made by Ukrainians to their host societies, and the crucial role that Ukrainian immigrant institutions played in maintaining the Ukrainian identity by preserving the Ukrainian cultural and linguistic heritage. The Institute and Chair plan to achieve their goals by continuing to develop a strong co-operative relationship with scholars from the diaspora, who will play a significant role in developing and implementing research and educational programs. To date, the Institute has held two international conferences directly addressing the various issues on Diaspora research, with scholars coming from the U.S., Canada, Slovakia, Germany, Poland, Italy, Estonia, Ukraine and other countries. Co-sponsors of these conferences included the Ukrainian American Association of University Professors, the World Scholarly Council, the Ukrainian Academy of Arts and Science, and the Ukrainian Historical Association. The Institute plans to continue sponsoring these international scholarly conferences and also to organize seminars on teacher-training and curriculum development.

The accomplishments of the Institute within the last few years have been most impressive. The Ukrainian Historical Association has been a strong supporter of the Institute and its goals from the date of its establishment, and continues to actively participate in the development and implementation of its programs. Donation support will assist the Institute in its important mission, namely, introducing Ukrainian Immigration and Diaspora History as part of the academic curriculum at Ukrainian educational institutions, as well as establishing this crucial subject as an important area for sociological research and Ukrainian historiography.

The UHA Presidium would like to thank those members and supporters who made donations to the UHA fund that assists the Institute of Ukrainian Diaspora Studies and the Chair of Ukrainian Diaspora History at the National University of Ostroh Academy.

 Anna Kuzmych-Wynar is Press Secretary to the Ukrainian Historical Association