UNYF Given Forum on World Stage –

In the words of Kristin Glover

The New Pathway’s John Pidkowich interviewed Kristin Glover from Toronto who was a delegate at the Ukrainian Diaspora Youth Forum in Kyiv, Ukraine, August 22-30, 2011. Prior, she also attended the V World Forum of Ukrainians – Youth Section, August 19-21. Kristin is a Vice President of the Ukrainian National Youth Federation of Canada and currently furthering her education in public relations.

John Pidkowich: Who did you represent?

Kristin Glover: The Ukrainian National Youth Federation of Canada (UNYF) chose me to be its delegate to the Ukrainian Diaspora Youth Forum “Kyiv – 2011” organized by the Conference of Ukrainian Youth Organizations (CUYO) under the Ukrainian World Congress.  CUYO or KUMO then appointed me to be one of their youth representatives at the V World Forum of Ukrainians.

JP: Who was from Canada?

KG: There was quite a large Canadian delegation headed by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) for the World Forum, many of whom also attended the Ukrainian World Congress Annual Meeting. “Team Canada,” as the youth delegation was recognized in the Ukrainian Diaspora Youth Forum, was made up of four females, representing three organizations in our hromada. Olena Kit (Hamilton) from the Ukrainian Canadian Students’ Union - SUSK, Adriana Sirsky (Ottawa) from Plast – Ukrainian Scouting Organization, and myself, Kristin Glover (Toronto), from UNYF.  Natalie Witiuk of Toronto, another UNYF Member and newest member of the Ukrainian Credit Union Board of Directors, also extended her involvement and participated in the Ukrainian Diaspora Youth Forum, as she was in Ukraine participating in the Ukrainian World Congress and the meeting of the World Council of Ukrainian Co-operatives [credit unions].

JP: What was the purpose of the Youth Section of the V World Forum? What do you think was the result or outcome of getting together?

KG: The purpose of getting together for the World Forum – Youth session was to bring youth together to develop a cohesive voice on what we would like to see happen in Ukraine, as well as, in our diaspora. We are interested in connecting and strengthening the diaspora and Ukraina through all the new technology and communication capabilities now available to us.

JP: Was the question of mass media use raised at either the World Forum Youth session or Diaspora Youth Forum?

KG: This was a central discussion in both. A resolution of the World Forum’s Youth session was to use mass media and telecommunications technology for the benefit of bringing the diaspora together. By using mass media, we can educate the world about Ukraine, its people and our diaspora, host discussions and share ideas. Also, as many of our communities have similar issues in developing and working for their hromada, through the use of mass media we are able to promote and encourage our various communities. This resolution addresses pooling together and sharing our resources to move forward and work to build a stronger base for Ukrainians all over the world.

Informally, social media has become the main way that everyone plans to stay connected after the youth conferences. New forms of technology will strengthen ties with organizations and improve the quality of work they are able to achieve.

JP: John Krulko was the World Forum Youth Section organizer?

KG: John Krulko, was the moderator and main speaker at the Youth session during the World Forum. On the panel also sat Keynote Speaker Bohdan Hawrylyshyn, well-known Geneva-based economist and a former world head of Plast scouting organization.

John Krulko also organized a visit to the Verhhovna Rada and meetings with the Deputy Chairman of Ukraine’s Parliament Mykola Tomenko, Chairman of Ukraine’s Parliamentary Committee on European Integration Borys Tarasyuk, and the Premier of the opposition’s “Shadow Government” Serhiy Sobolev.

JP: Which groups of delegates by country come to mind from the Diaspora Youth Forum?

KG: There were various countries represented at the Youth Forum. Countries that come to mind are: Australia, Russia, Great Britain, Estonia, Poland, Latvia, the USA, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Germany and of course Canada, although there were many more.

There were also various youth organizations in Ukraine represented at the Forum.

JP: When you think of these countries or diaspora communities, would a particular organization within a country stand out, like UNYF in Canada, or were delegates representing youth from a given country?

KG: Although all the participants were representing their organizations and everyone was interested in the projects and work of their organization, the focus always reverted back to the country that one was from.

JP: In either the World Forum Youth session or Diaspora Youth Forum, did you or someone make a presentation from Canada? Handout prepared materials?

KG: During the Youth Forum we had the opportunity to present the country and organization we were representing to help familiarize participants with our various diaspora communities world-wide, and with current youth organizations in Ukraine. “Team Canada” worked together before the conference to create a presentation that highlighted our vibrant community “at-large” and our respective organizations. My portion of the presentation on the UNYF and its Paul Yuzyk Institute for Youth Leadership was well received, and followed up by questions regarding our projects and rich history in Canada. I was prepared with additional organizational material and information for those who were interested, including copies of our UNYF Constitution, program brochures, and most importantly, contact information.

These presentations gave us the opportunity to learn about organizations, to hear about what they’re doing, their struggles and successes, and how we can work with them to further their development.

PHOTOS

1 - L. to R.: Justin Senko, Australia; Adriana Sirskyj, Canada; Kristin Glover, Canada; Natalie Witiuk, Canada; Olena Kit, Canada; Myrosia Matwijiwskyj, United Kingdom; Vera Partem, USA. Front: Nadia Matwijiwskyj, United Kingdom

2 - Delegate group photo at the Ukrainian Diaspora Youth Forum “Kyiv 2011”