World Federation of Ukrainian Women’s Organizations Congress in Kyiv

By Orysia Sopinka Chwaluk

For the third year in a row, the World Federation of Ukrainian Women’s Organizations held its Annual Meeting in Ukraine, August 15^th to August 17^th, in conjunction with its five-year congress when a new executive is elected.  Kyiv was an appropriate location because it is easier for delegates to go to Ukraine than to come to Canada.

In her opening remarks, President Marika Szkambara emphasized the tremendous role women play in the community. Ukrainian women from all over the world take part in this conference because they have a common goal - namely, a love for their homeland Ukraine, its traditions, culture and language.  Whenever a tragedy, injustice or political turmoil befalls the nation, they serve as ambassadors and help in any way they can.

Delegates and guests came from thirteen countries including the USA, Canada, Germany, Australia, England, Argentina, Brazil, Poland, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Lithuania and Italy.

Canadian delegates, sent from the Ukrainian Women’s Organization, the League of Ukrainian Canadian Women and the Ukrainian Catholic Women’s League, were fortunate to have found lodging near the congress sessions, the Budynok Vchytelia, and not far from the famous Independence Square where the Orange Revolution took place.

At the Annual Meeting, according to protocol, the verification committee reported that 28 delegates, 17 organizations and 12 guests were present.  We were pleasantly surprised to hear our president announce that a new Ukrainian women’s organization had been created in Spain and would like to join the ranks of the World Federation of Ukrainian Women’s Organizations.  Having met all the requirements of the statutes, they were unanimously accepted.  The Nominating, Statutory, Financial, Resolution and Publication Committees followed with their reports.  The Annual Meeting ended with a bit of pomp and celebration. All the conference participants walked down Vulytsia Volodymyrivska to Saint Michael’s Square with two beautiful bouquets of flowers and laid them at the feet of Grand Princess Olga’s monument and in front of the monument to the victims of the Holodomor Famine Genocide in Ukraine, 1932-33.  Pedestrians stopped to look at us, dressed in our colourful Ukrainian blouses and some enquired as to who we were.  Marika Szkambara spoke briefly about the Holodomor and all showed respect to the victims of hunger with a moment of silence.

The Ninth Congress of the World Federation of Ukrainian Women’s Organizations officially opened on October 15, 2007, with Cardinal Lubomyr Husar leading the participants in prayer.  He spoke on the theme of youth, keeping them enlightened and active followers of God.  He emphasized the importance of having strong moral values.  Parents must show their children that having faith in God will make their lives happy and good will come from their faith.  In fact, it was his idea to bring all the Catholic youth of Ukraine to Kyiv for a religious conference called Forum. We saw groups of young people gathering in the streets of Kyiv wearing t-shirts, reminiscent of World Youth Day in Toronto in 2002.  Warm greetings were extended by: Askold Lozynsky, President of the World Congress of Ukrainians; Ihor Ostash, Ukraine’s Ambassador to Canada; Lilia Hryhorovych, deputy to Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada; Irene Holubieva, President of the National Women’s Council of Ukraine; Olya Kobets, Honorary President of the Ukrainian Women’s Association - Olena Teliha; Irene Kulchytska, representing the International Institute of Culture, Education and Relations with the Diaspora; and Professor Valentyna Borysenko of Kyiv National University.

Honorary certificates for many years of outstanding service to the Ukrainian Women’s movement were awarded to Irene Kurowytsky, Christina Bidiak, Christine Bailey, Luba Siletska, Vera Smereka, Katerina Sirotska, Natalie Bundza-Ivanytska, Tetiana Bashchuk, Irene Washchuk, Halyna Dribnytsia, Anna Shepetyk, and Ronia Lozynska. A fine reception followed with enjoyable company.

On the second day of the Congress, M. Szkambara informed us that over six million dollars in aid had been sent to Ukraine by Ukrainian Women’s Organizations over the past five years.   In contrast to the substantial financial aid to Ukraine, the World Federation is operating at a deficit and hopes that its member organizations will fund-raise to offset this position. The Federation’s magazine Ukrainian Woman in the World requires a lot of resources.  Subscriptions are down and, at times, it is difficult to obtain articles. It was suggested that the publication be sent electronically. Also, an article written about the Congress and submitted to Ukrainian newspapers in Ukraine would make the World Federation more visible and raise its profile.

The President of Ukraine’s greeting was followed by member organization activity reports. Next, Round Table discussions were lively with interesting topics on: maintaining traditions and keeping archives of our activities; strengthening and developing the Ukrainian language in East and South Ukraine; how to encourage the younger generation to become members of Ukrainian Women’s Organizations and informing Ukrainian youth about their cultural identity - the basis for overcoming assimilation in the Diaspora.  After the discussions, the delegates and guests visited a fascinating display on the life of the famous poet and freedom fighter Oleh Olzhych. 

On the last day, summaries of the round table discussions and steps needed to resolve the issues were presented.  Several more noteworthy speakers presented their views on information dissemination, challenges in Eastern Ukraine and health in Ukraine.  Nadia Buhaj, President of the Information Centre of the Ukrainian Women’s Organization in Kyiv, invited the delegates to send information about their organization’s activities for use of students and professors.  The suggestion was made that all projects initiated by the World Federation of Ukrainian Women’s Organizations be located in Eastern Ukraine. Finally, Halyna Denysenko gave a riveting speech on the appalling state of the health of young people in Ukraine, largely due to the Chornobyl nuclear disaster, and on the great need to send them to the mountains for clean air in the summer.  She emphasized the need for more vaccines against tuberculosis and for a clean and safe environment for the future.  

Upon the nomination and acclamation of a new executive with M. Szkambara as President for a new term, the Congress had a successful conclusion, and all participants enjoyed a festive Ukrainian brunch.