Verkhovna Rada Interns Meeting in Kyiv

By Ruslana Kostina, Mykolaiv University of Shipbuilding

Kyiv - On November 25, 2008, Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Program (CUPP) Director Ihor Bardyn met with the 2008/2009 Interns of the Verkhovna Rada (VR). Ukraine’s VR Internship Program is sponsored by the US Association of former Members of Congress in cooperation with the University of Indiana and was started in 1995. Both CUPP and VR Programs are similar, in that both are housed and function within the structures of parliament, namely of Canada and Ukraine, respectively. The key difference is that the VR Program interns complete their internship by working, in most cases, with the various committees of the Verkhovna Rada. CUPP interns work directly with individual Members of Parliament in the Canadian House of Commons. CUPP was the first program of assistance to Ukraine by the Diaspora in Canada, and was established upon agreement with the Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons, the Hon. John Fraser in 1990. The first CUPP interns arrived in Ottawa in spring 1991. In fall 2009, the House of Commons will welcome the 27^th traditional internship program.

Attending the meeting was Maryna  Rudenko, Director of the VR Program, Professor Stephen Velychenko of the Chair of Ukrainian Studies at the University of Toronto who is currently teaching at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy under the Yaremko Lectureship Program of Katedra Foundation, Lucia Hicks of the CUPP Selection Committee, CUPP’09 Coordinators Ruslana Kostina, a graduate of Mykolaiv University of Shipbuilding and currently completing graduate studies at Haugesund/Stord University in Norway, and Oleksandr Pankiv, a graduate of the University of Lviv, Faculty of Law.

Mr. Bardyn spoke about the 18-year history of CUPP in the Parliament of Canada, the achievements of some of the CUPP graduates and the possibility of linking the two internships in a joint program. He also urged the VR interns to question the political culture of their parliament and its practices, and to compare the work of their parliament with that of other more established parliaments in order to improve the governance of the country. He encouraged the VR interns to pursue graduate studies abroad and to seek out other opportunities for internships with European institutions and governing agencies and bring this experience back to their homeland. The meeting took place in the Great Hall of Verkhovna Rada’s Committees Building on Hrushevsky Boulevard opposite the Verkhovna Rada. The meeting concluded with a lengthy question and answer session over tea and coffee.

“We are very pleased that Ihor Bardyn [attended] the first meeting of this year’s VR Internship Program”, said Maryna Rudenko. “It was extremely interesting because it gave us the good example and demonstration of a successful internship program for young Ukrainians in the Canadian parliament. [For VR Interns,] Mr. Bardyn’s address opened a “window” to Canada and once more reminded us how sincerely and constructively the Ukrainian Diaspora in Canada supports us. Ihor Bardyn’s activity inspires us and, persuades us that we can achieve much on our own if we apply our skills and energy and spare no effort to educate our youth in good governance. We were very impressed and proud by Ihor’s stories about the success of his alumni.

We would love to repay the great effort of the Diaspora by being able to demonstrate great strides in democratic development and advancement in Ukraine as soon as possible.

I am confident that the interns from both our program and CUPP in 5-7 years will be able to influence the operation of our government and, most importantly, these changes in governance and decisions of parliament will be professional and serve the people of Ukraine.”

“We hope that we can cooperate more closely. For example, we may invite CUPP alumni to our meetings, training [sessions], excursions, and carry out other joint events and projects.
Once more, I wish to thank our colleges for their cooperation and great initiative in supporting CUPP and this important first meeting in the Verkhovna Rada. We wish strong health and long life to those who are supporting CUPP, and let the program develop and find new ways of realization.” concluded Ms.Rudenko.

The sad thing is that currently, both programs are experiencing hard times. The Verkhovna Rada program is [partially] supported by US Agency of International Development, and soon funding responsibility will be fully transferred to Ukraine.

 CUPP has been financially supported by an endowment fund for more than 18 years, established by the Ukrainian Diaspora in Canada. Considering the decrease in investment returns earned by the endowment fund over the past several years, and the increase in its operating costs, CUPP is facing closing in 2010.

This is a very disappointing development, as CUPP has made a very positive impact on Ukrainian youth and the Ukrainian image abroad.

As one of the Verkhovna Rada interns, Yaroslav Lyn (Lviv) said: “²hor Bardyn is a person who helps [make] light appear in the Canadian sky. And this light is progressive Ukrainian youth who demonstrate their intellect and industriousness during their internship in Canada. I would also like to mention that it is so reassuring that this world has such a strong and true Ukrainian Diaspora that continues to support the land of their forefathers. The Canadian internship program has a lot in common with the Ukrainian one, and sharing experience between the interns can sufficiently improve the effectiveness of work in both parliaments. Such programs should exist, since they help not only youth in their growth, but also change the work of parliament for the better.”

Another intern, Olha Usachova (Donetsk) noticed some differences between the two internship programs stating “Our supervisors are the representatives of Verkhovna Rada committees whereas in Canada, they are the Members of Parliament themselves. That’s why I believe our friends in Canada are luckier”.

Oleksandr Bondarenko from Kharkiv agrees saying “It was very interesting to learn about the care and attention which some Canadian MPs give to their Ukrainian interns. As well, it was important to learn about the positive impact and long-lasting goodwill which our Ukrainian students leave in the Canadian parliament and how this plays positively on the development of Canadian-Ukrainian diplomatic relationship.”

Representatives of both programs were left very satisfied with the VR interns meeting and full of ideas for possible future cooperation.

Many words have been spoken about the importance of these two internship programs, the only two which focus on the changes needed in [Ukraine’s] political culture in order to make it more transparent, more responsible to the citizens, and more responsive to building a strong Ukrainian society. The programs are aimed at rooting out corruption by comparing the political cultures and systems of other democratic countries with that in Ukraine.

 It is not difficult to assess the role played by the two programs. Every year, another hundred or so young university students come to understand the true state of affairs in our own country and the world, are re-assured and given confidence in their pursuits through these programs, and encouraged to seek graduate studies abroad to help find their future place in life.

It is also important to mention that there are only three countries in the world that support such internships: Germany, Canada and Ukraine. It would be unforgivable if two of them disappear due to financial difficulties.