Ukraine student exchange cancelled

Violence and unrest prompt safety concerns for teens

The violence and unrest in Ukraine has prompted a Saskatoon school division to pull the plug on a high school student exchange.

Seven students enrolled in Ukrainian bilingual programs and three chaperones were scheduled to travel to western Ukraine next month for a three-week excursion of immersion in Ukrainian language and culture.

Last month, Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools’ director of education decided it wasn’t safe for the teens to go.

“Of course, the students were very disappointed. Parents (were also) disappointed, but also feeling that it was a prudent decision at the time,” said Laurianne Gabruch, one of the chaperones and a Ukrainian bilingual teacher at Bethlehem High School.

Students enrolled in the program at Bethlehem, and the school division’s online Cyber School, began fundraising and planning for the trip about 18 months in advance, Gabruch said.

The division has led students on the exchange every couple of years since 1992. The April excursion would have been the 11th one.

This year, students were to travel to the town of Sambir, near Lviv, where they billet with Ukrainian families, go to school with their billets, learn to shop and cook meals together, and do some sightseeing.

Students from Sambir will still come to Saskatoon in August to stay with families here, said Gabruch.

The school division hopes to reschedule the trip to Ukraine during the next school year, likely near Christmas or Easter break.

Protests that began in November led to Ukraine’s president fleeing the country and the appointment of an interim government. Ukraine is now at odds with Russia over the fate of Crimea, which is set to vote on joining Russia.