Sharing America with Ukrainians
“The West is very important to young people in Ukraine,” says Judy Halstead. “They want to be part of the Western world.”
In Kyiv, the United States Embassy supports America House, a venue for the Ukrainian public. “It is like a seat in America’s living room,” says Judy.
America House is the United States Government’s premier venue for cultural programs and outreach in that country. It supports United States public diplomacy by creating a welcoming, technology-forward space for open discussion and debates. Participating Ukrainians are provided with opportunities for professional and personal skill building. It is open to all Ukrainians with a focus on people 18 to 35 years old.
Activities at America House include discussions on top current issues, speaker series, workshops, movie nights, English clubs, art exhibitions, concerts and theater performances. It is an open friendly atmosphere where Ukrainians discover perspectives on American culture and society, learn about educational opportunities, and practice English. As mentioned in the previous column, Judy spoke about Lodi during her visit.
Judy saw Ukrainian support of the West repeated throughout her stay. Ukraine is in the third year of a war against Russian backed separatists in the eastern part of the country.
Petro Poeroshenko is Ukraine’s president. Because much of the Ukrainian population wants a strong connection with Western countries, the European Union and NATO, Poeroshenko declared 2016 to be the “Year of English” in Ukraine. On Dec. 28, 2016 the president met with representatives from the American Embassy and civil activists to sum up the results of the “Year of English.” Judy’s son John Silver, who is with the Regional English Language Office at the U. S. Embassy, was part of the audience.
Poeroshenko noted that “knowledge of English is extremely important for it provides an opportunity to study in prestigious foreign universities, to improve prospects of a job, to enable reading original world classic literature, to travel freely, to be aware of the latest news of science and technology, and to maintain people-to-people contact.”
During this Dec. 28 meeting the President emphasized that even though the Year of English was about to be completed, mass study of English in Ukraine is just beginning. With international support, complex programs and courses have been established and will continue into the future. Many of these programs are directly supported by the U. S. Department of State and the U. S. Embassy in Kyiv.
The United States Ambassador to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch, stated, “This is a wonderful occasion to celebrate the ‘Year of English’ in Ukraine. We are proud that we can support Ukraine and its peaceful future.” Judy’s second special event involved the English Access Microscholarship Program (Access), also sponsored by the U. S. Embassy. Access provides a foundation of English language skills for economically disadvantaged 13 to 20 year old students. For two years these students have after-school instruction. They must attend English classes, and also gain appreciation for United States culture and democratic values.
Judy attended the graduation program of 60 students from two cities — Kyiv and Cherkasy. “The students as well as their parents and teachers were so excited to receive their certificates of completion of the Access Program,” Judy said.
Among the students were physically handicapped students who had not had this opportunity in the past. They usually were not part of the total educational experience.
Judy’s other strong memory are the memorials for the people who died in the Euromaidan Revolution, or Revolution of Dignity, in February 2014. These memorials are on Kyiv’s huge Krhryshchatyk Square and adjacent streets and show hundreds of pictures of the protesters who died with their names and birth dates. Candles and flowers still honor them. The Revolt was a series of violent events involving protesters, riot police, and unknown shooters. The Anti-Terrorist Operations section of the Military History Museum also has an exhibit of turquoise and yellow Ukrainian flags with messages written by the protesters hoping for democracy. Just remembering what she saw brings tears to Judy’s eyes.
“After the deadly protest there were changes in the sociopolitical system,” Judy says, “but democracy is still a work in progress.”
This democracy as a work in progress most impresses Judy. Everyone she met was so eager to go forward toward that goal. It reminded her of a Babushka she met when she was in Ukraine the first time. The woman had shown her the farm. They then walked to a fence. The woman put her hand on Judy’s and said in Ukrainian, “The same sun shines over us. The same stars shine over us. We are all under the same sky.”
It is a small world. May we never forget it.