At the invitation of the organizers, Andrii Yatsiv (Deputy Director) and Yurii Marusyk (Research Fellow) were the keynote speakers at the panel discussions of the X Ukrainian Diaspora Youth Forum «Chernivtsi 2021», held within the framework of the III World Congress of Ukrainian Youth Organizations (WCUYO) on August 26–27, 2021.
The event brought together young leaders of Ukrainian NGOs from 12 countries, representatives of Ukrainian diaspora structures, state authorities of Ukraine, the community and the media. A number of panel discussions on the diaspora as Ukraine’s brand ambassadors to the world, education, cultural diplomacy and the role of youth in shaping public policy took place within the framework of the Forum. In addition, there was an award ceremony for active diaspora youth and WCUYO partners.
Prominent politicians and public activists, including Dmytro Lekartsev, President of WCUYO, Eugene Czolij, Honorary Consul of Ukraine in Montreal, Board Member of the Ukrainian World Congress, Victor Bandurchyn, Secretary of the Ukrainian World Congress, Maryna Popatenko, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, Roman Petryshyn, Rector of Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University, Ion Ceban, Mayor of Chisinau Moldova, People’s Deputies of Ukraine and representatives of local and regional authorities took part in the opening of the III Congress of WCUYO and the X Ukrainian Diaspora Youth Forum «Chernivtsi 2021».
During the panel discussion «Ed(you)cation» Andrii Yatsiv made a speech, outlining current issues of Ukrainian education abroad and presenting new educational projects of IECDR in the context of assistance to Ukrainian educational institutions abroad and the creation of a modern product of Ukrainian as a foreign language. Among other things, the Forum participants had the opportunity to learn about the Ukrainian Educational Universe portal – a communication platform for Ukrainian educators around the world, educational portal «Step to Ukraine» for learning Ukrainian as a foreign language, new IECDR textbooks «Key to Ukraine: Cities and People» and «Stories from Lesia’s Life», International School of Ukrainian Studies «Step to Ukraine» and others.
Taras Kremin, State Language Protection Commissioner, Tamara Marusyk, Vice-Rector of Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University, Olena Shapovalova, Director of the Ukrainian State Center for International Education, Violeta Moskalu, Founder of the Global Ukraine Foundation, Olena Lys, People’s Deputy of Ukraine of the IX convocation, took part in the discussion. Alina Piddubna, head of international youth programs, moderated the event.
