CREATING NEW ELITE: YOUNG GENERATION THAT WILL CHANGE UKRAINE

The words are just wind, but seeing is believing – thinks Bohdan Hawrylyshyn who helps ambitious Ukrainian youth learn how to build a successful country in the world

Bohdan Hawrylyshyn is well known in Ukraine and abroad. In 1944, 18-years-old boy was taken from his native village to forced labor in Germany. In three years he emigrated to Canada, firstly, he worked as a logger and later could study engineering. Since 1960, Bohdan Hawrylyshyn works in Switzerland, devoting more than 30 years to the International Management Institute MIM-Geneva.

During the period of “perebudova” scientist begins to help Ukraine, first of all with his knowledge. He works as an advisor to several presidents, prime ministers and heads of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. In 2009, 84-years-old Hawrylyshyn founded the Charitable Foundation of his name. Its goal was – for 8-10 years “provoke” the birth of a critical mass of real elite. The key program of the Foundation became the program Young Generation will change Ukraine, which was launched in late 2012.

Hawrylyshyn`s aim was to create a critical mass of young people who can make a transformation in various spheres of Ukrainian society. He gives the example of the Verkhovna Rada of USSR, where in 1990 the Democrats were a minority relative to the Communists but had a moral core, which eventually won ideology:

Writers, artists, former political prisoners, freethinkers had one third of the seats in parliament. As idealists, they nevertheless had a clear vision and goal: an independent, democratic Ukraine. They were the “moral majority” in the sense that took the initiative promoted laws such as the Declaration of Sovereignty, Independence Act. They attacked, and the Communists, who were in the majority, felt that communism was defeated, retreated and agreed that the proposed “moral majority.”

Writers, artists, former political prisoners, freethinkers had one third of the seats in the Verkhovna Rada. As idealists, they had a clear vision and goal: an independent, democratic Ukraine. They were the “moral majority” in the sense that took the initiative promoted laws such as the Declaration of Sovereignty, Independence Act. They stepped on , and the Communists, who were in the majority, felt that communism was defeated, they retreated and agreed to terms which proposed “moral majority.”

July 16, 1990 the Verkhovna Rada of the Ukrainian SSR adopted the Declaration of State Sovereignty (source – gazeta.ua)

89-year-old Hawrylyshyn believes that young people will occupy key positions in political and other institutions and will conduct the country through the transformation process, which Hawrylyshyn calls “normal country.” To his mind, to make Ukraine a European, young Ukrainian have to witness what is Europe. Thus was created the program Young Generation will change Ukraine – one week visit of young people in one of six European countries.

The features of successful and effective country Hawrylyshyn, who visited more than 80 countries, considers the following:

Full political freedoms (transparency and openness of government);
Certain level of economic prosperity for the whole population
Social justice, especially in education, healthcare, employment, pension schemes, etc.
Coexistence with the biosphere (nature, environment) rather then its exploitation, destruction, pollution.

The countries match the criteria in Europe are Germany, Norway, Switzerland, Sweden, Austria and also Poland, which is somewhat inferior to other countries, but ithas useful experience of rapid transformation processes. The system of these countries can see the young generation of Ukraine if make some effort.In order to take part in the program Young Generation Will Change Ukraine, you must make great efforts and pass the selection process. The participants can be Ukrainians in the age of 20 -35 years old who are the activists of public organizations, government officials, current members of the city, district and regional councils or representatives of the studentbody. These people build a team of 5 to 7 people (optimal amount). Each of them has to specialize in a certain field of social life (politics, economy, ecology, journalism, etc.).

The members of several teams at the interview with Bohdan Hawrylyshyn (Photo: bhfoundation.com.ua)

Together they choose a country they want to apply for (from the six proposed), make a stay plan and the budget trip and in writing with CV and motivation letters of the members send to the foundation.

This is the first stage, so-called paper-selection. The next one is – an interview with representatives of the Foundation and final stage is – the interview with professor Hawrylyshyn.

Roman Melnyk, the program coordinator, points that the number of participants who went to Europe, growing from year to year: 21 participants in 2012, the 84 – in 2013, 154 in 2014. Last year, due to inflation there was a small decline – were selected 123 participants. This year, the Foundation wants to send not less participants than in the 2014th.

Distribution of the participants of the program Young Generation Will Change Ukraine

Late last year 56 teams applied for the program or 360 participants. We selected 12 teams (81 people), who are waiting for an interview with Hawrylyshyn. These people will visit one of the six countries and will see how institutions work there in order to use this experience for the development of Ukraine later. The participants set up the meetings with representatives of institutions and organizations which they scheduled independently.

The main selection criteria for the teams, at the first two stages, are motivation (Foundation focuses on politics), language skills, social activity, distribution by profession, program of the study tour, team work, distribution by region and age of the applicants.

After the trip, participants will present gained experience in the Foundation shall submit financial and narrative reports and also write analytical articles on the experience of foreign institutions and how it can be implemented in Ukraine. However, only a study trip and experience of effective countries the program is not limited. One of the important phases of the program is to participate in local elections.

At the last year`s local elections, 28 people from the community Association of the program Young Genereation Will Change Ukraine applied for the position of deputies of local councils and four – for the mayor. Another part of members have been working in teams of candidates. Four of them became the deputies of City Council in the region: Julia Hvozdovych (Lviv), Peter Shkutyak (Ivano-Frankivsk) Svitlana Yarova (Vinnytsa, the youngest member of the City Council), Michael Syrotyuk (Ternopil). The city Nemishaieve (Borodyanka district, Kyiv region) got a new mayor – Sergei Zamidru, who also is a member of the Association.

The participant of the program – Yuliya Kokoyachuk from the city Sambur in June 2015, went to Poland, and in October – ran for the Lviv Regional Council:

– The biggest motivator in the program for me is very Bohdan Dmytrovich., whom I personally met several times when I was a scout. His faith in the Ukrainian youth gives inspiration and self-confidence. And, although this time I could not become a deputy, I am sure that young people with knowledge of positive international practices, understanding of duties and powers of deputies and sincere desire to change, combined with the young energy will change Ukraine. So I continue to work to be one of them.

Yuliya Kokoyachuk (Photo: bhfoundation.com.ua)

The highest stage for participants is – participation in elections to Verkhovna Rada and develop the legislative framework for Ukraine transformation. Some try their hand at the international level. So, for the second consecutive year the Foundation implements the project Youth delegates from Ukraine to the United Nations, and last year founded UNESCO youth delegates from Ukraine.

– Working in science, business, politics, social sphere, we must choose those activities in which our knowledge and experience, personal attitude mixing and give a significant effect in creating new and useful. It allows us to make a breakthrough that will leave an imprint in people, in organizations, in the country and maybe even (why do not dream?) In the world – says Hawrylyshyn.

Source: Novoye Vremia, 21.01.2016

The author: Roman Povzyk,