The Day’s editor-in-chief Larysa Ivshyna correctly pointed out that our readers can be considered co-authors of the newspaper, which is produced through a joint effort. The Day’s Library is perhaps the best example of this. For instance, there are readers from different corners of Ukraine among the authors of the four volumes of Extrakt. The action “A Gift for Your School,” which is also connected with the Library and gained many supporters throughout Ukraine, started with the Chernihiv region. Our active reader Valerii Koval, was the first to present a set of books to his school during the stay of The Day’s photo exhibit in Chernihiv.
The Day greeted Valerii Koval on this occasion and took the opportunity to ask him a few questions.
How did you develop the idea to initiate the action “A Gift for Your School”?
“I was prompted by the books from The Day’s Library. Firstly, this is a very interesting historical work, and secondly, useful study material. Since my first profession is that of a teacher (I taught the Russian language and literature at school), and I am also a big fan of The Day, I think it’s necessary for young people following us to know their country and learn to assess what society they will live in and what society they need. And in this direction I don’t know other periodicals which could cover so completely everything that happened and can happen. The idea to give the books from The Day’s Library to my school was not sudden. I thought this action over. We initiated it exactly during the stay of The Day’s photo exhibit in Chernihiv, and I was not the only one who gave this present, many other people joined the action as well. If this year The Day visits Chernihiv with its photo exhibit, I’m sure new readers will join the action ‘A Gift for Your School.’”
Which books are the most formative for the nation, and which ones would you recommend?
“First of all, I’d suggest reading the book from The Day’s Library Ukraina Incognita. Among contemporary authors, I like Maria Matios and Oksana Zabuzhko. One can’t think of a Ukrainian unfamiliar with works by Lina Kostenko. Undoubtedly, this is classic, especially her last book Zapysky ukrainskoho samashedsheho (Notes of a Ukrainian Madman) — it turns everything upside down.”
What is special about living in Chernihiv?
“In the past Chernihiv was an industrial center, and agriculture is actively developed here. At present this region takes the last place among all regions of Ukraine in socio-economic figures. It hurts to see engineers, doctors and teachers selling stuff at marketplaces. People in the Chernihiv region live in hope and for the present at the same time. But at this Chernihiv is highly spiritual. I’d say that Chernihiv is a Ukrainian Mecca, because we have splendid cathedrals, intellectual people, a great theater, and a good symphony orchestra. Chernihiv has beautiful and good youth. Therefore, despite everything, there is spiritual life there. The main problem is that people became materially poor, and material poverty entails spiritual poverty.”
Are there spiritually rich people in Chernihiv ready to work to change the situation in the country?
“Certainly there are. People ready to change something are everywhere. But the problem is as follows. In order to change something, it is necessary for our society to learn to choose; to have a sense of new ideas. These should not only be ideas of sovereignty and statehood, which we have, but also an idea of goodness and humanness. When we look with kindness at each other, then society and hence life will be better. I still hope it will be this way.”
As you’re our enthusiastic reader, please share the recipe of how one should attract people to The Day’s actions?
“One should speak about them. One should go step by step from one house to another. The newspaper is the best advertisement. I browse the Internet version of your newspaper every day, but if I don’t hold the newspaper in my hands, this taste is not felt. This is a genre already. What The Day and its editor-in-chief Larysa Ivshyna does by means of meetings with the youth, photo exhibits, which become more meaningful and better every year, attracts people to the newspaper and its ideas. But an economic issue arises again in this case. Since people on the verge of survival can’t think about spiritual matters.”
