LVIV — The competition was launched in September 2009. It was organized and held by the International Institute of Education, Culture and Contacts with Diaspora at Lviv Polytechnic Institute. The potential contenders were invited to answer two questions: “What am I doing or what will I be able to do for the benefit of Ukraine after receiving an education or mastering my favorite profession?” and “What do I think Ukraine will look like in the future?” IIECCD director Iryna Kliuchkovska told The Day that this project was meant to ascertain the attitude of young people within and beyond Ukraine to the processes underway in this country, encourage their interest in Ukrainian history, culture, spirituality, and detect creative individuals.
The results show that the themes were remarkably topical as many children showed an interest in them. The institute received 1,021 works. (One of the participants submitted five works instead of one). Taking part in the competition were children between 5 and 18 years of age from all regions of Ukraine, as well as from Poland, Spain, Georgia, Belarus, Moldova, Canada, Armenia, Germany, and the United States.
Works sent to Lviv were examined by a competent jury made up of Larysa Ivshyna, editor in chief of Den/The Day; Ihor Kalynets, poet, public figure; Tadeusz Karabowicz, Ph.D. (Philology), Lublin University (Poland); poet Maria Liudkevych; Bohdan Stelmakh, a well-known Ukrainian author of lyrics; Ivan Kryslat, Merited Artist of Ukraine; Orest Bilous, member of the Artists’ Union of Ukraine, and other noted Ukrainians.
Although the winners of “For You, Ukraine!” have been determined, their names will be announced during the opening ceremony of the Third International Congress “Diaspora as a Factor of Assertion of the Ukrainian State in the International Community: Modern Dimension, Projection for the Future” on June 23, on the LPI campus. All contestants will receive participation certificates and winners will be invited to visit Lviv — if the organizers can afford this.
