Three weeks ago, Ukrayinsky dim (Ukraine House) hosted the presentation of the PoDiya Ukrainian School for Women’s Social and Political Leadership. This school has been set up in the framework of a new project launched by Diya (Action), an all- Ukrainian people’s democratic association. Incidentally, Diya emerged in 1997 as a nonprofit, non-governmental organization for social protection, and today its membership exceeds 20,000 women from all regions of Ukraine. Its activity is aimed at enhancing the role of women in Ukrainian society, safeguarding their civil, political, social and economic rights, and to promoting the development of the Ukrainian society. In Ukraine, the high educational level of women is underutilized in social and political life, the number of women employed by public authorities and local governments remains insignificant, and their involvement in politics inadequate. The opening of the School for Women’s Public and Political Leadership as a long-term project is an urgent necessity in our time and the first step toward implementing the fundamentals of gender democracy in the Ukrainian state.
The school’s curriculum focuses on political subjects: the basics of democracy, multiparty system, fundamentals of constitutional law, political management and marketing, political psychology, social psychology and business ethics, fundamentals of public relations, etc. The school’s faculty consists of highly skilled Ukrainian and foreign experts, prominent politicians, other public figures, journalists, and scholars representing various scientific institutions. The program is based on interactive learning: training sessions, business games and meetings. The student body will be formed by women activists belonging to NGOs and political parties without any ideological restrictions whatever. The training course is designed for a ten month period, with classes held four days a week. Future plans also include setting up a permanent institution for multilevel training of a women’s political elite, with further implementation based on extension courses.
During the presentation, the numerous guests welcomed the creation of the school and wished success in its work. Mrs. Slava Stetsko said, in particular, “Our women are very intelligent and bright. They should not be confined, as the German used to say, to the kitchen, children, and the church. Our women should go into politics; then there will be less discord between political parties. Women are disposed to agreement, understanding, and cooperation. I know from practice that where women had something to say, there was harmony and coordinated cooperation. When more women are involved in politics, there will be more women in Verkhovna Rada, and it will work more constructively.
The spokeswoman for the Canadian political elite was Mary Collins, who had worked nine years in the Canadian Parliament, including five years as Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers and also held the posts of the Minister of Social Affairs for Women, Assistant Defense Minister, Assistant Minister for the Environment, and now does business and is manager of a school providing parliamentary election training for women. Mrs. Collins is willing to share her experience with the students of the school and does so with great pleasure. She is convinced that women also have the right to make important decisions for their country.
The men present at the celebration found the idea interesting. At the same time, they warned: no matter how many times it is declared from high tribunes that it is desirable to see more women as lawmakers, mayors, and governors, no man will step down of his own free will. They urged women to stand up for their rights, because there is an acute shortage of women at all levels of government.
The women, on the other hand, said that if women can handle the problems of their families in such difficult time, then they will manage at the state level, and that now the time has come for the men to see the problems through the eyes of a woman.
Founder and chairwomen of the PoDiya All-Ukrainian People’s Democratic Movement Tetiana Kondratiuk is certain that women must carry on political and public activity. The multidirectional thinking of a woman makes it possible for her to attend simultaneously to many problems, which a man would not even notice. Subconsciously, a woman looks on every citizen as a member of her family who should be taken care of. Further, Mrs. Kondratiuk stressed that in the future she would like to see at the helm of the state a woman, possibly, perhaps a of the new school.
