The youth NGO “Ortega y Gasset Institute for Public Development” has recently addressed our office to invite the photo exhibit by Den to the town of Tokmak. In our turn, we got interested what the public society is like in the Zaporizhia oblast that, despite its glorious historical traditions is thought to be quite passive when protecting its interests. We also wanted to find out how the local NGOs liven up the environment, encourage the youth to find out more about themselves, their country and their rights and possibilities. Actually, the participants of the project “Ortega y Gasset” claim that their main goal is to overcome the passiveness amongst the youth. The organization started in 2005 in the town of Tokmak in the Zaporizhia oblast. It initiates different projects aimed at increasing the level of democratic and human values, making people aware of the cultural and historical heritage, encouraging self-education, engraining the ability to shape personal opinion, upholding personal positions and supporting the youth aspiring to self-fulfillment. The results, as we have been assured, can already be felt. The head of the NGO “Ortega y Gasset” Natalia ZHUKOVA told The Day about the origins of passiveness amongst the young people, how to overcome it and what possibilities the active youth have.
After the resonant language law had been adopted, many Ukrainian cities held numerous protest actions, mainly peaceful. How has the local community of your town taken the language law? Were there any protest actions and how actively did the people express their civil position concerning this issue?
“We completely support those who protect the Ukrainian language. However, we do not hold any actions since they will become purely political. Our NGO’s activity is not connected to the political issues. It is our principle. However, we are supporting this protest online: at the Internet forum of our town visited by many people an active discussion is in progress. Besides, we voice our opinion when we meet the local authorities.”
The Zaporizhia region is thought to be quite a depressive one as for active public moods. What is special about the actions organized by NGOs in such environment?
“I’ve been engaged in public activities since 2005 and I do not think we had any initiatives until 2008-09 when the NGO ‘UkrProstir’ appeared. It actively saturates the information space. Now there are several active party and nonparty NGOs in our town that are trying to develop the civil society, holding charity actions, various master classes, numerous events of different kinds, they have organized the ‘School European Club.’ The children who had participated in the school European clubs, later became volunteers during the ‘Day of Europe’ in 2010, 2011, and 2012 and also participated in other events held by the local NGOs.
“Since 2005 I have been able to see that similar public activity and the opportunity for self-fulfillment are most needed amongst the young people up to 35 years old who react better to similar initiatives and have a desire to develop their native town. For instance, we regularly organize ‘Schools for Human Rights’ for the youth. We have also held the ‘Judicial Clinic for the Youth’ where the young people could undergo training and learn to protect their rights in any sphere of life. We tell young people about the opportunities they have in Ukraine. Three activists of our organization have participated in the All-Ukrainian program ‘Understanding Human Rights.’”
The “School European Club” is one of your initiatives. It would be interesting to know what its aim is, what it focuses on and if the students attending it can be considered potential citizens of “European Ukraine”?
“The ‘School European Club’ started in our local school No. 6 after I had gathered the teachers of our town and we had gone to the Polish-Volyn seminar in Lutsk devoted to the school European clubs. However, only one teacher out of four who had attended the seminar later organized the ‘School European Club’ and cooperated with our NGO within the framework of the Day of Europe and other ‘European’ events.
“The participation in the ‘School European Club’ has opened the way to the public activity for many students. These clubs have to rely on students’ activity. The main initiatives of such clubs are the information days at schools, various events within the framework of the Day of Europe, meeting people who have already visited foreign countries with different programs, the activity of other school press clubs that address the issue of the European integration.
“Students’ stereotype about Europe is the European Union. When we ask them: ‘Don’t you think Ukraine is a part of Europe as well?’ they start thinking about it and realize that we geographically belong to Europe. They start analyzing, drawing conclusions and understanding that changes should start from them.”
In your opinion, what is the main reason for most of Ukrainians being passive civil issues concerned? Why is only a small part of our citizens ready to protect their rights and seek for justice? What is it: public fatigue, lack of free time or just indifference?
“I would not say that it is because of a lack of time. Probably, it is laziness. Some people are just too lazy to do something whereas if they have a desire they will always be able to find the time. Our people often attend concerts of stars they have seen on the TV. However, when it concerns public events for the intellectual development, people often hesitate if they should go there, what they will see and if it will be interesting for them... Our organization is trying to revive and spread the Ukrainian cultural heritage. However, laziness prevents people from developing: they do not want to come and see, find out something new. Unfortunately, it also concerns the youth who have to be the most active part of the society in principle.”
Do you think there are any other factors hindering young people in fulfilling themselves?
“Lack of information. When we e-mail about the actions held in Ukraine young people are just astonished that they can happen in Ukraine. Their eyes start glowing and they come, though they did not even suspect about these events. I remember when I studied at university there was no information about studies abroad. Now the situation is the same. My friends, 5 to 10 years younger than me who are studying at university now have encountered the same problem: they do not know where to find and how to get enough information about free studies abroad or advanced training. It is all lack of information.”
How are you trying to fill in this information vacuum? What channels are you using for this?
“We organize new projects and add every participant to the distribution list of news and announcements. In order to get through to every young person the education system must be changed. This is my opinion. For example, once the assistant director for curriculum and discipline of one of the schools invited the students for a ‘voluntary-compulsory’ event held by our organization. First they went because they had to but then they realized that they needed it.
“Educational institutions have to better cooperate with NGOs and carry out common projects. Some training programs for teachers should be also introduced, especially for those who replace the older generation to integrate them into the interactive teaching and encourage them using up to date methods and technologies in teaching.
“Socials networks are also important. Many local residents use the social network VKontakte, so it is a good channel for spreading information, especially amongst the young audience.”
Is the NGOs’ activity in the Zaporizhia region significant? Can we speak about any common movement or do they act separately, each in different sphere?
“We have a lot of organizations in the region. The ones we cooperate with are developing not only in the town and the region but throughout Ukraine. For instance, since 2008 the NGO ‘UkrProstir’ has significantly activated in public development. It is the official media partner of all the public initiatives held in the region. Actually, it is a regional coordinator of many projects.
“There is also ‘Zaporizke Viisko’ in a village near Tokmak, large actions are being held in Khortytsia Island. However, they are more restricted structures.
“In principle, every organization is self-sufficient, however, we realize that only after consolidation we will have more information and will organize larger projects. Not only in Zaporizhia or Tokmak, but also on the oblast level or even involving other regions.”
