Children for Peace founder Bohdana Stepanenko-Lypovyk and Kateryna Solodukha
When Bohdana Stepanenko-Lypovyk learned about the Russian invasion of eastern Ukraine, the recent émigré to Canada was compelled to reach out to those most affected by the war-the children. With friends and family still in Ukraine, Stepanenko-Lypovyk is painfully aware of the cost of the ongoing military conflict.
According to a recentUN report, more than half a million children have been negatively affected by the war, and over a thousand have lost a parent. Stepanenko-Lypovyk launched the Children for Peace project last year, with the aim of bringing some of those children to Canada and to the University of Alberta campus, offering not only a reprieve from the conflict, but also an opportunity to connect with Canadians and, according to Stepanenko-Lypovyk, "activate their potential" through leadership training.
Over 300 candidates were screened, with 14 youth aged 13 to 16 selected for the inaugural visit to Edmonton from mid-June to mid-July. Early on in the process, Stepanenko-Lypovyk partnered with St. John's Institute and the U of A's Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies (CIUS) to develop an itinerary that would help broaden their knowledge of the history of Canada and in particular, Ukrainians in Canada and to foster a relationship with the wider U of A community-goals that mirror those of CIUS, which will celebrate its 40th anniversary this year.
When Stepanenko-Lypovyk approached CIUS, Susanna Lynn ('14 MA), the institute's 40th anniversary project co-ordinator, was ecstatic. "We're very happy and honoured to be hosting them here," she says. "Even with their sometimes tragic circumstances-they've either lost a parent in battle or are waiting for a parent to come home-they are our future. Engaging them in any way about their present and future, especially in the context of the U of A, is important. You don't get that opportunity every day with any teenagers, especially teenagers from Ukraine."
As part of the teens' leadership training, Stepanenko-Lypovyk worked with CIUS and the community to give each participant relevant experience in their area of interest. Fifteen-year-old Kateryna Solodukha hopes to be a journalist one day, noting the lack of credible news sites in Ukraine. "I don't know what I can do, but I want to do something," she says. "I want to give the truth." Solodukha will be writing about the visit, and Stepanenko-Lupovyk hopes to publish the story.
Along with visits to West Edmonton Mall, Fort Edmonton and the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village, the youth toured the U of A campus on July 13, with stops at CIUS, theBruce Peel Special Collections and the Van Vliet climbing wall. They also met with representatives from the Faculty of Native Studies to gain an understanding of First Nations history and culture.
The Ukrainian youth visit coincides with several significant milestones, including the 25th anniversary of the independence of Ukraine, the 125th anniversary of Ukrainian settlement in Canada and the CIUS 40th anniversary. But Lynn says anniversaries are not about patting yourself on the back, but about self-reflection and engagement.
"Our mission includes three areas: Ukrainian studies, Ukrainian-Canadian studies and Ukrainian language pedagogical resources. And so, while these youths connect us especially to the Ukrainian studies area, you can see the link between all three of them," she says. "It's kind of a perfect pairing of a 40-year-old institute and 14-year-olds, coming together to do something where our interests, experiences and future goals align."