Deadline for applications: EXTEDED - 12 July 2010

When: 15 August – 4 September

Where: Ukraine, Kyiv and northern region of Ukraine (Polissia)

Who: Postgraduate Students

For more information contact: Nadiya Kravets at nadiya.kravets@sant.ox.ac.uk or

   Dzvinka Kachur at dzvinka.kachur@undp.org.ua.

New call for application to participate in Oxford Volunteers for Chornobyl Scheme announced! This year five volunteers from the University of Oxford or any other University abroad and five volunteers from National University of “Kyiv-Mohyla Academy” or other Ukrainian Universities will spend three weeks in August-September 2010 working on specific developmental projects in Ukraine in line with the targets of the UNDP Chornobyl Recovery and Development Programme.

The Oxford Volunteers for Chornobyl Scheme was initiated by  CRDP in cooperation with the National University of “Kyiv-Mohyla Academy” and Oxford University Ukrainian Society and with the support of UN Volunteers. The goal of the programme is to provide knowledge resources and strengthen the developmental process in the Chornobyl-affected area through international cooperation, as well as to increase awareness of and share knowledge about the consequences of the Chornobyl accident and the developmental approach for overcoming them through the involvement of students from the University of Oxford (UK) and the National University of “Kyiv-Mohyla Academy” (Ukraine) as well as students from other Universities.

Since the establishment of the programme 28 students from Universities in UK under the supervision of UNDP Chornobyl Recovery and Development Programme had been practicing activities on recovery and development in Chornobyl-affected areas. Spending 3 to 4 weeks in rural communities working side by side with people struggling for survival or showing leadership in recovery activities leads to long-lasting affiliation of young people with the Chornobyl topic and developmental activities.

Outcomes of the Programme 2007-2009

•                     Influence on the behavior of youth in Chornobyl-affected communities:

–                                            Promotion of healthy life style

–                                            Active life position

–                                            Willingness to learn foreign languages

•                     Consultation on business development led to the increase of the Luhyny and Lyubech Youth Centres profits (NGO’s that are run by communities);

•                     Reports produced by each volunteer is mutually useful for volunteers and UNDP

•                     Increased level of understanding between Ukrainian and international youth

–                                            Documentary Film “Chornobyl: the Survivors’ (2008) by Roman Revkniv (90 min -  Eng; 20 min - Ukr)

–                                            Exhibition “Mutants” by Yuri de Boer (2007)

–                                            Pictures of Eric Mayen been exhibited in Chicago, Koln etc galleries (2007, 2008).

•                     Grant proposal written by Pierre Poulain (2008) on healthy food has bees supported by Luis Bonduelle Foundation. As result over 200 children (age: 6 – 17) were trained on health nutrition at the contaminated areas (3^rd zone);

•                     Deeper understanding of the consequences of Chornobyl accident, community development methodology and useful life-experience received by volunteers

•                     Opportunities to conduct research in Chornobyl affected areas

•                     Volunteers use gained experience to pursue professional carrier in development. 

Apply now!