Sustainable development of the Chornobyl-affected areas is impossible without the change of their perception. The best way to change the stigma of Chornobyl is to invite people to see it!

Today 10 students-volunteers from the University of Oxford and from the National University of “Kyiv-Mohyla academy” who have took the challenge and spent four weeks working on specific developmental projects in Ukraine in line with the UNDP targets have shared their experience with Joanna Kazana-Wisniowiecka, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP in Ukraine. These 10 students are participants of the Oxford Volunteers for Chornobyl Scheme that was initiated by the UNDP Chornobyl Recovery and Development Programme (CRDP), Oxford University Ukrainian Society and the National University of “Kyiv-Mohyla Academy” (NaUKMA) in 2007.

Korosten, 4 September 2009 – 23 representatives of local governance from Sweden and Spain visited Korosten to learn its experience in remediation of consequences of Chornobyl accident. The visit was organized in the framework of cooperation of European Group of Local Authorities with Nuclear Facilities in Europe (GMF), European Centre of Technological Safety and UNDP Chornobyl Recovery and Development Programme. During the visit, representatives of GMF officially invited Ukraine – Ukrainian municipalities - to become a full member of European association.

School-children from Rivne oblast have been once again convinced that knowledge about health nutrition ensures not only good state of health but also costly prizes. In particullar, Inna Nikitchuk, school-pupil from Tugovytska Secondary School (10^th form) did not expect to be awarded with modern MP3 Player for her story about native region. Inna collected legends from local residents, researched documents in village archive and added antique local recipes to her story. “Poliski dumplings”, “Poliskyi borsch” this are names of only some recipes that young researcher has noted from her mother, grandmother and other old residents.

37 representatives of local authorities from Poland visited similar settlements that belong to the Chornobyl-affected areas in Ukraine. The visit is organized by UNDP Chornobyl Recovery and Development Programme and Institute of Regional Development in Poland and aims to spur effective socio-economical development of the affected areas. As result of the visit partners plan to establish fruitful cooperation that will allow implementing a number of joint initiatives and projects that would lead to effective socio-economic development.