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Oxford Volunteers for Chornobyl scheme

 

 

The Oxford Volunteers for Chornobyl Scheme was jointly organized by the Chornobyl Recovery and Development Programme, the Oxford University Ukrainian Society and the National University of "Kyiv-Mohyla Academy" and in 2011 is supported by the UNV and the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine.

 

 

Brief description

 

Annually we involve up to 10 postgraduates from the international environment and particularly from the University of Oxford and up to 10 students from Ukrainian Universities particularly the National University “Kyiv-Mohyla Academy” to share our experience on community development and Chornobyl accident and to involve them in community development in the field. In total volunteers spend three weeks in August supporting the community development process at the Chornobyl-affected areas under the supervision of UNDP Chornobyl Recovery and Development Programme.

 

The goal of the project is to strengthen the community development process at 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 community development method through the involvement of postgraduates from national and international institutions. 

 

Tasks of the scheme:

 

•         to bring international attention to the Chornobyl-affected areas

•         to enlarge cooperation between marginalized communities of Chornobyl affected areas and international youth through knowledge and expertise exchange

•         to increase awareness about and feeling of involvement in remediation of consequences of  Chornobyl accident among international youth

•         to share the knowledge on UNDP’s community development methodology

•         to promote volunteerism among young people in Ukraine and worldwide

 

 

Topisc for volunteers research in 2010

 

? Development of international partnership between local authorities in Ukraine and abroad

In 2009 UNDP has supported partnership building between Ukrainian and Polish communities, as result 39 partnership agreement have been signed between local authorities. The role of volunteers would be to support communication and cooperation between partners

 

? Biodiversity conservation in the region

Chornobyl-affected area is being quickly taken over by the wild life. How could these opportunities be used for effective biodiversity conservation and for the benefit of the local communities?

 

? Health and Healthy life style

The health is identified by Chornobyl communities as a priority area that should be supported by international and national community. How the state of health of local communities can be improved and how the healthy life style can be promoted?

 

? Regional marketing strategy

It was identified that Chornobyl-affected areas are suffering from the negative stigma related to Chornobyl accident. At the same time Polissia is widely acknowledged by scholars to be the region where the oldest elements of ethnography and culture of Eastern Slavs are concentrated. How the region can be re-branded?

 

? Protection of local environment

Local communities are suffering from a number of environmental problems that are critical at the moment and are non-related to the radiation. Waste management, soils degradation, poor forest management are negatively affecting the state of the health and are caused by poor management. What can be done to improve the local environment? 

 

? Youth Development and Information and Communication Technologies

CRDP has supported the establishment and the use of the Internet in a number of distant villages.  

Assess the role that internet presently plays in local development and evaluate its further utility in facilitating the community development in Polissia region. How internet can be used by local youth to improve their opportunities for development?   

 

Programme Outcomes 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.

 

Application form

 

For further information contact:

 

Ms. Dzvinka Kachur

Dzvinka.kachur@undp.org.ua

 

 

Partners of the Oxford Volunteers for Chornobyl Scheme

Testimonials

 

 

Participants of the Oxford Volunteers for Chornobyl Scheme 2009

Participants of the Oxford Volunteers for Chornobyl Scheme 2008

Participants of the Oxford Volunteers for Chornobyl Scheme 2007