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Oxford Volunteers for Chornobyl scheme
2011 is 10th anniversary of the International Year of the Volunteers (IYV), proclaimed by the United Nations and the year of the 25th anniversary of Chornobyl accident.
The UN “International Chornobyl Research and Information Network"(ICRIN), the Oxford University Ukrainian Society, and the National University of "Kyiv-Mohyla Academy" with the support of the UN Volunteers programme and the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine, are happy to announce opening of the applications call for the Volunteers for Chornobyl Internship scheme. This is the sixth year of successful running of the volunteers program. Students will work closely with UNDP experts, local academics and graduate students as well as local villagers on several (bellow outlined) projects in affected villages. The villages ARE NOT in the most affected zones but in the areas located in the concentric circles of zones surrounding the Chornobyl plant and city Prypiat. Students will visit Chornobyl, the location of the nuclear power plant, and the city Prypiat, on supervised excursions. Most of the intensive grassroots development community
work, will be completed in smaller towns and villages, with the cooperation (and even in some cases directed by) local residents. This is an exceptional kind of personal, practical, intellectual, and cultural exchange that is very hard to come by. You will be living with the local residents, you will have a chance to get to know true Ukrainian life in rural areas. You will not only gain outstanding practical experience but also develop a personal understanding of the local culture and society.
Brief description
Annually we involve up to 12 postgraduates from the international and Ukrainian Universities 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
Topics for students research in 2011
?? Prospectives for Community-based or Green Tourism
Chornobyl-affected area is being quickly taken over by the wild life. How could these opportunities be used to benefit local communities that continue to live in the affected areas?
? Preserving Polissia culture and opportunities for cultural tourism
‘Local tourism’ is being promoted as a solution for the culturally rich, but economically deprived Polissia area. In what ways could this concept be further developed and strengthened to serve 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?
? 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
? Infrastructure profile – challenges for development
Due to lack of investments at the territories that were affected by Chornobyl accident the infrastructure is believed to be underdeveloped. What are needs for the infrastructure development to ensure tourism and local development?
? Youth Development and Information and Communication Technologies
UNDP 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? How ICT centres can cooperate with one another?
? Dissemination of information on the consequences of Chornobyl to local population
What people know and do not know about Chornobyl nowadays? How does the local knowledge influences the opportunity for development?
? 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?
Programme Outcomes 2007-2011
• 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 (3rd 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
Eligibility criteria for students from Ukraine:
1) to be a Master programme student at Ukrainian University (full-time student)2) Very good level of English;
3) High academic performance
4) Motivation to volunteer and to be involved in development
Financial and other arrangements
All travel costs as well as living expenses should be covered by volunteers themselves.
Volunteers are responsible for their medical insurance.
Scholarships and Bursaries
Participants from Ukraine have an opportunity to receive scholarship to cover their travel expenses to community organisations and the cost of accommodation and food during their stay in communities.
!Attention! The cost of accommodation and living expenses in Kyiv for Ukrainian participants will not be covered by the scholarship.
To apply for these scholarships please state so in your application.
During their stay volunteers will work at the territories that are safe for living but are recognised as Chornobyl-affected: the fourth and third zone of radioactive contamination, as well as territories where resettled people from the first zone (exclusion zone) live. Volunteers are not expected to work within the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone or on the territory of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Station.
Programe of the Oxford Volunteers for Chornobyl 2011
Read Reports of Oxford Volunteers for Chornobyl Scheme - 2009
For further information contact:
Ms. Dzvinka Kachur
Partners of the Oxford Volunteers for Chornobyl Scheme
Programe of the Oxford Volunteers for Chornobyl Scheme 2010
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
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Created by "Softline" (Ukraine)