«EDUCATION AND KNOWLEDGE WILL ENSURE A FUTURE FOR AN INDEPENDENT UKRAINE»
The Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Program or CUPP was founded in the early 90’s, on the eve of the collapse of the Soviet Union and the renewal of Ukraine's independence. Its founder and director was and remains Ihor Bardyn, son of Ukrainian immigrants, lawyer by profession. Along with some friends he established an educational Foundation to support the CUPP Program. CUPP has been maintained for the past 20 years from the interest earned by the Foundation’s endowment fund.
Over these years, a lot of energy and effort has been put into the program, to bring university students to Canada for a parliamentary internship, but all these endeavours are worth it, because this program is a starting point or turning point in the lives of every participant of the program. All participants of the Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Program, who sustained the competition and went through the complete selection process, get the chance to complete an internship in the Canadian Parliament, for the period from two to three months. They live in Ottawa close to the Parliament, on account of the program.
Participation in the program gives the student an opportunity to acquire working experience in the Canadian Parliament, improve knowledge of English or French languages, and get acquainted with Canadian culture. The program promotes the development of international cultural relationships between Ukraine and Canada.
Participants are selected on the ground of academic records, fluency in English or French languages and on the basis of a number of competition tasks. In order to come to the Canada participants go through a real endurance trial and tests of knowledge. The competition lasts six months and consists of two stages. All participants are students of higher educational institutions all over Ukraine. They must be very versatile and interesting personalities, who command more than one foreign language and leadership qualities.
In November 2009 the Final Selection Meeting took place at the Canadian Embassy in Kyiv. At the outset, all finalists for the CUPP 2010 Program were nervous and the apprehension was noticeable. But CUPP Director Ihor Bardyn defused the tense atmosphere through his inherent calming, easy-going manner. He introduced the rest of his Canadian friends who came to Kyiv to administer final testing and hold interviews with each applicant. Then he made some humorous remarks and we got down to writing final examinations. None of the participants left without presents and souvenirs. We all remained satisfied, though a little bit tired.
The supporters of the Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Program are aware that youth is the future and that is the reason that Mr. Bardyn created CUPP in order to support future leaders of Ukraine.
Programs such as CUPP encourage independent thinking, expand horizons, provide a unique opportunity to acquire new knowledge, and unforgettable impressions. Many former interns from the Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Program become famous and successful individuals and continue their studies in prestigious universities of Canada, Britain, the EU and America.
As for me, participation in CUPP competition helped to understand that Ukrainian Diaspora did not forget about Ukraine and nowadays provides an activity in order to change the situation in their ancestral Homeland. The Ukrainian Diaspora in Canada keenly follows today’s life of Ukraine and monitors from across the ocean all events which occur in Ukraine’s political, cultural and economical life.
Regardless of difficult times, world economic crisis, the Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Program continues its existence, although 2011 how sad it may sound, may become the last year of the program. CUPP may be closed because of the lack of funding. The endowment fund which was sufficient in 1991 and which has been carefully managed for 20 years is insufficient to pay for the program. The lowering of interest rates, the rise in transportation, accommodation, food and other items cannot be paid for from the endowment fund. But we all will hope for the best.
Though being unsuccessful, I feel compelled to write an article about the Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Program and its Director.
My special thanks to Oleksandr Pankiv, Coordinator of the CUPP Program for 2010.
"Education and knowledge will ensure a future for an independent Ukraine" are the words of Ihor Bardyn with which he opened our meeting in November, in Kyiv.
Iryna Pushchyk,
5th year student of the Karpenko-Karyy National University of Theatre, Cinema and Television, Kyiv, Ukraine.
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