Youth organizations’ leaders advise the government: Wake up!

The Day of Youth and the Day of Youth and Children’s Public Organizations (YPO) is celebrated today in Ukraine. Youth Public Organizations (in Ukraine) is the association of citizens aged from 14 to 35, whose aim is the implementation and protection of their rights and freedoms and satisfaction of political, economic, social, cultural and other common interests. Uzhgorod.in put several questions to the youth organizations’ leaders.

1. What is the situation with the activity of public youth organizations currently in Transcarpathia?

Vik Kovrei – a head of AM (Assembly of Artists) ‘Rotonda’:

‘I wish we could have more activists and volunteering popularization on the European level, but I think that will come to us in time. I would like to note ‘Plast’, ‘ISIC’ that work systematically and of course close to me creative organizations: our, Porabulo, Herbst and quite active different musical formations Voits, Chicharones, Yutisi, etc.’ 

Borys Cherniavskyi – the youth social activist:

‘Social movement in Transcarpathia is gaining momentum like in Ukraine. The number of public organizations is increasing, although, only few of them are active and effective’.

Volodymyr Bilonka – a regional coordinator of the summer cycle Students’ Republic 2012

‘Nearly 200 public youth organizations are registered in the region few of which are active and effective. I think that reason for this is the lack of coordination of youth organizations’ activists. Let me explain. For example, the Council on youth policy theoretically operated in the Transcarpathian State Regional Administration, which should coordinate the organizations’ actions. But for unknown reasons this body does not work. However, this situation does not affect the work of those few organizations.’

Artem Kuznetsov – a member of Uzhgorod organization PLAST: 

‘The Transcarpathia is not rich with active public organizations, which actually bring benefits to the society now, very often organizations are united around a particular issue (problems), or in general for lobbying their own interests.’

2. What kind of problems youth unify around: ecology, politics?

Vik Kovrei – a head of AM (Assembly of Artists) ‘Rotonda’: 

‘Of course, most painful topics that affect the most active part of society – there are many youth and political and environmental organizations, so recently we legalized after all ‘Ecoclub’ which is actively involved in various projects in Uzhgorod, operates successfully and non-registered officially ‘Veg-club’

Borys Cherniavskyi – the youth social activist:

Volodymyr Bilonka – a regional coordinator of the summer cycle Students’ Republic 2012:

‘I think young people – is such a ‘protest’ segment of the population, which unites not around, but against something. For example, protesting against scholarships’ payment delays, unmotivated reforms in education that touches their lives directly. It is all about students.’

Artem Kuznetsov – a member of Uzhgorod organization PLAST:

‘Most often we hear that young people are more concerned of the region’s environment and health of its inhabitants, than the political condition of the city and region. Political associations get public attention only in case of problems arising in the decisions of a particular committee or ministry.’

3. What kind of problems the active youth ca resolve?

Vik Kovrei – a head of AM (Assembly of Artists) ‘Rotonda’:

‘Well, in such age we can do anything possible and impossible. If properly direct the youth energy – you can turn mountains!’

Borys Cherniavskyi – the youth social activist:

‘Young people can resolve many issues. We are talking about active, motivated and positively minded people. Only new generation of public leaders and young political leaders can change rooted mentality, introduce new figurative thinking and develop civil society.’

Volodymyr Bilonka – a regional coordinator of the summer cycle Students’ Republic 2012:

‘We can only remind about ourselves many times. I hope that situation will change for the better soon. And those who do not want to hear us must be afraid of us, because young people sooner or later will be “stepping on the power’s toes.’ 

Artem Kuznetsov – a member of Uzhgorod organization PLAST:

‘Anything. Young people can solve any problems, because it – the basic engine of social change. Young people is the personification of force, which power over everything – how to build and destroy. What is important is that the influence on the young people ideas has good intentions, but today it is idealism.’