Group promoting Ukraine initiates nationwide "Call for Volunteers" (01/17/93)

Group promoting Ukraine initiates nationwide "Call for Volunteers"

WASHINGTON - A nationwide "Call for Volunteers" has been launched to recruit qualified Americans to work with their professional counterparts in government and independent media throughout Central and Eastern Europe, including Ukraine.

This activity is being conducted through the American Volunteers for International Development (AVID) program sponsored by the National Forum Foundation. The purpose of AVID is to promote the region's transition to a free political and economic system.

Rukh Chairman Vyacheslav Chornovil, who recently joined NFF's board of advisors, wrote: "I am very honored to become the first Ukrainian member of the International Board of Advisors. I will work diligently to advance the work of the foundation..."

In discussing the program, Ivan Drach, head of the Ukrainian Society, noted: "I am fully aware of, and greatly appreciate, the foundation's work in advancing the region's democratic transition. The benefits that we in Ukraine and other young democracies have received are considerable. Through the American Volunteers for International Development program we welcome the active participation of American volunteers in our country."

Since launching AVID, 17 volunteers have been assigned to work in Bucharest, Krakow, Kyyiv, Moscow, Prague, St. Petersburg and Vilnius. The National Forum Foundation expects to have about 80 AVID volunteers in the region in the coming 12 months.

Among these first AVID volunteers was Glen Wright, a professor of public administration at The American University in Washington, who assisted the Kyyiv-based Institute of Social and Economic Problems in its efforts to develop a privatization plan for the city. Mr. Wright also acted as an institute liaison to the World Bank, the United States Agency for International Development and the U.S. Embassy.

He was joined by Motrya Mac, a graduate student at Harvard University, who worked as a staff member for the Council of Advisors to the Parliament of Ukraine.

Myron Rabij, a Philadelphia attorney, is currently at the Computerized Information Center of the Ukrainian Parliament, where he is developing a national and international laws database for the drafters of the new constitution, members of Parliament, as well as regional government authorities.

John Lechicky, a financial analyst for Citicorp, is currently manager of international programs at the International Management Institute (IMI) in Kyyiv. He is involved in coordinating projects between IMI and other Western business and educational institutions, such as summer internships and executive-in-residence programs.

To qualify as an AVID volunteer, applicants must have a minimum of two years' professional experience and commit to at least three months of service in Eastern Europe. All AVID assignments are in public administration and governance, or journalism (emphasis on media management).

The most highly desired volunteers will have work experience in one or more of the following specialties: economic development, city and municipal planning, press and constituency relations, political organization, media management, budgeting, advertising, television production, venture capital formation, privatization, banking and finance, legislative management, constitutional law, and defense industry conversion.

Local language skills are desired, but not always required.

AVID is the logical and natural extension of the foundation's flagship program: the Central and Eastern European Internship Program (CEEIP). This project has brought almost 200 emerging leaders from Europe's new democracies, including Ukraine, to the U.S. for professional training. This internship program, by now the largest of its kind in the United States, is internationally recognized as one of the most effective training programs supporting Eastern Europe's political and economic transition.

Major funding to launch AVID has been provided by the National Endowment for Democracy, Pew Charitable Trusts and the Office of Citizen Exchanges of the United States Information Agency. Other NFF-sponsored democratization programs are supported by the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, Carthage Foundation, German Marshall Fund of the United States, Grace Foundation, John M. Olin Foundation, Rockefeller Brothers Fund and the Soros Foundation.

The NFF is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization dedicated to promoting political and economic freedom. For an application to participate in the AVID program write to: National Forum Foundation, AVID Volunteer Application, 511 C St. NE, Washington, DC 20002; or call 1-800-622-3388.

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