LETTERS TO THE EDITOR (04/18/99)

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

A response re: helping intelligentsia

Dear Editor:

On February 14 The Ukrainian Weekly published an article titled "How can we best help Ukraine's intelligentsia?" by Dr. Marko Stech, managing director of the Petro Jacyk Educational Foundation. In reading the article, I must admit that I agreed with most of the ideas presented. The author not only argued ably as to what not to do, but constructively outlined methods for achieving positive results.

My reason for writing this letter is that Dr. Stech begins his article with criticism of a project to aid Ukraine's intelligentsia that was undertaken by the Coordinating Committee to Aid Ukraine. Dr. Stech predicts "minimal, short-term results" and proceeds to offer his ideas on how to best help. As a member of the CCAU Executive Council, when I read the many constructive suggestions I had a "been there, done that" feeling.

It seems that when he wrote the article, the author was not acquainted with the many projects (and the methods used to implement them) that the CCAU has conducted in the past eight years. Many of the ideas Dr. Stech offers have been and are routinely and effectively used by the CCAU. If one considers the criticized project within the spectrum of the CCAU's activities, the criticism seems to be undeserved. (For readers of The Ukrainian Weekly who wish to acquaint themselves with the CCAU's work, I refer to the organization's latest detailed report that appeared in Svoboda of March 12.)

I take this opportunity to offer a few examples of projects undertaken by the CCAU that resonate with some of the ideas that are offered by Dr. Stech. The CCAU channeled tens of thousands of dollars to aid the members of the intelligentsia who publish or write for newspapers and periodicals. Among such publications were: Literaturna Ukraina, Ukrainska Hazeta, Molod Ukrainy, Chornomorski Novyny, Zona, Kurier Kryvbasu, Vsesvit, Siverschyna, Veselka and others. Please note how this list intersects with those mentioned by Dr. Stech. The CCAU purchased computer systems suitable for editorial work, fax machines, copiers and even paper. In cases where funds were badly lacking, hundreds of subscriptions were funded and later donated to schools and libraries throughout Ukraine.

In cooperation with Prosvita, the CCAU sponsors Ukrainian language courses for employees of various ministries and government agencies that need to know the Ukrainian terminology pertaining to their professional work. Both the teachers and the government employees-students are members of the intelligentsia, as are those who learn. The instructors are remunerated.

For the past five years, the CCAU has sponsored courses that raise national consciousness among secondary school teachers. Participants in these two-week seminars (approximately 24 sessions) come from all regions of Ukraine. The lecturers were well-known literary and cultural figures, respected historians and political activists. All lecturers were remunerated for their work - this was help to Ukraine's intelligentsia. The seminars were so successful that they have been offered to officers of the Ukrainian armed forces. In February of 1998, officers of the Kyiv Garrison and the Southern Command had 24 such sessions. In the fall of 1998 in Sevastopol, 520 officers heard lectures on Ukrainian history and culture. The next series of courses will be offered in Odesa.

I could continue by mentioning other projects, such as the purchase of the remaining edition of "Pravo Zhyty" from Yurii Badzio, which the CCAU distributed to libraries, or the publication of over 2 million textbooks for schools of Ukraine, in conjunction with which artists and in some cases authors received some remuneration. All these projects were a part of the mosaic wherein the intelligentsia of Ukraine participated and had commensurate financial rewards.

For those who are not acquainted with the CCAU, I would underline that there are tens of organizations that are members of the CCAU. Many of them have projects that are unique to their respective organizations and support the efforts of Ukraine's intelligentsia to live a dignified life despite today's economic hardship.

To underline the concern of those who participate in the CCAU's activities for worthy causes mentioned by Dr. Stech, I will note that among the financial supporters of two periodicals that he mentions in his article, Suchasnist and Vsesvit, is a member of the CCAU board of directors who in the past year donated $3,000 to Suchasnist and $2,000 to Vsesvit.

The CCAU has been successful in obtaining funds for its project to aid Ukraine's intelligentsia. The drive for funds continues. Readers still can contribute and sponsor Ukrainian poets, writers, artists or scholars who find themselves in dire straits. In communities where there are no active committees affiliated with the CCAU, those wishing to become sponsors may do so by sending checks directly to: CCAU, 66 Susan Drive, Chatham, NJ 07828. All donations to the CCAU are tax-deductible.

Roman Voronka
Newark, N.J.

Veterans' stories should be told

Dear Editor:

Paul Fenchak's article in The Ukrainian Weekly (February 28) was of particular interest to my husband, Paul Pachowka, a Ukrainian American veteran of World War II.

He and his three brothers all served in the U.S. Army and all went overseas. Paul was a paratrooper assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division and later to the 17th Airborne Division. He came into contact with Ukrainians who were taken to Germany to work on their farms. He has several interesting stories about them, and also of Russian soldiers who tried to kill him and his buddy. Thank God Paul can speak Ukrainian and understood the hissed words from one of the Russians to "kill them!" You can imagine their astonishment when he spoke to them in Ukrainian and cursed them out. There is more to this story.

Ukrainian Americans served with honor, and their stories should be told.

Sophie Pachowka
Woodlyn, Pa.

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