UCCA hosts Belarusian NGOs (05/28/00)

UCCA hosts Belarusian NGOs

Ukrainian Congress Committee of America

NEW YORK, N.Y. - A delegation of NGOs from Belarus that participated in a U.S. Department of State program titled "National Minorities and Civil Rights in the United States" met on April 27 with representatives of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America's National Office.

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss how ethnic communities function in the United States, including: methods of financing, community programs and project coordination, cooperation with other ethnic communities, educational projects and dissemination of information.

Members of the delegation of non-governmental organizations represented Ukrainian, Jewish, Lithuanian, Tatar-Moslem and Polish minorities active in community life in Belarus. Following an overall review of UCCA activities, an informal discussion ensued that touched upon a variety of subjects, varying from not-for-profit status, to methods of cooperation among ethnic organizations. Also highlighted were various challenges and problems faced by ethnic communities.

One problem facing these ethnic minorities in Belarus is that their respective schools are being shut down due to the government's denial of space for the needs.

One of the challenges faced by Ukrainians in Belarus is the lack of accurate accounting of the Ukrainian population. According to official statistics, the Ukrainian minority numbers under 2,000; however, the actual population is said to be close to 1 million. The reason for the discrepancy in these numbers, according to Valentina Logvin, president of the Center of Ukrainian Culture, is that many second-and third-generation Ukrainians consider themselves Belarusian, even though they speak Ukrainian.

The delegation members thanked the UCCA for its openness in discussing not only the positive aspects of community life, but sharing the challenges as well.

Ms. Logvin expressed a particular desire to maintain and strengthen contacts between the Ukrainian communities in Belarus and the United States, and urged Ukrainian Americans not to forget their Ukrainian brethren in Belarus.

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