UNWLA members host reception for WFUWO president in New York (05/19/02)

UNWLA members host reception for WFUWO president in New York

by Wolodymyra Bilaniuk

NEW YORK - Representatives of the Ukrainian National Women's League of America held a reception on March 5 in honor of Oksana Sokolyk, president of the World Federation of Ukrainian Women's Organizations (WFUWO), and a guest from Lviv, Zoriana Bilyk, who heads the Ukrainian Women's League (Soyuz Ukrainok) in Lviv Oblast.

Nadia Sawczuk, president of the New York Regional Council, welcomed the guests and introduced Iryna Kurowyckyj, UNWLA president. Mrs. Kurowyckyj greeted the honored guests and presented them with flowers. The guests presented a book of letters written by Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky and a gift to the museum - a wooden toy wagon made by children in Ukraine.

Mrs. Sokolyk spoke about the productive work of the WFUWO. She extended an open invitation to women's organizations in America to the eighth congress of the WFUWO scheduled to meet in October in Toronto.

Ms. Bilyk mentioned that there are 2,410 "Soyuzianky" in the Lviv Oblast. They participate and organize various beneficial programs, for example, help for single women, edit publications, organize essay and poetry contests for school-age children and sponsor scholarships.

She said that the UNWLA's financial assistance is appreciated and gave special thanks to Mrs. Kurowyckyj and Nadia Shmigel for their constant help.

Ms. Bilyk also spoke about the economic difficulties in Ukraine, noting that women leave their families and homeland to become breadwinners in foreign countries.

During the reception Mrs. Sawczuk proposed a toast to representatives of women's organizations - Maria Lozynsky, Ludmila Kostyk, Olena Prociuk and Uliana Starosolsky.

The evening was a great success, Mrs. Kurowyckyj said, thanks to the hard work and organizational skills of UNWLA members. Special thanks were extended to the event's organizers, Mrs. Sawczuk and Natalia Duma.

Mrs. Kurowyckyj also thanked the Organization for the Defense of Four Freedoms for Ukraine for the use of their premises.

Mrs. Sokolyk had arrived in New York as a participant in the Commission on the Status of Women meeting at the United Nations. WFUWO representatives to the U.N. were Mrs. Kurowyckyj, Mrs. Shmigel, Slava Rubel, Uliana Kekish-Solodenko, Marta Kichorowska-Kebalo and Daria Dykyj.

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