«International Dialogue» Programme aims to organize efficient liaison between Ukrainian and world elites. In 2013, as part of this programme, the Foundation held the 6th Kyiv Security Forum on the theme «Security in insecure world». This annual event is a platform for debate and exchange of experience on the most relevant trends in the domain of security in Europe and Black Sea region. In 2013 it brought together around 400 international and Ukrainian leaders, representatives of political, business and civic circles from over 20 countries of the world. The event was sponsored by Viktor Pinchuk Foundation, the Black Sea Trust for Regional Cooperation of the Marshall Fund (USA), NATO Information and Documentation Centre and the Royal Institute for International Affairs (UK), Centre for International and European Studies at Kadir Has University (Turkey) and International Organisation “Initiatives of Change” (Switzerland).
As part of the “International Dialogue” programme the Open Ukraine Foundation hosted the Youth Kyiv Security Forum for the second year in a row. The event’s objective is to create a platform for discussing by young experts of pressing issues of international relations and foreign policy of Ukraine. The 2013 forum was dedicated to the theme: «Good governance: the only way to the EU ?». International experts spoke why no rule of law, curbing corruption as well as no transparency and accountability of the government to the society cannot bring Ukraine closer to the EU. The event brought together young specialists from over 15 countries. For them the speeches were delivered by experienced experts from Austria, the United Kingdom, Georgia, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Switzerland as well as diplomats and representatives of international organizations in Ukraine (the EU, UN, NATO, OSCE, the World Bank etc.). The Forum was held with the partnership of the Black Sea Trust for Regional Cooperation (Marshall Fund Project, USA) and NATO Information and Documentation Centre in Ukraine.
Presenting the talented Ukraine to the world – this is the mission of “Cultural Horizons” programme. Thanks to the programme, Ukrainian artists have an opportunity to present their achievements to the entire world. Particularly, last year the Open Ukraine Foundation provided 22 travel grants to talented musicians, filmmakers, artists to present their works abroad.
Also the Open Ukraine is the only foundation in the country that provides grants for translation of contemporary Ukrainian literature into foreign languages. Translations of national works improve the image of Ukraine in the world, promote intercultural dialogue and exchange of cultural values. That’s why we attach great importance to promoting Ukrainian book in the world», - Tereziya Yatsenyuk, Head of the Supervisory Council believes. Last year the Foundation financed translations of “Museum of Abandoned Secrets” novel by Oksana Zabuzhko into Czech language, “The Fate of the Parrot” by Andriy Kurkov into German, “Voroshilovgrad” by Sergiy Zhadan into French, and “Russian subject’ by Yevgeniya Kononenko into English language.
In 2013 the Open Ukraine Foundation held eight artistic meetings with Ukrainian artists as part of FACES Art Club. This project is called upon to promote modern art among young people, enabling communication with already known and new faces in the cultural sphere. Among the guests of the club in 2013 were singers of ConCord, popular Ukrainian writer Oksana ZABUZHKO, signer Maryna ZUBKO, traveler and writer Max KIDRUK, poetess Oksana Borovets and musicians Yaroslav DZHUS and Maksym BEREZHNYUK, well-known writer, journalist, broadcaster and documentary filmmaker Yuriy MAKAROV, journalist and novelist Iren ROZDOBUDKO, and famous singer and song writer Ihor Zhuk, TV presenter Natalka SOPIT and film director Vasyl VITER.
In 2013 the Open Ukraine Foundation continued to support cultural and artistic activities, which are significant for Ukraine. Thus, with the support of the Foundation, Ukraine for the first time was represented by a separate stand at Paris Book Fair. ‘Literary Land of Dreams’ Festival was arranged and as part of it the Foundation held Kupala holiday “Gala-Kupala party”, where the guests were welcomed by Kupala holiday festivities, games and round-dances. Moreover the Foundation was a partner of the Literary Festival at the 20th Lviv Book Fair that took place from 10 to 15 September 2013. The Foundation also provided help to “Editorial visits” project as part of the Book Fair. This project aimed at creating favourable conditions for cooperation between participants of book market of Ukraine and countries of the European Union. Also the Foundation supported the first German-Ukrainian workshop on literary translation ViceVersa, to which five German and Ukrainian translators were invited.
Youth education is a separate area of the Foundation’s activities. As part of this direction the Open World Discussion Club was launched and implemented for two years already. This educational project is called upon to educate a new generation of responsible leaders. In 2013 the Open Ukraine Foundation held eight lectures hosting renowned experts, political and civic leaders. The Club’s lectures were hold to discuss ways of efficient solutions to social problems in Ukraine and abroad. Among the famous guests of the club were Berenice Rendon TALAVERA, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Mexico to Ukraine, Kristina WILFORE, Regional Director of National Democratic Institute (USA) in Ukraine, Chuck Thompson and Ben Griffith, representatives of the International Municipal Lawyers Association, Steven Pifer, Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution, U.S. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Ukraine (1998-2000), Daniel Warner, Deputy Director for International Relations at Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces, Herta Däubler-Gmelin, former German Minister of Justice, Martin DAY, Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy in Kyiv, and Oleksandr Bohomolov, President of the Centre of Middle East Studies.
