Gender in Society and Family. Kyiv Equal Opportunities School
My Patroness – My Successful Story. Plast Ukrainian Scout Organization– Stanytsya Rivne
One Photograph Story. Spadshchyna Women’s Center, Kyiv
ForumTheater. Compass Club International NGO
Girls’ World Game. Áëàãîä³éíèé ôîíä "ÑÀËÞÑ"SALUS Charitable Foundation
Doll. Man. Woman. Gender Representations through Doll Design. Cooperation of Business and Creative Women (Belarus)
Joint Efforts for Women’s Rights Protection. Spivdruzhnist Women’s Human Rights Center
Gender Strategy to Change the City. Mykolayiv City Foundation LASKA, Assistanceto Economic and Social Reforms
The Role of NGOs in Implementing the Law on Gender Equality in Moldova. Gender-Center NGO (Moldova)
Improving Institutional Mechanisms for the Promotion of Gender Equality in the South Ukrainian Region. Dobra Volya Women's Youth Human Rights Center
The meeting’s agenda included the following:
presentation of the Fund’s about different directions of work, the Fund’s programs, their goals, peculiarities, how they are connected with each other, and how women’s organizations can make use of these programs;
participants’ presentations of their organizations and the projects supported;
informing about the procedures of drawing and submitting reports to the UWF during and after the project realization, providing information about the project
You can find more details about the supported projects in Grants section
Meeting of the “First step to success” program winners took place in Kyiv on
June 28-29, 2006.
“First step to success” is the long-term campaign initiated by aconsortium of NGOs – the Ukrainian Women’s Fund, the Center for Ukrainian Reform Education (CURE), “Help Us Help the Children-Ukraine”, the Ukrainian Children’s Aid and Relief Effort -- (UCARE) and the Women’s Health and Family Planning Foundation. The campaign is directed to promote leadership skills among Ukrainian girls to help them learn about social activism and to inspire them to become engaged participants in Ukraine’s social sphere.
Hundreds of girls aged 16-22 from all the regions of Ukrainetook part in the Women’s Leadership essay contest. 51 winners were chosen on a competitive basis.
On June 28 these girls attended the meeting with Kateryna Yuschenko, the President’s wife, and famous women who achieved success in different spheres of activity. The meeting was organized in the form of business lunch which assisted in direct communication between girls-winners of the contest and successful women – politicians, businesswomen, TV stars, actors, sportswomen, singers, etc.
Owing to the support of donors and sponsors the girls received numerous gifts.
We believe that experiences, achievements and personal gains of adult women could inspire and support a lot of young, active girls apt to make positive changes in their own lives and the life of whole society.
In the second part the girls had training and obtained knowledge in gender issues, leadership and CV writing skills, exchanged experience, communicated with one another and with the event organizers.
The campaign is continuing and now the documentary is being created; it will include materials of the girls-leaders stay in Kyiv and interviews with them.
MEETING OF THE UWF GRANTEES
The meeting with the organizations - winners of the first stage grant program competition took place on June 9, 2006, in the office of the Ukrainian Women’s Fund.
The organization that received grants participated under the following directions:
-women’s economic empowerment.
-visualizing issues acute for women and girls.
-woman and environment
The projects that received financing in the first stage of this year competition:
Supporting development of micro-entrepreneurship among rural women with low income. Association for the promotion of women’s entrepreneurship (Vinnytsia)
Developing innovative mechanisms in overcoming gender discrimination at the labor market. Women’s Perspectives West-Ukrainian Center (Lviv)
Project model for strengthening, sustainable development and financial independence of women’s groups.“Peace,Beauty, Culture”Association (Kherson, Kyiv)
PreventingneglectanddelinquencyamongminorgirlsinGomelregion. GomelRegionalCenter for Social and Psychological Support (Gomel, Belarus)
Righttolive. Woman’s Health and Family Planning Charitablefund (Kyiv)
Creative start for women’s initiatives in Crimean villages. Koz Aidyn Resource and Information Women’s Center (Topoli village, Bakhchysaray county, the Crimea)
Women’s week in the museum. Podillya CenterforSocialtechnologies, VinnytsiaregionalNGO (Vinnytsia)
Old Volyn Ball – a step to creative self-realization for women and girls. SvitlytsiapaniOksany, women's branch of Stara Volyn Sustainable Development Fund, Khmelnytskiy Regional NGO(Hrytsiv, Khmelnytskiy region)
Girls’ World – acycleofTV performances on regional TV stations of Ukraine. YUNKAGirls’ Club, LvivCityNGO (Lviv).
Revealingproblemsofviolenceagainstwomenandformingsocialconsciousness. Rural Social Initiative (Moldova, Yalovenskiy region, Bardar)
During the meeting the representatives of organizations that received the Fund’s financial support had opportunity to:
get to know about different directions of work, the Fund’s programs, their goals, peculiarities, how they are connected with each other, and how women’s organizations can make use of these programs;
tell about their organizations activities, present the projects they are going to realize;
receive information and put questions about the procedures of drawing and submitting reports to the UWF during and after the project realization, providing information about the project
That convinced us again that such meetings are useful for both parties. For the Fund’s staff it is the opportunity to get acquainted closer with people they are going to cooperate, get to know about practices and trends of developing women’s movement in the regions.
The meeting participants had opportunity to get acquainted not only with peculiarities of work and requirements of the Fund, but also to meet the other organizations working in similar directions, which will help them establish further cooperation, initiate and realize joint ideas and projects, share information, etc.
We remind the deadline for the second stage of this year competition is September 20, 2006. The competition includes the following directions:
You can find detailedinformationaboutthecompetition’stermsandconditionsin Competitions section
"The Gender Montage"documentary films presentation
The presentation of “The Gender Montage: Films from Post-Soviet Space”documentary films collection took place on May 24, 2006in the Cinema House. The presentation was organized within the framework of “Ukrainian Context” Third International Festival, Days of Documentary on Human Rights. The presentation was conducted by the Ukrainian Women’s Fund in partnership with The Center for Ukrainian Reform Education.
Of the 7 documentaries included in the collection, the invitees watch the following films of famous post-Soviet documentary filmmakers:
“Who will Sing a Lullaby…”Film Director: Nina Rudik; Script Writer: Tetyana Lyakhvetska (Ukraine, 2006)
“There are Women in Russian Villages…”Film Directors and Script Writers: Pavel Kostomarov and Antoin Kattin (Russia, 2006)
“Elechek”Film Director and Script Writer: Nailya Rakhmadieva (Kyrgyzstan, 2006)
“New Penelope”Film Director and Script Writer: Georgii Dzalaev (Tajikistan, 2006)
Student youth (young future journalists, political scientists, sociologists, researchers, cultural workers and pedagogues) from leading capital educational institutions such as Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, Kyiv National University named after T.Shevchenko, Kyiv National Institute of Culture, Pedagogical Institute as well as representatives of international organizations, women’s organizations and mass media were invited as the audience.
Guests didn’t remain indifferent to the films; that was proved by applause during and after the screening and further active discussion. A lot of questions to the invited gender experts (Olena Suslova and Larysa Kobelyanska) as well as to the Ukrainian film producer (Tatyana Lyakhovetska) prove that modern youth is interested in gender issues discussions, is ready to respond to gender changes in society as well as support them.
LAUNCH OF THE GLOBAL COMPACT IN UKRAINE
OnApril 25, 2006theUkrainianWomen’sFundtookpartintheofficiallaunchoftheGlobalCompactinUkraineandreceived the certificate on joining UN Global Compact.
The Global Compact was launched to develop corporate social responsibility,to make its 10 principles on human rights, labour, corruption and the environment part of business strategy and operations around the world, to facilitate the development of partnerships between the private sector and the Governments, UN agencies, labour and civil society in support of Millennium Development Goals.
“As business interests increasingly overlap with development objectives, the need for responsible business practices, as well as cross-sector partnerships, is more important than ever before.” – stated Kalman Mizsei, Assistant to UN Secretary-General and Regional Director of UNDP, while welcoming the business leaders at the official launch of the Global Compact in Kyiv.
To promote the corporate social responsibility concept and encourage the adoption of socially responsible practices as a positive force for change, the United Nations system in Ukraine
has organized series of focus group meetings with the private sector, leading representatives of Ukrainian and multinational companies, business associations, trade and labor unions and civil society representatives.
Launching the Global Compact in Ukraine, implementing its principles and goals into the operations of increasing number of business structures would enhance formation of civil society, develop the culture of philanthropy in Ukraine, contribute to collaboration of governmental, non-governmental and business structures.
The signatories of the Global Compact in Ukraine: Active-Bank Commercial Bank, American Chamber of Commerce, Bank Nadra, British Airways Ukraine, Bytsko Travel Company, Coca-Cola Company, Consortium for the Enhancement of Ukrainian Management Education, European Business Association, Federation of Employers of Ukraine, JSC "Kyivstar GSM", JSC PROsto-INSURANCE, HVB Bank Ukraine, Institute for Sustainable Communities, UCAN Project, International Centre for Policy Studies, Gestalt Consulting Group, GlaxoSmithKline, Leo Burnett Ukraine, Lviv Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Lviv Regional Association of Small and Medium-size businesses, Nissan Motor Ukraine LLC,Odessa Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Siemens Ukraine, SC Johnson Ukraine, Scientific and Industrial Enterprise “OMiTex”, Scientific production Investment Group “INTERPIPE”, System Capital Management, TNK-BP Ukraine Ltd.,Tetra Pak Ukraine,Ukrainian Women’s Fund,All-Ukrainian Public organization “Ukrainian Public Relations League”,Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ukrainian National Committee of International Chamber of Commerce, Ukrainian Association for Quality.
Dear friends,
Youarewelcometovisitthepresentationof “TheGenderMontage: FilmsfromPost-SovietSpace” documentary films collection, which will take place on
May24, 2006fromtillinthe Blue Hall of the Cinema House at the address: vul. Saksahanskoho, 6
In the framework of “Ukrainian Context” Third International Festival, Days of Documentary on Human Rights
ThisuniquecollectioniscreatedwithintheNetworkWomen’sProgramoftheOpenSocietyInstitute, NewYork. It shows an authentic, honest, and introspective look at the problems post-Soviet women face. The documentaries were created to support women’s movement in advocating women’s rights and gender equality and to promote public awareness and understanding of the problem.
Thecollectionwascreatedearly 2006,butithasalreadybeen internationally recognized. Particularly, the films were presented within “The One World” International human rights documentary film festival, film festivals in Amsterdamand Istanbul, international conferences and workshops.
Ofthe7 documentariesincludedinthecollection, the following films of famous post-Soviet documentary filmmakers:
“Who will Sing a Lullaby…”
Film Director: Nina Rudik; Script Writer: Tetyana Lyakhvetska (Ukraine, 2006)
“There are Women in Russian Villages…”
Film Directors and Script Writers: Pavel Kostomarov and Antoin Kattin (Russia, 2006)
“Elechek”
Film Director and Script Writer: Nailya Rakhmadieva (Kyrgyzstan, 2006)
“New Penelope”
Film Director and Script Writer: Georgii Dzalaev (Tajikistan, 2006)
AfterthereviewtherewilladiscussiononthedocumentarieswithparticipatingofUkrainianfilmdirectorandscriptwriter, movie critics, leading gender experts of Ukraine.
Admission free.
LAUNCH OF THE GLOBAL COMPACT IN UKRAINE
OnApril 25, 2006theUkrainianWomen’sFundtookpartintheofficiallaunchoftheGlobalCompactinUkraineandreceived the certificate on joining UN Global Compact.
The Global Compact was launched to develop corporate social responsibility,to make its 10 principles on human rights, labour, corruption and the environment part of business strategy and operations around the world, to facilitate the development of partnerships between the private sector and the Governments, UN agencies, labour and civil society in support of Millennium Development Goals.
“As business interests increasingly overlap with development objectives, the need for responsible business practices, as well as cross-sector partnerships, is more important than ever before.” – stated Kalman Mizsei, Assistant to UN Secretary-General and Regional Director of UNDP, while welcoming the business leaders at the official launch of the Global Compact in Kyiv.
To promote the corporate social responsibility concept and encourage the adoption of socially responsible practices as a positive force for change, the United Nations system in Ukraine
has organized series of focus group meetings with the private sector, leading representatives of Ukrainian and multinational companies, business associations, trade and labor unions and civil society representatives.
Launching the Global Compact in Ukraine, implementing its principles and goals into the operations of increasing number of business structures would enhance formation of civil society, develop the culture of philanthropy in Ukraine, contribute to collaboration of governmental, non-governmental and business structures.
The signatories of the Global Compact in Ukraine: Active-Bank Commercial Bank, American Chamber of Commerce, Bank Nadra, British Airways Ukraine, Bytsko Travel Company, Coca-Cola Company, Consortium for the Enhancement of Ukrainian Management Education, European Business Association, Federation of Employers of Ukraine, JSC "Kyivstar GSM", JSC PROsto-INSURANCE, HVB Bank Ukraine, Institute for Sustainable Communities, UCAN Project, International Centre for Policy Studies, Gestalt Consulting Group, GlaxoSmithKline, Leo Burnett Ukraine, Lviv Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Lviv Regional Association of Small and Medium-size businesses, Nissan Motor Ukraine LLC,Odessa Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Siemens Ukraine, SC Johnson Ukraine, Scientific and Industrial Enterprise “OMiTex”, Scientific production Investment Group “INTERPIPE”, System Capital Management, TNK-BP Ukraine Ltd.,Tetra Pak Ukraine,Ukrainian Women’s Fund,All-Ukrainian Public organization “Ukrainian Public Relations League”,Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ukrainian National Committee of International Chamber of Commerce, Ukrainian Association for Quality.
Pay attention that the terms of FIRST STEP TO SUCCESS program have changed:
The work of Information Women’s Centers, which were launched in 2005 with the support of the UWF, is continuing in four regions – Donetsk, Kharkiv, Lviv and Sumy.Organizations, on the basis of which the Centers function, are the information partners of the Ukrainian Women's Fund that assist the Fund in establishing close contact with the regional women's organizations.
Within this activity the Centers keep close contacts with local women’s NGOs and NGOs working for women’s issues, look for ways of collaboration and interaction. The ways and directions for collaboration, needs and problems of organizations are determined, particularly, through conducting focus groups, meetings of the Centers’ employees with NGO representatives, communicating and correspondence with organizations in the regions, studying requests of the organizations and women-activists to the Centers, etc.
The Centers’ services for NGOs include:
Consultative assistance on institutional development;
Consulting on the main directions of NGO activities;
Providing informational materials: standard and legal documents on NGO activity; information on legislative changes;
Disseminating information about the UWF projects and competitions among women’s NGO of their region;
Providing consultative services in project writing, namely on projects for the UWF;
Resource assistance: working on the Centers’ equipment; printing informational materials; using photocopiers, fax; work in Internet;
Using the centers’ libraries, which are constantly added with books and materials on human rights, women’s rights, gender issues, advocacy, etc
As the deadline for the UWF competition was on April 7, a lot of requests from NGOs to Informational Centers in February-March were connected with consultations in writing projects for the UWF.
The Centers also actively work on attracting girls to participation in the “First Step to Success” project. Within this project the Centers disseminate announcements and conduct meetings with potential participants in youth centers, schools, vocational schools, higher educational institutions, libraries; collaborate with the local educational authorities and school principals, social services for youth, departments for family and youth, etc. In April the Centers also plan to conduct informational and consulting meetings with participants to assist them in writing essays.
It’s worth noting that the number of NGOs and women-activists addressing to the Centers has significantly grown recently, due to the fact that the information about the Centers’ activities and services is shared in many ways: publishing informational pamphlets, providing information through the local media, e-mail information delivering, etc.
Creation and work of the Centers helps the UWF widen the circle of its grantees, receive more information about women’s movement in the regions; it helps the Centers involve more volunteers in collaboration, raise the level of their services; it helps NGOs improve quality of their activities through receiving consultative assistance, better access to information, possibility to use office equipment.
Donetsk:DonetskRegional League of Business and Professional Women; project coordinator ― Liudmyla Horova; contact information: 45 Artema str., tel: (062) 334 3443, 334 2043, email: postmaster@liga.donetsk.ua
The International Charitable Foundation “Ukrainian Women’s Fund” (UWF) is seeking a qualified and motivated person
to fill the position of the UWF Director
UWF is implementing a range of programs in Ukraine, Moldovaand Belaruswith the aim to increase public attention to issues of gender and diversity, promote the development of women’s movement, attract more resources to support women’s initiatives by developing a culture of philanthropy in Ukraine.
UWF is an institutional partner in Ukraineof the Network women’s program of the Open society institute – New York, member of the International network of women’s funds and Ukrainian grantmakers forum.
Responsibilities:
·general management of the UWF activities;
·ensuring the effective and efficient implementation of the Fund programs;
·personnel management;
·fundraising and project proposals writing;
·maintaining contacts with the UWF partners and donors in Ukraineand abroad;
·participation in the UWF strategic and financial planning
Reporting to: UWF Board
Requirements:
·Knowledge and deep understanding of gender issues;
·Strong commitment to achieving gender equality and motivation to work;
·Previous experience (3 years min) of work in the area of evelopment;
·Experience in managing international projects;
·Strategic and analytical skills;
·Higher education degree;
·Ability to handle several tasks simultaneously;
·Ukrainian and Russian language fluency;
·Strong command of written and oral English;
·Ability to work in the team and meet deadlines
For additional information on the Ukrainian women’s fund and its programs please visit our web site: www.uwf.kiev.ua
Interested candidates should send CV and motivation letter in Ukrainian and English to the UWF at the following address: uwf@uwf.kiev.uaIn addition, we ask applicants to provide the names and contact information of two people who can provide references for them.
Deadline for applications is April 25, 2006.
Please note that only finalists will be contacted and invited for the interview by May 15.
Competition purpose:to promote activities of women’s organizations of Ukraine, Moldovaand Belarusdirected to advocating women’s rights and lobbying their interests.
Projectssubmitted tothecompetitionshouldbedirectedtoinvolvingwomeninactiveparticipationindecision-makingandimplementationofinstitutionalmechanismsforensuringgenderequalityatnationalandlocallevels; integration of efforts of women’s NGOs for solving problems acute for women at national and local levels; establishing partnership between women’s organizations and governmental authorities.
Thecompetitionhas the following directions:
1. Women’s Economic Empowerment. Supportwillbegiventotheprojectsaimedateliminatingdiscriminationagainstwomenatlabormarket and providing legal assistance to women-entrepreneurs of micro, small and medium business. Eventswithintheprojectcaninclude: researches, humanrightscampaigns, informational campaigns, consultations, publications, etc. Competition participants are non-governmental organizations of Ukraine and Moldova, which: -work over 2 years(registered not later than December 31, 2003);
- have previous experience in realization of economically directed projects, as well as projects on human rights advocacy and lobbying women’s interests;
- collaborate with other organizations and have the experience of cooperation with local authorities. Deadline for project submission –April7, 2006. Maximum amount of the grant expected from the UWF — USD 5,000 The term of project realization –6-8 months.
2. Sustainable development of women’s NGO. Supportwillbegiventotheprojectsaimedatdevelopmentandreinforcementofwomen’sorganizationsfromtheregionsofUkraine, increasing their professional level and providing them opportunity for self-perfection. Eventswithintheprojectcaninclude: educationalprograms, establishingcollaboration, exchange of experience between organizations inside the country, participation in networks and coalitions, etc. Competitionparticipantsarenon-governmentalwomen’sorganizationsfromtheregionsofUkraine, workingfor not lessthan1 year.
Deadline for project submission–September 20,2006.
Maximum amount of the grant expected from the UWF—USD 2,000.
The term of project realization–up to 12 months.
3. Practices of implementing institutional mechanisms for ensuring gender equality. Supportwillbegiventotheprojectsdirectedtoimplementationandimprovementofexistingandinitiatingnewinstitutionalmechanismsof ensuring gender equality with the aim to achieve systematic changes at national and local levels. Eventswithintheprojectcaninclude: monitoringoffulfillmentofthecurrentlegislationon women’s rights, public hearings, advocacy campaigns on women’s human rights, etc. Preference will be given to practically focused projects with clear, realistic and consistent results. CompetitionparticipantsareNGOsofUkraineandMoldova, which: -workover2 years(registeredbeforeDecember31, 2003);
- havepreviousexperienceinrealizationofprojectsonhumanrightsprotectionandlobbyingwomen’sinterests, as well as experience in organizing advocacy campaigns;
- collaborate with other organizations and have the experience of cooperation with local authorities. Deadline for project submission–
September 20,2006.
Maximum amount of the grant expected from the UWF—USD 5,000 The term of project realization– 6-8 months.
4. Visualizing issues acute for women and girls. Supportwillbegiventoinnovativeandcreativeprojectsdirectedtoopeningandvisualizationofissuesacuteforwomenandgirls, with support of mass media, art, culture, literature. Theprojecteventscaninclude: publications, visualactivities(plays, performances, exhibitions, photo shows, etc), printing materials (posters, advertisement products) etc. Competitionparticipantsare women’sNGOsofUkraine,Moldovaand Belarus. Deadlines for project submission–April 7 and September 20,2006. Maximum amount of the grant expected from the UWF—USD 5,000 The term of project realization– 4-6 months.
5. Woman and environment
Supportisgiventotheprojectsdirectedtoencouragingwomenandwomen’sorganizationsto activities in solving environmental problems of communities. The priority in this direction is given to the projects supposing exchange of experience, creation coalitions for solving environmental problems, taking concrete measures for improving ecological situation in the regions, which suffered from Chornobyl catastrophe. Theprojecteventscaninclude: research, informationalcampaignsconcerninginfluenceofenvironmentonwomen’shealth, actionson improving ecological situation on a local level, etc. Competitionparticipantsarewomen’sNGOsofUkraine.
Deadline for project submission–April 7,2006 Maximum amount of the grant expected from the UWF—USD 3,000 The term of project realization–4-6 months
TheUkrainianWomen’sFundencouragesnottobe limited byproposedactivitiesoneachdirection, andsubmitprojectswithinnovative, creative approaches and new ideas within the priorities.
Preference will be given to projects that have:
• clearlydefinedpurposeandadetailedplanoftheprojectrealization;
• realistic, consistent and clear defined expected results of the project realization;
• influence on development of community the organization works with.
• thorough budget and realistic term of realization;
• additional sources of financing.
Pay attention that the competition is conducted in two stages. ² stage –fororganizationsplanningtosubmitproposalsonthefollowingdirections: Women’sEconomicEmpowerment
Womanandenvironment
Visualizingissuesacuteforwomen and girls
Deadline for submitting I stage competition projects—April 7, 2006.Theresultswill be announced in written not later than May 20, 2006.
²² stage – fororganizationsplanningtosubmitproposalonthefollowing directions: Sustainabledevelopmentofwomen’s NGOs
Practices of implementing institutional mechanisms for ensuring gender equality.
Visualizingissuesacuteforwomenandgirls
Deadline for submitting II stage competition projects— September 20, 2006. Theresultswill be announced in written not later than October 30, 2006.
Please, pay attention that:
• projects should be written in Ukrainian of Russian.
• it is necessary to submit 7 copies of the project for consideration(with signatures and seal).
• faxedore-mailedprojectsarenottakentoconsideration.
• incompleteprojectsaswellasthosesubmittedafterthedeadlinearenottakentoconsideration(dateofmailingontheenvelopeshouldbenotlaterthanthedeadlines, i.e. notlaterthanApril7 forthe² stageandSeptember20 forthe²² stage);
• onprojectregistrationtheapplicantreceives(personallyorbymail)a confirmation with registration number.
• the UWF is not responsible for mistakes of post offices in case of not receiving the project.
• the final UWF decision regarding a project is not a subject to revision.
• reasons of refuse in support are not informed.
Please, submit your proposal either personally or by regular mail at the address: 79 Artema str., office 38, Kyiv, 04050
INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE IN “FIRST STEPS TO SUCCESS” PROGRAM
A consortium of NGOs – the Ukrainian Women’s Fund, the Center for Ukrainian Reform Education (CURE), “Help Us Help the Children --Ukraine”, the Ukrainian Children’s Aid and Relief Effort -- (UCARE) and the Women’s Health and Family Planning Foundation – are launching a campaign to promote leadership skills among Ukrainian girls to help them learn about social activism and to inspire them to become engaged participants in Ukraine’s social sphere.
The three- stage campaign will run from March through December 2006. It will include 50 young woman leaders (girls ages 16-22) selected on a competitive basis from all regions of Ukraine.
The chosen participants will be able to:
Spend 2 wonderful days in Kyiv, June 10-11, and get acquainted with woman leaders, who play an important role in the cultural, political, social and business life of Ukraine
Receive mentor advice from women leaders concerning their professional careers
Take part in training and professional education programs
Receive start-up grants to create their own NGOs
Realize own leadership projects and ideas
Become heroes of a documentary about a new generation of Ukrainian female leaders
To become a participant in this “First Steps to Success” program, it is necessary to:
1. Write and send an essay on the topic: “I am a future leader”.
The essay should be 1,000-1,200 words in length in Ukrainian (2-3 pages of text using 12 pt. font) and a cover page that includes name, age, place of study, full contact information with phone and e-mail).
The following questions should be addressed in the essay:
What qualities should a woman leader have?
Why is women’s leadership important for our country?
What changes should be made by women leaders in Ukraine?
What benefits can society receive from the equal status of men and women?
What should be done to have more women leaders?
An important aspect of the essay will be reflections of the author’s personal attitude and her own vision of the issues.
2. Enclose visual materials that reflect her idea of a woman leader (photo, drawing, painting others).
All the works must be received by May 15, 2006 by the Ukrainian Women’s Fund, 79 Artema St., Office 38, Kyiv 04050. Works, sent later and those not meeting the competition requirements, will not be considered.
All contestants will be notified in writing by May 30.
Contact persons:
Olesya Bondar, UWF Program Coordinator, uwf@uwf.kiev.ua, (044) 568 53 89
Anna Kononenko, UWF Informational Consultant, anna@uwf.kiev.ua, (044) 568 53 89
On October 12, 2005, a presentation of a documentary "Who will sing a lullaby..." will take place at 6:30 pm in the Ukrainian House (2 Khreschatyk str., 5th floor). The movie was created by the Center for Ukrainian Reform Education under the financial support of the Ukrainian Women's Fund. It discusses the distribution of the roles in the family and participation of fathers in the children upbringing.
Everybody interested can attend the movie presentation!
Whence is it possible to provide equal rights for men and women in the economic domain and, at the same time, to create conditions to combine work with the parental responsibilities? In the labor market, women are equal to men both in the level of education and level of qualifications. However, implementation of the above-mentioned possibilities depends on distribution of the family obligations between a husband and a wife to a great extent. It is not a question of traditional 'male' and 'female' work but a question of joint responsibility.
Is a paternity leave one way to solve this issue? The movie creators raise this provoking but at the same time vital issue to bring it closer to realities and needs of average citizens and to quicken interest in the advantages of joint upbringing of children in them.
In the European Union countries, a paternity leave is a norm, which is getting more and more wide-spread, is turning into a mark of a modern European lifestyle, its standard, and a part of the European culture. Existence of such a norm in the society reduces risks for women in the labor market and for the career development as well as changes attitudes in accordance with which input in the family budget is a male priority.
Even though in our country the state gives a right to the leave to take care of a new-born child not only to mothers, men on paternity leaves are still an exotic sight and a right of father to take care of his child is still nominal. But the movie protagonists prove that this right can be implemented and it is to the advantage to both a child and a family; besides, they prove that practical implementation of the gendered approaches is a guarantee of the development of the democratic values in the state.
On October 11, 2005, at 11 am, a round table "Gender Aspects of the European Law "Adapting the legislation in the Central and Eastern European countries" will take place in the Parliament of Ukraine (18/2 Hrushevskoho str., room 12).
Organizer: Parliamentary committee on European integration together with the Parliament Development Program and Ukrainian Women's Fund.
Informational support: Center for Ukrainian Reform Education.
Both in Europe and in the world in general, gender issues are a basis of the social system. By signing the international legal enactments as well as other documents adopted by the international structures, Ukraine, together with other countries, supported such approach and, having demonstrated a political will to solve them, undertook the respective obligations. Solution of the issues related to equality of rights of men and women is a significant component of a movement towards European integration.
Experience of the countries that have recently joined the European Union is of great value for Ukraine since both political and social situation in those countries has a lot in common with the Ukrainian realities.
Information Women's Centers Open in Four Regions of Ukraine
In July 2005, under the support of the Ukrainian Women's Fund, Information women's centers were opened in Kherson, Donetsk, Lviv and Sumy. The role of the Centers is to promote and to strengthen the women's organizations in the mentioned regions.
The key directions in the activities of the Centers are as follows:
informational activities;
consultative and reference activities
collection of information about activities of women's NGOs
preparation and conduct of sociological researches;
consolidation of public efforts through cooperation with the authorities, networking of the NGOs working with, or for, women
Organizations, on the basis of which the Centers function, are the information partners of the Ukrainian Women's Fund that will assist the Fund in establishing close contact with the regional women's organizations and thus will make it possible to the Fund to plan its activities taking into consideration the needs, problems and priorities of the women's organizations from the regions of Ukraine. They will also make women's organizations from the towns and rural areas more visible, as well as will promote development and mainstreaming of the NGOs and initiative groups working with, and for, women.
Opening of the new centers in other regions of Ukraine is scheduled for the next year.
