What’s New at Cincinnati-Ukraine Partnership

A Year of Change
Our new name, logo, and Web site are only the outward signs of a completely new way of operating and supporting this great organization. Firstly, we downsized and consolidated our Board from 35 to 20 members. In response to a loss of government funding for the Community Connections program, and in order to energize and refocus our capabilities, we have moved to an entirely volunteer-driven and membership/donation supported operation.

This is not an easy transition, and we have lost the luxury of having a paid administrative staff person and our level of activity this past year. We will continue in our role of bringing about positive and helpful change in Kharkiv and beyond is one deed, one activity, one program at a time.

The people of Ukraine are going through a difficult transition in leadership, organization, and direction. They need the strength and consistency of American partnership more than ever. CUP can and should be a part of that. We do make a difference, as the people in Ukraine who have been part of our programs have told us repeatedly.

So what is Cincinnati-Ukraine Partnership doing today?

In 2005 –

• Water and Wastewater Management: In February, five American water works professionals (one from Cincinnati) presented at a conference in Kyiv. The group spoke on planning and prioritizing capital improvement projects, energy management, source water protection, and public communication/education.
  
• Under Fire: The package of the "Under Fire" documentary and its preview event earned the 2005 Innovation Award for Arts & Culture from Sister Cities International, which judged it the best arts & culture project of a sister city organization anywhere in the United States. The documentary is about Soviet women who fought in combat in WWII and presents illuminating interviews with Kharkiv veterans. The preview featured local singers and honored WWII veterans living in Cincinnati, from both the American and the Soviet armed forces.
  
• Substance Abuse Disorders: Three Cincinnati substance abuse disorders professionals spent 10 days in Kharkiv in April/May with students and researchers from several universities and hospitals, sharing information and teaching classes on the science of addiction and how it is treated in the U.S.
  
• Independent Media: Five Ukrainian journalists spent a week in September in Cincinnati visiting with various print media, a TV station, a lobbyist, a police public information officer and others in the communications field, learning how the media operates in a democratic society with freedom of speech and the press.
  Read indepth stories about the past years achievements in the Gazeta.

Looking Ahead
In 2006, we have several activities planned:

• Several Community Connections alumni are interested in returning to Cincinnati for possible CUP-developed programs and internships. They would pay program and administrative costs.
  
• We are exploring with the American Center in Kharkiv the potential for fee-for-services programs for Ukrainian companies wanting specialized training done by Americans in Ukraine.
  
• HIV/AIDS professionals from Cincinnati will travel to Kharkiv next spring.
  
• A Cincinnati veterans group is interested in visiting Kharkiv in 2006.
  
• A display of approximately 40 photographs by Ukrainian photographers that have been on exhibit at Western Michigan University are available for display in Cincinnati if a gallery can be found. The artists are willing to share sales proceeds with CUP.Bringing a dance group of 10 children to Cincinnati from the Nativity School in Kharkiv, with the possibility of sending some Cincinnati student dancers to Kharkiv at a later date.
  
• Hosting the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of the Moscow District of Kharkiv who want to come to Cincinnati to learn more about how Americans develop and administer social welfare programs.
  
• We are looking into a sailing exchange program with sailing enthusiasts from Kharkiv possibly coming to Cincinnati during Tall Stacks, 2006.
  
• Current cultural projects being pursued:
  • Ceramic works exhibition and workshop
  • Spring 2006 Sport Dance Competition in Kharkiv
  • Photographic exhibit by a Kharkiv artist in 2006
  • Barvinok children’s dance group from Poltava will visit Cincinnati
    
    

As a member-partner in the CUP enterprise, you can help us continue to deliver positive and beneficial exchanges and programs for the people of Ukraine. Now as much as ever.