Valentina Ishenko

GO2KIEV:  Please tell us about IOM’s (International Organization for Migration) most recent intercultural program.

The Diversity Initiative (short form D.I.)  is a platform to uphold human dignity and wellbeing of visible minorities, migrants and refugees who live and visit Ukraine.  This particular program was formed by the IOM, UNHCR, Amnesty International and other concerned civic organizations to work together in a coordinated way. One of the aims within the DI is the exchange of information regarding the existence of xenophobia and radical groups that act out and which spread like a malignant cancerous tumor.  The idea to research the topics of racism and xenophobia were initiated in 2006, even though this was a relatively uninvestigated matter within Ukrainian society, media and governmental agencies.  Due to tragic circumstances and the increase in number of unreported hate crimes against ethnic minorities, a proactive course of action was to create, support and encourage intercultural dialogue and a diversity promoting curriculum for use in Ukrainian schools and universities.  This particular pilot project is called the Living Library and Student Debates.

GO2KIEV:  What is a Living Library and how does it engender student debate?

The Living Library is an innovative method designed to promote dialogue, reduce prejudices and encourages understanding amongst people of different races, religions, and political backgrounds.  The  main characteristics are founded in its positive approach and simplicity for  the ‘books’ of the library are individuals from different social or ethnic backgrounds and the ‘readers’ of the books are high school and university students.  The two informal groups initiate conversations between people who would most normally never come in contact with each other in a conventional setting.  The 10 minute session allows people to meet each other for the first time without their prior choice.  It forces one to step outside of their comfort zone and engage another human in conversation that is at first hesitant and halting but quickly becomes lively and interesting.  Truly the room becomes alive for there is a buzz in the air of laughter, stories and shared interests.  

GO2KIEV:  Who are some of the volunteers who become living ‘books’?

We’ve had over 47 individuals who have voluntarily participated as ‘books’ in the living library with 78% currently living in the local city, and only 10% brought from Kyiv.  This allows the ‘readers’ realize these folks are most likely living and working in very close proximity.  Attention is placed on finding a representative from Roma, Jewish and foreign student communities as these groups experience a significant amount of discrimination as well as lack of acceptance and understanding.  Some of the cultural backgrounds have included: Afghani, American, Bangladeshi, Hungarian, Jew, Roma, German, Jordanian, Kenyan, Polish, Korean and Nigerian with their social status relating to foreign students, asylum seeks, peace corp volunteers, national minorities and community leaders ranging from a Russian poetess to a Belorussian war veteran.  All ‘readers’ who are high school and university students are given the opportunity to speak informally with “people on loan”; this latter group being extremely varied in age, sex and cultural background.

GO2KIEV:  What questions  are being asked during the 10 minute session and what are the student’s reactions?

Questions can include: “Why do Jewish people dress the way they do?”, “Why did were you forced to leave your country” and “What’s it like to be a peace corp volunteer?”  During that time, there is an opportunity for quiet conversation, questions, stories and, hopefully, a sense of common ground.   The student’s responses to the living ‘books’ were “That the color of our skin means nothing when it comes to relationships”, “I didn’t think it would be so scary to be here in Ukraine”, “I never thought that life in other countries could be so difficult” and “I didn’t know anything about these people before and enjoyed getting to know them.”  The reoccurring theme from the participating students was “Don’t judge a book by its cover” for the reality is that these books are people who breathe, think, feel emotion, hurt, and have loved ones in their lives.   Really, every person who visits such an event could change his attitudes to life.

GO2KIEV:  Do you feel your organization has support from the community and Ukrainian governmental agencies?

There has absolutely been improvement of support, monitoring, intervention and discussion of new strategies.  The Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs and other in-country governmental departments have focused on public awareness, verification of information, and the creation of hate crimes units.  Various other international embassies in the community conduct on a voluntary basis special civil society projects.  Lastly, there is the production of a public service announcement encouraging the support of diversity which is screened on MTV and is in the process of being shown regionally.    Each MTV 15 second video clip shows  cartoon character people of different colors, ethnicity, genders, and names.  But the most important fact is that they all commonly share their birthday on May 21.  This can be described as a unique day when loved ones celebrate their existence on Earth and in life; so that, it becomes the collective and universal thinking of ‘all is one”.  

GO2KIEV:  How can both Ukrainian and local expats volunteer to be living ‘books’?