Ukraine conference
Folk Enlightenment Ukraine
8 October 2024, Aarhus, Denmark
The Background and Purpose of the Conference Folk Enlightenment Ukraine
The devastating war in Ukraine has sparked a current interest among Ukrainians in rethinking the democratic of the country. The war has also supported a societal development where there is a strong desire to become a full member of the European Union.
However, the challenges for Ukraine are substantial. Firstly, the war must end, followed by a comprehensive reconstruction. This reconstruction is not only about rebuilding houses, roads, and critical infrastructure but also lifting the state and civil society out of the ruins to fulfill the Lisbon Treaty and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.
The conference "Folk Enlightenment Ukraine 2024" focuses on the Ukrainian civil society and the will of the people to create a free and democratic associational life, where sports, culture, art, and creativity can grow in strong and trusting communities. The conference also aims to inspire Scandinavian associations and organizations to establish partnerships with Ukrainian NGOs, thereby supporting and strengthening the development of Ukrainian civil society.
The conference is organized by Daghøjskolen Kompetencehuset and Göteborgs Folkhögskola. This collaboration aims to strengthen public enlightenment in Ukraine and pave the way for valuable partnerships between Scandinavian and Ukrainian associations and organizations.
The conference is supported by Erasmus+ through the Key Action 2, Small Scale Partnership program.
Program 8 October 2024
09.30 - 15.00
Address
Dokk1
Hack Kampmanns Plads 2,
8000 Aarhus C.
09.30 - 10.00 AM:
Check-in and participant registration
Check-in is located at the entrance to the Store Sal, where we also serve bread, fruit, coffee and tea
10.00 - 10.15 AM:
Welcome to the Folk Enlightenment Ukraine Conference
By moderator Henrik H. Brandt and with musician Stine Klingsten to accompany us for a morning song
10.15 - 10.20 AM:
Opening speech by Rabih Azad-Ahmad
City Council Member Rabih Azad-Ahmad, Chief of Department for culture and Citizen Services in Aarhus Municipality
10.20 - 10.50 AM:
Moving Towards Democracy and Vitalization of Civil Society
By Nataliya Popovych of Ukraine House in Denmark. Joining us online from Warsaw/Poland
10.50 - 11:30 AM:
11 Years of Association Work in Ukraine
By Morten Stensig Sørensen, Consultant at KFUM og KFUK Denmark (YMCA and YWCA Denmark)
11.30 - 12.00 AM:
Lunch at Café Dokk1
12.00 - 12.15 PM:
Ukrainian cultural event
At the conference room Store Sal
12:15 - 12:45 PM:
Experiences of association life in the Nordic countries. A live stage interview with three Ukrainians
By Henrik H. Brandt, Sofiia Revenko, Khrystyna Hevchuk and Igor Chernetskyi
12:45 - 13:20 PM:
Public Enlightenment moves into the libraries of Ukraine
By Viktoriia Furhalo, Co-founder of Network of Education Centers in Lviv
13:20 - 13:30 PM:
Break, coffee/tea and sweets
13.30 - 14.00 PM:
Partnerships Across Scandinavian and Ukrainian Cultures
By Adel Storgaard, Project Officer at Ukrainian-Danish Youth House
14:00 - 14:30 PM:
Erasmus+: EU's Grant Program for Education and Youth
By Line Katja Mex-Jørgensen and Jannie Henneberg Jørgensen, Advisors at the Ministry of Education and Research
14:30 - 15:00 PM:
Summary of the day, comments and thoughts for the future
Dialogue with the audience, moderated by Henrik H. Brandt
15:00 PM:
Thank you for today
Pitching the conference program
Welcome to the Folk Enlightenment Ukraine Conference
By Henrik H. Brandt, Journalist and managing director of IdrætsPlatformen Danmark
Henrik H. Brandt is the moderator for the conference, and he will guide us through today's program.
Henrik H. Brandt has a long history of strengthening the Danish association sector. He previously served as the director of the Danish Institute for Non-Formal Education (VIFO), where he worked intensively on developing and analyzing Denmark’s association and leisure sectors. During his time at VIFO, Henrik H. Brandt played a central role in promoting the understanding of how associations can contribute to societal development.
Opening speech by Rabih Azad-Ahmad
City Council Member Rabih Azad-Ahmad, Chief of Department for culture and Citizen Services in Aarhus Municipality
Rabih Azad-Ahmad plays a key role in promoting cultural life and citizen services in Aarhus. He has been an active politician for many years and is known for his commitment to culture, integration, and diversity. Rabih Azad-Ahmad is dedicated to strengthening the community in Aarhus through cultural initiatives that bring the city's residents closer together.
Moving Towards Democracy and Vitalization of Civil Society
By Nataliya Popovych of Ukraine House in Denmark
Ukraine has been an independent state since 1991, when 90% of the country's population voted for independence from the Soviet Union. However, more than 30 years later, the state apparatus is still marked by 70 years of old communist rule and a political culture where nepotism, corruption, and lack of transparency challenge the trustful cooperation between the country's institutions and between society and citizens.
In the presentation from Ukrainian House In Denmark, Nataliya will talk about the role of civil society from a historical perspective, from Soviet times to the present. Additionally, she will discuss the young Ukrainians dream about their own future and their influence on the democratic development of the country.
11 Years of Association Work in Ukraine
By Morten Stensig Sørensen, Consultant at KFUM og KFUK Denmark (YMCA and YWCA Denmark)
In 2013, KFUM and KFUK in District Aarhus entered into partnership agreements with two local YMCA organizations in Lviv and Lutsk in western Ukraine. The partnership project has focused on mutual inspiration, relationship building, youth exchange, leadership training, participation in camps and festivals, and strengthening the Ukrainian YMCAs with financial support, volunteers' skills, youth empowerment, democracy, and transparent leadership.
Morten Stensig Sørensen has been one of the driving forces behind the Danish/Ukrainian partnership. In his presentation, he will share his experiences with Ukrainian culture - the joys and challenges, both good and bad.
Public Enlightenment moves into the libraries of Ukraine
By Viktoriia Furhalo, Co-founder of Network of Education Centers in Lviv
In Lviv, western Ukraine, a non-formal education system similar to evening schools in Denmark and Sweden is being established. Here, NGOs from the Network of Education Centers have partnered with Lviv City Council to use libraries in the city as venues for courses in art, acting, foreign languages, entrepreneurship, etc.
Viktoriia Furhalo, the project manager for educational activities in Lviv, will discuss the project's vision, the collaboration with the Lviv City Council, and the experiences they've had so far in providing day and evening courses to the citizens.
Partnerships Across Scandinavian and Ukrainian Cultures
By Adel Storgaard, Project Officer at Ukrainian-Danish Youth House
As Ukraine anticipates becoming associated with EU financial support programs, there is growing interest across Europe in establishing partnership agreements with Ukrainian NGOs. But how can Danish and Swedish associations and organizations effectively find and collaborate with reliable partners in Ukraine? What social, cultural, and political factors might challenge the success of these collaborations?
Adel Storgaard, a Danish-born professional with a Ukrainian background, will provide valuable insights into how Scandinavian organizations can prepare for and build trusting partnerships with Ukrainian NGOs. Join this session to learn about the nuances and best practices for fostering successful cross-cultural collaborations.
Experiences of association life in the Nordic countries
By Henrik H. Brandt, Sofiia Revenko and Igor Chernetskyi
In this live interview, Henrik H. Brandt asks Sofiia Ravenko and Igor Chernetskyi, two Ukrainian refugees, about their experiences with association life in Denmark. The interview focuses on the differences and similarities between association life in Ukraine and the Nordic countries, raising the questions: What can we learn from each other? And how can we become better at inviting refugees into association life?
Erasmus+: EU's Grant Program for Education, Youth, and Sports
By By Line Katja Mex-Jørgensen and Jannie Henneberg Jørgensen, Advisors at the Ministry of Education and Research
In Denmark, the Danish Agency for Higher Education and Science(UFM) is responsible for allocating funds for international mobility activities and cooperation projects. Each year, UFM distributes over 400 million DKK to Danish organizations, associations, and educational institutions.
In the presentation from UFM, the focus will be on grant programs within general adult education, public enlightenment, and youth organizations and institutions. The presentation will be angled towards the specific priorities that frame Ukraine, and how Ukrainian organizations can take part in the existing Erasmus+ programs.
Registration for the Conference
No later than Friday 20 September 2024
Price and Catering
The conference is free, including catering.
The catering includes a light breakfast, lunch, and coffee/tea/fruit in the afternoon.
Note!
If you do not attend after registering or have not canceled by Monday, September 30, 2024, you will be charged 60 euros.
Stay updated
Once you have registered for the conference, you will automatically receive additional information about the conference program, including information about transport, parking, accommodation, etc.
Financial Support for Travel Expenses
If you live in Ukraine, Sweden, Norway, or Finland, you can apply to have your transportation and accommodation expenses covered. To do this, check the box labeled "Apply for travel expense coverage" on the registration form and provide a brief description of your expected costs. You will then receive a notification detailing the amount of support you are granted.
Further Information
If you have questions about the conference, please email info@kompetencehuset.com, subject: Conference.
You can also contact project manager Nis Peter Nissen at phone
(+45) 41 19 85 23.
Responsible organizer
Kompetencehuset
Søren Frichs vej 40 D
8230 Åbyhøj
Phone: (+45) 86 15 96 99
Email: info@kompetencehuset.com