3/1/14

Good and Bad News

 

Evacuation

 

It is with a heavy heart and mixed feelings that I am telling you that all of us PCVs in Ukraine (approximately 230) were evacuated last week to Washington DC due to the unstable political situation and escalating violence.  As I have mentioned on previous blogs, Peace Corps is an apolitical organization, believes in assisting countries with development, mutual cultural exchanges, as well as nonviolence, democratic principles and the right of each nation to choose its own destiny.  Even though I, along with many other PCVs, felt safe and were not threatened, there remained the possibility of being caught up in the  escalating violence and political confrontation.  The Peace Corps was in touch with the US Embassy  daily in ongoing evaluations of our safety and decided to evacuate all of the PCVs for the present.   As the situation was deteriorating, there was the possibility of transportation and communication infrastructures being affected which would have made it much more difficult to do our jobs and also to have a safe evacuation.  The Peace Corps staff remaining in Ukraine will evaluate the situation, including the recent Russian intrusion into Crimea,  over the coming weeks and determine if it is safe for us to return, which a great many of us are hoping to do.  For now we are still PCVs, but are on what is called Administrative Hold.

 

 

PCVs meeting the evening before evacuation to provide mutual support

 

 

Peace Corps manager Iryna helping us with closure and giving insights into the events

 

Following the evacuation to Washington DC, the Peace Corps staff gave all of us information over several days on how the decision to evacuate was reached, as well as discussing our options which includes going back to our sites (when it is deemed to be safe), transferring to another site, reapplying, applying to Response (short term placements), or deciding to do close of service.  All of us PCVs will be discussing our individual status and options with family and friends.  In addition, Peace Corps discussed in detail with the PCVs the stress that we have been through as well as how to cope with readjustment to life in the US, which is quite different that life at our sites.  The PCVs were very thankful for the huge effort involved in getting so many of us safely evacuated. In addition counseling was offered and discussions initiated about our health benefit coverage during the Administrative Hold period.  We did have a chance to say tearful goodbyes to each other and get a few last photos.

 

 

Our original cluster from pre service training

 

 

 

 

 Discussing options

 

Social Work Classes

 

I am now able to share a photo of myself with the Social Work students that I taught during the previous semester.  The students are proudly showing their Certificates and I my wooden Ukrainian bell that I received as a gift!  The work on evaluating the survey that was completed with older persons in the  Veteran Home will continue.  I was scheduled to teach my classes to an even larger group of students this semester, but that is on hold for now.

 

 

Health

 

My dental work is finally completed after 10 visits to the dental office in Kiev.  The photo is of myself (with the "million dollar smile"!) and my dentist.

 



 

SPA Grant

 

I mentioned in my last blog that we had been awarded funding through the Small Project Assistance Program to start the Center for Social Research and Coaching.  The funding for this project will also be on at least temporary hold, given the evacuation of the PCVs.

 

HIV/AIDS Training

 

The Donetsk Branch of the Sociological Association of Ukraine (DB SAU), in cooperation with the Peace Corps has just completed  two days of training 2/13-2/14 on HIV/AIDS at the Secondary School # 2 for 27 teachers from two area secondary schools on the first day, and for 27 University and secondary school students on the second day.  This event was a big success for the Donetsk area, and will help to reach many of our young students with the information needed to make wise behavior choices on this very important issue in Ukraine.  The teachers who now have the training can go back to their classrooms and provide training to their students - a “training the trainers” idea that Peace Corps has found to provide a bigger impact.  The well informed Ukrainian trainer was provided by the Peace Corps, with support from DB SAU.  My counterpart, Olena, was the prime organizer of the event, recruiting the volunteers, getting supplies and refreshments, and overall providing much needed leadership for the event.  It was a good example of a “team effort” with social work students from the University providing registration help, secondary students helping with marketing the event, drawing posters, doing setup and cleanup.   This is an event that DB SAU and Peace Corps can be proud of co-facilitating!

 

 

 Two Social Work students doing registration



Red Ribbons for HIV/AIDS Awareness

 

Posters drawn by student Ksusha

 

 

USA and Ukraine cooperation for HIV/AIDS Awareness Training

 

Training the Teachers

 



 

Olena, my counterpart, as primary organizer

 

Trainer from Kiev

Hooray, we have our Certificates!

 



Ksusha, student and artist

 

 



Travel

 

During my last visit to Kiev for my dental treatments, I was able to visit the World War II "Patriotic War" museum to take the following photos.

 

 

WW II Memorial

Eternal Flame

 

Holodymr Memorial

 



 

English Clubs

 

The four English Clubs that I have been involved with are still going well.  We have covered topics from the principles of democracy to favorite music to cultural exchanges.  I will definitely miss my English Clubs as they are a place where I have made friends as well as a venue for helping us understand each others cultures.  The photos were on a topic of the Arabic alphabet.

 

 

 

Conclusion

 

This will be my last Peace Corps blog unless the situation in Ukraine improves enough so that we can return.  It has been a very rewarding experience, and I feel that I have changed in many ways.  The changes that I made in Ukraine may be small, but sometimes small changes can eventually lead to big changes.  I have been honored to have served with the Peace Corps and am very happy to have made friends in Ukraine and humbled by the spirit of freedom, hospitality and cooperation that I experienced during my almost one year tenure there.

 

Keep your fingers crossed that I may return!

 

This blog represents my own views and is not meant to reflect Peace Corps policy.