YOUTH SPEAKS OUT

Kseniya Khelemska, 17, president of the school parliament at Kyiv Lyceum №. 77, last spring took part in the World Debates Tournament in London. Together with the Ukrainian organizers of this program, Ella Lamakh and Vlad Halushko, she was hosted at The Day's editorial office and talked to our journalists about the choice of paths facing young people who will very soon be determining Ukraine's public fase in the next millennium.

"Kseniya, you deal with public life problems both as a Debates Program participant and president of student government at Kyiv's linguistic Lyceum No. 77. And how do your peers, classmates, and friends react to this kind of activity?"

"Very positively. All my friends are from the school-based Pandora Club organized by Zoya Hoiko, one of the trailblazers of this movement in Kyiv. None of my acquaintances outside the club are surprised with or skeptical of our competitions, where we debate various subjects. For it is extremely interesting to develop your opinion according to certain rules of the game. When I had just joined the club, we did the topic "Can women create a better world than men?" And we switched from one side to the other, affirmative and negative. Now we have many topics connected with NATO's eastward expansion."

"What is your attitude to the aspiration of some of our politicians to expand the union of Russia and Belarus?"

"My attitude toward these ideas is very negative, for Russia will again dominate and impose its will on us. I think we must work for self-sufficiency, remaining independent economically and politically."

"Politicians show certain differences between what they really think and what they say. How do you think they can resolve this dilemma?"

"This could be very difficult. In a debate, you keep doggedly to a certain viewpoint, and, once the game is over, you start to consider your real position. It is the Debates Program that inspired in me with the desire to become a politician and solve problems so that my own views coincide with those required for victory."

"And which of the Ukrainian women politicians appeal to you most?"

"I do not see any yet. Because I do not accept totally the women Communists and their manner of speech in our Parliament's sessions. I would like to see something different. In general, I regard Madeleine Albright as a perfect example in this respect, though she steadfastly supports the NATO actions."

"Do you often watch or listen to the sessions of our Parliament?"

"No, I can't watch them, for our lawmakers' behavior simply depresses me. Not only because I cannot follow their train of thought, but also because they lack elementary skills in the culture of debate, communication, and defending their point of view. Our Parliament is not exactly what I would like us to have. Unfortunately, we, members of Debate, still cannot visit the assembly room and see everything as a whole, rather than in short video footage. We would not even refuse to debate some points there."

Emma LAMAKH, coordinator of the Debates Program in Ukraine:

"There is a worldwide Debates movement network already supported here by the Soros Foundation for four years. For in democratic countries no decisions are made without prior debates, and all politicians, lawyers, and business people have gone through this learning process. Participation in Debates is a normal social practice in Europe. The tournaments are regarded as events shaping the future, and it is a great honor to sponsor a national team. Unfortunately, the attitude toward us in Ukraine, where there already are about 300 clubs of this movement, is rather cool. Our competitions are treated as something of no use. In reality, this is an important trend which makes us part of the world democratic process."

"It really is very difficult to enter our Parliament. But you may conduct a session of your school parliament at our editorial office on the topic of your choice. You could also maintain a kind of dialogue with your foreign debate colleagues on various points via our English-language digest and Internet site. For example, we hold a youth contest on the topic 'What would I like to change in Ukraine?' How would you answer this question?"

Kseniya KHELEMSKA:

"I would like to change the people. I saw a more caring and open attitude among people toward those around them in other countries, such as Denmark, Canada, and Great Britain. It seems to me we must gradually raise the cultural level. And this is why I want to become a politician."

"Do you think the adult world of Ukraine has hope in your generation?"

"I'm not sure. There are people who need us, for our generation is interested in a normal future for Ukraine, so that we could make some concrete changes. But not all politicians would like to see our generation become conscious citizens."

"Kseniya, almost 30% of our population would like to go abroad, where good living conditions already exist. But there is a kind of real dignity in working and making life better here. What do your peers think about this?"

"The current well-being of many countries results from the work of very many generations. To live better, we must first of all see to our own country. Take education, for instance. I would like to have a system of education where we had a wider choice of disciplines in culture, history, ethics, and esthetics, which promote people's multifaceted development. In most countries, higher education is free of charge, for it embodies the right to a free acquisition of knowledge without any financial obstacles. And if there is a tuition system, one can count on various grants and scholarships awarded to good students by endless foundations and non-governmental organizations."

Vlad HALUSHKO:

"When we were launching this program in my home town of Zhovti Vody, it seemed to be a game that only gave satisfaction and a feeling of greater self-confidence. Many people now engage in debating to develop themselves, to gain more information, become a good player, and go places, while in normal democratic countries debates are as much subject of instruction as is mathematics or physics in this country. In this country, debates are as yet, in a way, a place to develop friendly relationships even outside one's own school or city. For the regional tournaments in our clubs in all Ukraine's oblasts create an excellent atmosphere. Likewise, in our head office bought by George Soros for Ukrainian debaters, teenagers can gather to get the information they need and learn to express their opinions."

Ella LAMAKH:

"The college students' Debates Program has also encountered specific problems. We saw at the Pan-American Debates representatives of many universities who were looking for their future students at those tournaments. But in our native Institute of International Relations students told us, "What's the use of this? Our parents have done everything, we know even now where we will work." Or this example. We are now launching a new program, The Legal Clinic, also funded by the International Renaissance Foundation. This is practical law, where we teach teenagers the philosophy of law - not jurisprudence but the ethics of human rights. We also teach teachers how to approach children, talk them, rouse their interest, and explain what peaceful settlement of conflicts is. Hence the dean of the Law Department at Ukraine's leading university says his students do not need this, while students take part and establish various contacts behind his back. Such attitudes toward the important problems of young people hinders us and runs counter to students' basic needs."

"And what place does love hold in the life of your friends?"

"One of the foremost. It is sad and boring to live without love."

By Larysa IVSHYNA, Valentyn PUSTOVOIT, Diana KLOCHKO, The Day