December '04 Newsletter

Foundations for Freedom Newsletter 24 Greencoat Place, London., SW1P 1RD, UK tel: 020-7798 6000, www.f-4-f.org, F4F@london.iofc.org Issue 38 December 2004 In this issue...

International Council visits Eastern Europe Beyond Moldova and Canada News about CN A miracle or regularity?

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Orange Opinion Jose Carlos on his Ukrainian experience Impressions from Russia UK News

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INITIATIVES OF CHANGE INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL IN EASTERN & CENTRAL EUROPE The International Council held its first meeting in Eastern and Central Europe 30 October - 4 November in Riga, Latvia. Prior to the meeting Council members visited teams in Ukraine (L’viv, Kiev, Crimea), Russia (Novosibirsk), Moldova (Chisinau), Romania (Baia Mare) and the Czech Republic (Prague).

For some of us it was our first discovery of Eastern Europe, and for all it was the first visit to particular cities.We gained a great respect for our friends who live and operate in difficult conditions that reflect their different histories. We also came away with appreciation for the friendship extended to these friends from Scandinavia and other IofC teams.

Getting there was our first challenge. Very sadly, three of the Council who come from India and Africa were finally unable to join us because of visa problems. Happily, Peter and Rosemary Thwaites represented the Council on their visit to Moldova and Peter attended the Riga meeting.

Campbell Leggat was also able to accompany Claire to Novosibirsk.

We were inspired by the youthful vigour of the groups we met and by their hopes for the future. At every point we were given detailed care and generous hospitality.

Because of our varied backgrounds and contexts, we felt we had much to learn from one another. The world also needs, even depends on, friendships that reach across the paper frontiers and for this reason it is worth the struggle, and the expense, of crossing them.

The teams and groups we met came together mostly after participating in the “Foundations for Freedom” program that has existed since 1993. Some 36 “Changing Courses” have been held to date and more connected programs such as anti-corruption seminars. Within a very short time they have developed active teams that reach out to their societies and try to take responsibility. Many from the region are also carrying a growing share of IofC’s global work, most notably at Caux. All this is immensely encouraging to us. It is hard to believe that it is only 15 years since the end of the Cold War. From our brief visits, we noticed a number of positive trends which we believe are fundamental principles for teams

and groups anywhere: 1. Those teams which are growing in their effectiveness depend on people with a mature commitment who give priority to their search for personal change and spiritual depth. This comes through training and experience, regular times of quiet (despite the daily challenges), personal decisions and adherence to moral standards. We were especially struck by the commitment of several teams who meet weekly to share their hopes, plans and personal struggles. At one such meeting, one asked, “How do you keep the sparkle alive?” – a good question for us all.

2. Reaching out to other teams in the region strengthens one’s commitment. We found a strong wish for regional cooperation, particularly as expressed by the Moldovans. The last Regional Meeting there came up with the idea of a “Regional Caring Group” for Eastern Europe. While it is not yet clear how to give this practical form, several individuals from the region have already made a start by going to support colleagues in other countries.

3. There is value in distinguishing between ‘being’ and ‘doing.’ We were interested to see how our friends in Moldova give priority to sustaining spiritual and personal issues through their “IofC Community” meetings, and address program issues through their NGO, “New Civilisation.” In the end it is only on the basis of the spiritual growth of individuals and communities that programs of social change can be sustained.

4. Offering vision and care to leaders in the private sector, academic life, NGOs and government is a necessary step of growth for a team’s effectiveness. In every situation visited, we were grateful for active links with significant community, civic and educational leaders. In Riga, we were taken to the Cabinet Minister responsible for social integration and discovered a potential partner who offered us valuable insights into current 1

issues. Of course, no human being is more important than another, but if we are to have an impact on the future of our country, we must expect to reach out to those who set its course.

We also took note of several needs which different teams thought merited attention. Here we are reflecting back ideas and trends that we have noted, which have our broad support, while acknowledging that others know more that we do about how they can best be carried forward.

1. More of the responsibility for Foundations for Freedom (F4F) programs could be carried within the region. East Europeans now participate regularly on the faculty of F4F courses, but more effort should be given to training of trainers. At some point soon courses should perhaps be offered in local languages as well. Meanwhile, holding the courses in English has its own particular attraction.

2. Increasing opportunities for exposure to global IofC teams and initiatives over the long term should be a priority. There is an eagerness for opportunities for international experience among many who wish to take greater responsibility for IofC. The participation with AFL, training/outreach programs in UK, Australia, Canada could be extended.

3. Regional teams should take more financial responsibility. All initiatives require financing and ideas for a “regional initiative budget” are being developed. The possibility that some might be able to earn their living by working with IofC programs - for example, by facilitating courses which are self-funding - is being considered.

Contributions could also be sought to support IofC’s work in Eastern Europe and to enable some people in the region to give their full time to this work on a more long-term basis.

4. More visits from outside the region would be greatly appreciated, especially from those who feel called to give support for several months at a time, where invited. We would encourage anyone from outside the region to take seriously the possibility of responding to this need. At the same time there is also growing capacity for such visits between the teams within the region.

5. Teams should seek to find clear “headline purposes.” An outward-looking orientation is seen as an essential component of an effective team life. “What are we aiming to do as a team?” is an important question, even if the answer does not come quickly.

6. The gratifying evolution of teams into communities that bring together people of all generations should be reinforced. This happens naturally as the students and young professionals who initiated many of these teams grow older. This process will enrich team life and enable them to offer more to their countries.

In gratitude for all the inspiration and encouragement we have received, Mike Brown, Chris Evans, Leena Khatri, Claire Leggat, Dick Ruffin, Peter Thwaites.

Beyond Moldova and Canada (Online interview with Stela Artemi)

NG: Chimo, Stela! How are you doing in Canada and what are your first impressions about it?

SA: My first impression about Canada….mmmm…big, different and cold (outside)?. But that is not all. I am here to be a part of a wonderful family – the Priors and of a worldwide family which is IofC. The people that I have met so far made me feel very welcome and I am very grateful to all of them.

NG: Why did you decide to take the challenge to work in IC-Canada?

SA: At first it sounded like a big adventure, being a part of a new culture and exploring new ways of relating to people but as I started to learn about the work I will in here I discovered that Bhavbeininvolved Cambodia it is far beyond that.

NG: How do you think your experience will contribute to your personal and Moldovan growth/development?

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SA: I don’t know whether you will believe me or not, but it has already started to influence me personally. I started to think more about my life, about things I have done and things I would like to do, people that I hurt and people that have hurt me…So far, I have tried to work on my behavior, I did my best in understanding others, but I have realized that I cannot entirely forgive somebody. Now, I may confess that I’ve started to learn how to do that. Enough about myself ?.

Besides the administrative tasks, the activities I will be doing here will be mostly related with working on the Schools and Young Adults Programs. We are in the process of building a young team in Calgary that includes working and learning from other young people from different places: Alejandro and Monica Ramirez from Mexico, two from Burundi, Karen Bambonye from Montreal, and Lily

Mudahemuka – Ottawa and a Canadian, Sharon Hopkins from Nova Scotia. I am also planning on studying more about Ethical Leadership Training so that when I come back I could take it to universities as a course for 4th or 5th year students. So, all the knowledge and experience I will accumulate, with the help of God, will be brought home to my country.

NG: What do you enjoy doing the most during your journey?

SA: I enjoy people, they are so different and you can learn so many things from sharing their life stories and listening for their experience. The most important thing is not only to have the ears to listen but to have the power to understand and to see yourself in each story. And I also think that when I will start developing the training for the Indigenous youngsters I will be the happiest person on earth to know that I’ve made a little difference in somebody’s life.

NG: What are your future plans in Canada during 1 year of work experience?

SA: Accumulate knowledge and give everything that I have to offer for contributing to the awareness of young people for building a better place to live in for them and for the generations to follow. I know that sounds very ambitious but at least that is what I will try to do. ?

NG: What do you think you will learn new from the Canadian friends and what inspires you the most?

SA: I have already learned what it is like to be a member of a community, to go to church and to have around you people that care and people that can offer you support on your most difficult time. What inspires me the most? I guess is the trust of people and the openness with which they treat one another. This is the way a world should be like: friendly, warm, supporting, peaceful. And we should work towards this. Each of us can make a difference, starting with ourselves.

NG: What do you think Moldovan and Canadian communities have in common and how can we enlarge it?

SA: First of all I don’t think Moldova has a community (besides the one I am a part of – Civilizatia Noua). And that is a result of the hard life we had to face being under occupation and not trusting each other. And it will take a lot of time to build trust in people. And that is where we should start acting: beginning with our families and friends, continuing with our neighbors, work environment and the churches we attend.

NG: Do you miss Moldovan friends?

SA: I do miss Moldova, even more than I thought I would, I miss even the MaxiTaxi and the Central market, because that is a part of our culture and our development. But even more I miss my friends, CN, my family and Greta (my dog).

And sometimes it is good to be away for a while, because you start looking for your friends in other people and this is the way new relationships are built!

Stela Artemi from Moldova NG: Send our warm greetings to all-Canadian friends and

I wish you to have learning moments in your life! We support you and miss your smiling face!

(Interviewed by Natalia Ghilascu, Moldova)

And more news from Moldova...

When I just started to write this article, I first felt a bit lost because I did not know where to start. Then I felt somewhat proud because it seems there has been quite a lot happening in our team since September. That’s good.

First, many in our Moldovan Community have found themselves on various crossroads in their lives - professional, spiritual... As you might know, most of us have just entered their “mature life” - jobs, careers, sometimes families - and it is even more rewarding to acknowledge that IofC/F4F/ CN is more than “a hobby to fill up the free time” for us, but is rather a need, which exists along with all the commitments and duties “the mature life” brings. Of course people in the Community have various priorities at the moment - some are more involved and some are less, and in order to keep the Community fire burning we yearly select a Car(ry)ing Group (CG). For those who have not read it in the Moldovan Bulletin, this year the CG gathered six people - Elena (Korneichuk), Natalia, Olga, Violeta, Victor and Vitalie.

We started by analysing the questionnaires that our Community members filled in. The questions were the same as a year ago, and the whole idea behind that was to see what people think and feel about, need from and are ready to give to the Community. On average people felt better about our Community this year compared to the last one, which means that the last CG has done a more or less good job! It also helped us, the new CG, to see what are the individual needs and expectations of people and, of course, we tried to respond to these!

Liliana Botnaru has revived the practice of ‘Spiritual Evenings’ - a dedicated time when those, who can gather to discuss a specific issue, or just share whatever is important in their lives. Sometimes these evenings are thoughtful and deep, sometimes motivating, sometimes just fun, but always very pleasant and ‘served with’ tea and all kind of pies ‘from Mother Clava.’

Additionally, Victor has organised a ‘Deep Sharing Meeting’, where most of us gathered to listen to others sharing what is important in their lives now, in all respects - spiritual travel, professional life, relationships, etc. The idea of having such a meeting came by acknowledging that most of us know each other for years, but we know very little about every personal individual spiritual journey and even current priorities! Unfortunately, there was not enough time for all of us to share all these, that is why we shall give it a continuation and, depending on how people feel, we might want to make these meetings regular.

And we still meet at least once a month in a more or less organised way and with a more or less defined agenda.

Of course we still gather at birthday parties, food parties, 3

tea parties, Heres parties, etc. Among these we are also trying to not fall out of all F4F network processes like Regional Meeting, Caux, ELW, CC’s, etc.

As for plans, Natalia is planning to gather Community members to watch various movies and find inspiration in them or the discussions that will follow; Victor has promised to take those willing for a hike to Frozen Waterfalls when they finally freeze! Slava shall probably revive the ‘How Are You’ bulletin.

Generally, we in CG thought that the only way to keep Community developing in terms of quality of relationships and not losing people or sliding into a ‘club of people who just have good time together’ is to try to ‘be useful’ to our members, to try to mobilise the necessary kind of support to those in need, especially that often it is available, we just do not know it...

Lots of Health and Love to all of you, Victor Parlicov on behalf of the Moldovan Community

A MIRACLE OR REGULARITY? Once a clever men said that something great could be seen only from a distance. It is beginning of December, I am sitting in my office and try to remember the events, which are more than three months old. You can ask me what happened at that time? From one point of view – nothing extraordinary. Just another course for IofC newcomers, organised by Lviv team. But there were two points, which made it different from all the other courses. It was multinational and very multinational, if I could say so. When Kees Scheijgrond proposed us to invite young people from different neighboring countries we even could not imagine that this idea would be so fascinating. If I am not mistaken it was the first Changing Course of such a type and it was really great. So, apart from 21 participants from Lviv region, we had 3 from Poland, 3 from Romania, 1 from Moldova and even 2 from Georgia, a fascinating combination!

And there was one more particularity in this course which I have been asked to cover in more details. During all the previous years of discussing with our friends from abroad possibilities of preparing conferences, seminars, round tables, etc. we always had to answer the question “What are your main needs?” Always we had to reply: “Money”. It was really so, but it was not easy do admit this and not easy to say. We had ideas to realise, we had people who could work hard to realise them, but every time we had to solve the same question – could our ideas be realised if we would not manage to find financial support? It was and it is now very hard in our country (as it is, to my mind, in all the countries of former USSR) to get money from sponsors, because of our legislation, which does not stimulate sponsorship. We realised that money we asked for from IofC did not grow from money-trees or money-bushes. This 4

money had been received from different people who had earned it by their hard work and we feel ourselves like some parasites using the work of other people to satisfy our “whims”. I can not say that we were just sitting and waiting for money from abroad, but even our government institutions managed to raise different bureaucratic obstacles on our way, or just refuse to support our efforts. Year after year there was no chance in this situation, year after year all our efforts were in vain or had only such small results that they were not at all in balance with the efforts we had made to achieve them. But we continued trying, we continued believing that one day our work would bring the result. And suddenly we faced a kind of a miracle.

But could we name it like that ? I think not. It was the result of long lasting and persistent work. We can compare it with the work of a man who put the seeds in the soil, takes care of them and now gathers the crops. I remember a talk with Brian Thirlaway at the Conference this summer when he, in his usually witty manner, introduced me to one of his friends as a man, whose main goal in life is to bring as much people from Ukraine to Caux as possible.

Some other clever men (not the one from the beginning of this article) said that in every joke is a part of truth. These seeds - people of different ages, social background, political orientation, being put in a soil of Caux, being fed with fertilizers of love, honesty, unselfishness and watered with love gave sprouts of change in their souls. And these changes, maybe not so visible, led them not only to financial support of the Changing Course, but they were eager to send their children to take part in it. Money came from Staryj Sambir and Lviv, Chervonograd and Rozluch and all together, including sincere gifts from our Crimean, Romanian and British friends, they made it possible to cover almost all expenses. Was the result of these donations worth of being done? For sure, it was, and not only because people participating in the Changing Course had a possibility to learn something new, to make new friends and because not only Lviv team has now new active members. Many of those being at the Changing Course take now an active part in “orange revolution”, they are struggling with love and honesty against corruption and falsification. They will be the builders of new society, actually they already are. Could we not be proud because of this?

Andriy Vovkanych (Lviv, Ukraine) And this is what the participats of the course have to say... Ioana (Baia Mare, Romania): ‘We gathered all kinds of gifts which were given to us as tradition, customs, individuality and personality. It truly was an international friendship building. This coming together was also a challenge because I found that everyone needs a chance to grow in mind, body and spirit. I received back a new spirit of unity and interaction because of my new experience at R&D time.

Everyone was unique there. Each of us had something to offer and to learn from other parts. I discovered that I am

ready to change myself. That was a week, full of friendship and joy, days filled with work, playing and learning, taking part and seeing new things - a week to inspire us.’

Natalie (Lviv, Ukraine): ‘Each Thursday we gather with all the Ukrainian participants, who took part in Rozluch course. I’m so glad that we keep meeting! Because, while on course I liked everyone so much that I could not even imagine what it would be like, if I’d never see them again. But thanks to Yara and Zoryana we have OUR day every week! We meet in the Institute, just talking about a week, which passed, sharing our thoughts on different topics. Also we have our R&D time with candles that we got from our Changing Course. In the near future we may have our private cabinet, where we can have our own keys, could leave our own books, papers etc, and there is an idea that we may possibly register as an organisation. Now we can bring new people, get acquainted them with everyone, with our rules, duties and traditions.

This course has changed me a lot. Now I see myself different to what I was before. I started becoming a nice person with a different attitude to life. I became more patient and understanding… and, in fact, I do not want to count everything good what is now inside me.’

Dorina (Baia Mare, Romania): ‘When I left Rozluch I was happy - I was going to see my family, my kids and my husband. Yet somehow I felt my heart was overwhelmed with regrets - I was leaving that cold, but, at the same time, warm place, I was leaving my new friends, and dear moments we shared together. I was somewhere on the border between joy and sadness. It is interesting how, so carefully inside, our memory preserves the beauty and rejects the ugliness. Only nice and refreshing recollections come to my mind, which make me feel so nostalgic. The truth is that, in one way or another, everything from that course gives me such a state of comfort and confidence and lifts my desire to continue even more. Especially at times, when I perceive the aggression of the world around me stronger and fiercer, I feel like running away back to Rozluch, among those ‘spiritually clean’ young people, in that area with no pollution of any kind. Fortunately this is only the ‘idealistic Me’, the vulnerable part, because most of the time I am a fighter, who is permanently looking for solutions. But I am definitely richer and stronger than I used to be and I feel the source of all these changes deep inside me. I regard it both as a gift and something I looked for and I strived for.’

Orange Opinion It’s 9 am, Saturday. I haven’t got enough sleep, but I woke up… writing letters in my head for the third morning after a conversation with girls from Britain over the phone.

I’ll start, finish and even in the middle of the letter I would point out a few times, that these are ONLY MY thoughts, my impressions, my emotions. Only mine! I am neither trying to impose them, nor to argue with anyone. I

am just saying what I feel, think, experience, understand and don’t understand…

It’s not a secret for anyone what is the current situation in Ukraine. A couple of words to start with and in official way (so that later I can dress it up with impressions and thoughts) - In 2004 in Ukraine there were presidential elections. According to the law, if none of the candidates managed to gain 50% + 1 vote, Central Election Committee (CEC) announces second round of elections.

So, what has happened?! During the first round of election two leaders were identified – V. Yuzhenko and V. Yanykovich. CEC was counting votes for a looooooong time, quite strangely though - during the election night 96% of bulletins were counted and Yanykovich won. The rest 4% were counted over and over again and finally a few days later (!!!) Yuzhenko managed to win with a slight gap.

The second round of elections was announced for 21 November - everyone is preparing hard, agitations, blah-blahblah, on Sunday we are expressing our will once again, and on Monday people appeared on Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square – Central Square in Kiev).

So, what has happened?! …I’ll say a couple of words about Victors. In the first round we had 26 candidates (two withdrew later), and I really had no one to choose from.

‘Mmmm, may be Moroz (socialists’ leader)? Elite enough…

Or Kinakh (leader of businessmen and industrialists)? Intelligent enough… Enough… Enough for what?! For a president of my country it is not enough!!!’ There was one woman (talking about gender equality), but I would keep quiet not to use curse words. No choice! Not at all! Just 2 Victors remained. Their battle was the main battle during the whole pre-election campaign.

One has a striking, imposing appearance (unfortunately, had, sorry for being cynical), well-spoken. Looks nice… A banker (ex-head of National Ukrainian Bank)…

Ex-Prime Minister (though, according to my memories, I wasn’t impressed by him)...

Second Victor is the current Prime Minister, ex-governor of the most industrial area in Ukraine. Frankly, I don’t like him at all. Even though, quite a good manager, he managed to raise the district (him or any other powers), but (!) was convicted twice … the third time his conviction was expunged (or was just cancelled). What country in the world has a convict as a person representing one of the branches of power?! Oh, my goodness, the way he speaks …

(Henrich Bell in his “A house without a host” describes a secondary character – Glym, whose speech is perceived by neighbor – as if the words are rolling out as heavy balls, a pause, then a knife is thrown out, a pause, a ball, a pause, a knife…)! Finishing up “the court theme”… people were not informed why he was convicted (either a huge robbery or anything else), people are guessing themselves (or not?)

– well, for rape…

This whole very complicated scheme of relationship was brought to the level of ‘East – Yanykovich, West – 5

Yuzhenko’.

My choice… My choice was defined not because I chose Yuzhenko, but because I was against President Yanykovich! It is the key definition – I was against Yanykovich. In his program he proposed a double citizenship, Russian as an official language… My mother, for 13 years, was determined that all her life she was speaking Russian and would keep on speaking it. But when she heard those points, she called it “a treat” for Russian speakers (Kychma was also trying to make Russian an official language – trying … for 10 years). As for the double citizenship, that is pure populism. Taxes, election system, people personification – the system should change TOTALLY!!!

Here are the events of the ‘orange’ week. On 21 November, when the results were not ready yet, not even in sight (apart from foreign pole-stations), in Donetsk people were celebrating victory of their former governor. How come?!

Frauds… (My nephew Timothy already knows what it is, and he is only 7!) I wouldn’t even talk about administration power. I would also keep quiet about inequality of agitation. Keeping quiet about me being “an a**hole” – it is the way how our Prime Minister called us, those who think differently from him. Keep quiet… Keep quiet… Keep quiet… I wouldn’t approve Yuzhenko’s actions, if in reality there were any frauds on his part, but I think, it was mainly an opposition to resist impudent and unprecedented actions of our authorities. There’s a video, there are witnesses that our authority deceived us all (* the original word used is much stronger than ‘deceived’)! Bulletins were put in stacks.

Ink was disappearing (let’s remember Lenin). Observers, teachers from universities, were standing in front of ballot boxes and students were showing their bulletins before putting them in. The most appalling thing was ‘unfastening certificate’ – people who come from other cities were voting unbelievable number of times!

Andthat was truth, my truth, and the truth of those who were at the main square. Youth?! Yes, youth. But somehow, old ladies wearing head-scarves, who can be only from remote villages, are standing there too, shouting ‘There are lots of us – we cannot be broken!’ Old men are dancing to the music of VV and Skripka (*Ukrainian pop-band and a singer) – getting warm and shouting ‘Yes!’ People … old and young. And obviously young people! THERE ARE NO CHILDREN THERE! No, there are a few – those who come with their parents, with orange balloons, going to the McDonalds to eat fries in Happy Meal and ‘vareniki’ in Shvidko (*Ukrainian fast-food chain) – to get warm. I was a hippie sometime ago, and it seemed that the idea of ‘woodstocks’ was there at the square. But without drugs and alcohol. No, I am lying, yesterday I saw couple of drunk people (they were standing in the corner, not to disturb), and I was shocked – because for the whole week I hadn’t seen any drunk people at all! I’m (!) the one who likes beer, wine or anything stronger in a good company – I didn’t 6

have a drop during the whole time. I didn’t want to! Atmosphere charges with kindness and warmth. People are smiling. There’s no police AT ALL! No violence! There were emotions, euphoria, but I don’t know how to express that spirit to you, parts of it, so that you may understand that the problem is not in people. The problem is in authority.

Since everything is kind of piled together, I’ll try to express thoughts, facts, impressions in paragraphs. … CEC meeting. 4 members out of 15 refused to sign the protocol that Yanykovich won. Snow on the dark street… … World community doesn’t regard this election to be true. It seems that now we are associated not only with Chernobyl and ‘Dinamo – Kyiv’… … Orange ball in the game ‘Dinamo’ – ‘Roma’.

‘Dinamo’wins. That’s cool. Apparently, ‘Dinamo’ supports Yanykovich… ….The Square. About 8 pm. It’s heavily snowing. The hat is wet and my feet are freezing. Marusya is standing next to me without a hat and wearing high hills (she came by herself, nobody forced her). She’s smiling. ‘Go, get warm!’

‘No, I’m with people’. … Leh Walenza. Only in Caux I got to know (to my shame) that he has a Nobel prize for peace. A thought – ‘bad’ people are not invited to Caux. The Square - Leh Walenza is on stage admitting us, Ukrainians, and the sky is so blue. That’s the first time I see what the self-organisation of people is. A thought - this is something like the highest form of anarchy. Kropotkin’s? I don’t know. It is a pity it works only in crisis situations… … Ruslana – the winner of Eurovision (You are coming to us for this event, aren’t you?) is declaring a hunger strike against the decision of the Central Election Committee… … The tent camp. In the middle of Kreshatik on the road, people are fetching clothes, food. There’s loooots of everything. An old lady is offering tea or bullion to a student… …It is impossible to watch TV. The 5th channel, that struggled to be objective, is so unprofessional. The 1+1 channel is not broadcasting any news for two days already.

Inter channel was stuffed up with dry noodles by people.

Two days later, 1+1 and Inter started highlighting the news!

The truth has broken through! Could it be the breakthrough in journalism? Will the honest mass media exist all the time?

We are given honest news! Could this be happening?!.... … The Square. -7C. It’s snowing, as usual. Oleg Skripka is singing with all his strength for the whole downtown. But, hey, if he’ll break his voice, how is he going to survive?! He is singer. Such things do not pass just like this…

We are together! You cannot stop freedom! Orange mood. Orange Kiev. Orange thoughts.

I am at the Square not because I’m for Yushenko.

Not because I am against Yanukovich. I am against being deceived! Could my vote and the votes of others be bullsh*t?

I respect the choice of those who voted for Yanukovich. One could understand them, he increased pensions (budget suffers), he is a good manager (for the sake of those who are behind him)… I am really accepting their choice. And I would submit, if he becomes a President of Ukraine, but if it is done honestly!

To finish, I would like to give a general theoretical opinion by my father (oh, it is so hard to have a father, who is a nuclear–physicist!). These are three points of his attitude towards the situation that exists: 1. The power had discredited itself. 2. Well, it would not be that nice to have the former prisoner as the guarantor of the Constitution and representative in other countries. 3. The elections were faked and the nation - deceived.

I am glad I live now. I am glad to be Ukrainian.

I am glad to feel as one at last! I am happy to be close to those people. I don’t know how it will end, I don’t know. I am glad that there were no accidents and clashes for six days!

And we are the nation! A real one! And we have a civic society!!!

So, that happened to be a big letter… I love you. And again, that is just my own opinion.

Anyuta (Anna Borzakovska is part of the Centre for Political Education in Kiyv. This letter has been written on 27 November, and then translated and edited from Russian. The original letter is available upon request and Anna’s approval)

In the meantime...

I found a cherishable piece of reality in Ukraine, a fantastic country with a great potential, moving, struggling for a better future. Conscious of the difficulties of change, but nevertheless putting heart and soul on it. Ukraine for me is no longer a place where you have to wear a pullover an a jacket, because the hospitality and joy of its people make of it one of the warmest places on earth.

I am immensely grateful to those who made of this journey a profound experience of friendship. Angela and Sasha, Kostya and Anna, Igor, Sasha, Vlad and all the people who shared thoughts and ideas with me. For ten days we witnessed the demonstrations at the Independence Square in Kiev and visited Vlad Devakov at the Institute of Evangelical Studies. Anna Borzakovskaya and Kostya Ploskiy kindly explained me the activities of the Centre for Political Education and its programmes.

In Crimea Angela Staravoitova invited me to the Heidelberg Centre, a German-Ukrainian organisation that looks after former concentration camp prisoners. Igor and Sasha, the funniest and nicest Crimean guys I’ve ever met gave me a fabulous tour through Yalta, Sevastopol and other beautiful sites of the Crimean coast. Last, but not least, Sasha Shimina in Kiev provided me with a fantastic explanation of Ukrainian politics and culture.

Discovering the other is an essential element in communication. In Ukraine I learnt that, despite the political

differences, people are able to express their beliefs in a peaceful atmosphere. As many other Eastern European countries, Ukraine is experiencing a difficult transition towards democracy. Back in London I realise how important it is to build bridges between nations. Especially in tense moments like this, our sentiments and thoughts must be with Ukrainians. Despite the political and social uncertainty, all the people I met had a smile on their face. It is now our turn to show them that they are not alone and that another world is possible if we all work together.

José Carlos León Vargas (Mexico).

(Jose Carlos works with For A Change magazine)

Back to Novosibirsk As you may know, Anna Pozhogina (Latvia/UK) and Anna Bondarenko (Crimea, Ukraine) have visited the Novosibirsk team at the beginning of December. The report of their visit will soon be ready, but for now here’s what some of the hosting team thought of their visit.

Tatyana (aka Nicole) Minbaeva writes: ‘Last week, so long and busy, on one side, and yet gone in a moment, on the other, did not just fill me with a lot of impressions, but also opened my potential for a productive work in the future. A chance to look at myself from aside, no matter how surprising that is, helped me to know and understand myself deeper. Indescribable feeling of happiness and unity, when you hold someone’s hand, someone not long ago who seemed to be so distant and unreachable, feeling the hearts beating as one, understanding the feeling of belongingness, the triumph inside…

This visit was so necessary, so natural; it gave me strength and confidence inside, a direction in our teamwork and reaching the goals, which seemed to be impossible.

Conversation about us, F4F and future is a perfect instrument of realisation that I belong to something big and everlasting desire to be integral part of it. Thank you, girls.’

Anna Bokk writes: ‘I could only say that I agree with everything that Nicole said, and would like to add that with your visit I have started to change for the people I live with, my family. I thought that if I feel so great within YHI and F4F, why it can’t be the same in my family, with my relatives. If I could say so, I have really started practicing things we talk about all the time, in fact, know all the time, and I mean the ideas of the IofC. It was during this week, that I made the first step, which I have always thought of, and felt that I have grown.

I would not like it to sound as a fake ‘Change, change, change’, but I really feel with all my heart and soul that this is connected to you.

I need this type of MENTORING, and you gave it to me on both personal and team levels.

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UK NEWS OFFICE MOVE: The new office location is in the attic with Nick and C-J Foster. Letters will still get through via Greencoat Place, but the most direct way is directly to 90 Western Road, Crookes, Sheffield S10 1LA. The A&A team have also got a place to stay nearby at 61 Toftwood Road, Crookes, Sheffield S10 2SL which is a great three-bedroom house where they are keen to host visitors. This is not far from David and Judith Curtis who live in the other IofC house in Sheffield. The whole shift has been quite a boost for the Sheffield IofC team, and there are now regular meetings and two events have already taken place. This is part of the larger IofC activities in the UK, which the F4F team is very much part of.

F4F COMMITTEE RETREAT: Chris and Anne Evans hosted a lovely twoday Sharing Time for the F4F Committee. Out in the beauty of Worcestershire we had a tranquil sharing time to Chris Evans at refocus where the team is Dial House going, and how we are going to support each other and the programme in the coming year. It was a time of great Chris Evans at excitement to bring Anna and Dial House Angela into the work here, but also a time of sadness as Oleg and Gabi move into another phase of their lives, though Oleg was there to share his thoughts with us. There were a couple of decisive conclusions from our time together. Firstly, to become a true partner to our friends in the regions, we need to start working at home too so that we have our own experiences to share; we aim to have a course somewhere in the UK this year, perhaps linked to other IofC programmes.

Secondly, there is a growing sense that what we should be doing is Nurturing the Nurturers. This echoes the history of MRA where we should be walking along-side those who are responsible for others. In this light the Crumplebury Group week in Sheffield was a solid beginning.

CRUMPLEBURY GROUP WEEK: This was a week, hosted by the Sheffield team running up to the Ranmoor Hall Event (a national gathering for IofC) where some people relatively new to IofC UK (and some far more experienced!) gathered to share time and fellowship as well as reach out to discover how people create community within the north of England. There were several visits to social development programmes; Connected 2 in Huddersfield which uses music, rap and break dancing to reintroduce kids who have fallen through the system back to education, but on their own terms.

A programme called Black PALM runs a mentoring project and creates inter-cultural workshops in Sheffield, and the group visited Darnell Forum which combats deprivation within the community of Darnell (a region of Sheffield), and Bob Bridge (one of the Sheffield IofC team) gave a presentation on Social Enterprise, highlighting what the government is trying to achieve and how it goes about doing that.

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There was some The Internationals! social time with The sharing, walking, Internationals! enjoying Sheffield city centre, and, of course plenty of eating!.

In an atmosphere of friendship and sharing we are strengthening bonds both internally and with other organisations that also have a passion for change in their community. This investigation revealed that there is a strong need for community building founded on a desire for change, both individual and social. The Crumplebury Group learnt that passion for change in their community. This investigation revealed that there is a strong need for community building founded on a desire for change, both individual and social. The Crumplebury Group learnt that passion for change is a reflection of people’s own personal journey. However, there is a need to support those running such projects and many feel isolated and alone in their work. Rather than partnership for the sake of funding, there is a need for truly collaborative relationships within the social sector: to make the world a better place we need to work together.

RANMOOR HALL EVENT: The Ranmoor Hall event was again hosted by the Sheffield team, and was a chance for IofC members from around the country to gather as well as bring others along who know little about it. After introducing IofC using the general IofC powerpoint presentation and then hearing informal presentations from each of the programmes this event focussed on some of the basics of the F4F Changing Course: the development of definitions of the Four Standards and how to use them through ‘Good is not Good enough’ – two of the fundamental aspects of the course. The sharing amongst the attendees was claimed to be deep and enriching, and requests have been made to repeat the process. What was really promising is that it demystified what happens on an F4F course for many who were unsure, and enabled many people to experience a sample of what it feels like. Interest in F4F here in the UK is growing...

Nick Foster (UK)

Ranmoor Hall Team