YTNF :: SVITUkraine

In August 2009 for the second time a group of international SCI volunteers is coming to Chernivtsi to work on historic Jewish cemetery, one of the biggest preserved historic cemeteries in Central and Eastern Europe. During two weeks in August, 18 volunteers from 11 different countries will work on the cemetery, removing the bushes and cleaning the tomb-stones of creeping wines. The work at the cemetery will be completed by a 4-days seminar (24-27.08), during which participants will discuss results of work done, and to look more globally – what and how should be done to preserve the cemetery – future steps and activities, and which possibilities there are to contribute to preserving historic and cultural heritage through volunteer workcamps in this case, as well as in general.
The project aims to preserve historic Jewish cemetery in Chernivtsi, raise awareness of participants on history of 2nd World war and Holocaust with the example of the community of Chernivtsi and especially its Jewish part, contribute to development of intercultural competences of participants and raise awareness of local community of Chernivtsi about importance of preserving the cemetery. The project is organized in cooperation with Chernivtsi city council, with financial support of the “Memoria” program, realized jointly by the "Foundation for Remembrance, Responsibility and the Future" and the Stefan Batory Foundation. The aim of the program is to interest young people from Central and Eastern Europe in common work to preserve the European cultural heritage. The project is organized with support of the Jewish Diaspora of Czernowitz and SCI-Germany with support of local activists and NGOs.

Background information
Chernivtsi, a city with rich history, architecture and cultural background (in different periods it was part of the Turkish Empire, the Austrian-Hungarian Empire and Romania. The city is called “little Vienna” or “European Alexandria” because of its rich cultural and historic background and very multi-national community. According to the population census in 2001, 65 different nationalities are living in the city, which has a total population of about 250 000 residents. One of the biggest ethnic groups is Jewish, and before the 2nd World War, the Jewish minority was playing an important part in the life of the city. One of the traces left by the Jewish community is a cemetery of the 19th and first half of the 20th century, which has many tomb stones made by famous artists. During the 2nd World War the Jewish population suffered terrible losses at the hands of the Nazis. Those who survived the war mostly emigrated.

The Raduga Centre is a unique day care centre for children and young adults living with disabilities of the 1st group (disabilities as autism, cerebral palsy, mental disabilities and other, which are ranked in Ukraine as disabilities of 1st group, the most difficult). The Center has been created as a result of a group of activists and committed parents who fought for it in order to give their children the chance of getting not only physically care but also to develop themselves mentally and do some meaningful activities . The Raduga Center is unique because in contrast to other state care centres, which only allow disabled people to live the life of ‘vegetables’, the Raduga Center gives its people the chance to develop their personality and skills. Details...

The project aims to preserve historic Jewish cemetery in Chernivtsi, raise awareness of participants on history of 2nd World war and Holocaust with the example of the community of Chernivtsi and especially its Jewish part, contribute to development of intercultural competences of participants and raise awareness of local community of Chernivtsi about importance of preserving the cemetery. In the framework of the project international group of volunteers from 11 countries will work together to clean the territory of the cemetery from weeds and bushes, prepare paths and install information signs. Details...