Support for the Ukrainian Catholic University

UCU Director Andre Sochaniwsky (left), Eugene Roman,
Chair of the UCU Board (3rd from left), and Taras Pidzamecky,
UCU CEO (right) present Fr. Gudziak of the Ukrainian
Catholic University a cheque for $5,000. (Photo courtesy
of New Pathway)

Last Friday (November 11), representatives of the Ukrainian Catholic University spoke to Torontonians gathered at an event organized by the Ukrainian Catholic Education Foundation (UCEF) and the Toronto Friends of the Ukrainian Catholic University. UCEF is the latest charity to sign up to the ChangeIt program offered by UCU, so if you are interested in supporting them financially please read more here: ChangeIt.

Father Borys Gudziak, rector of the Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv and Yaroslav Rushschyshyn, a member of the University's Senate along with several other speakers addressed the audience in the auditorium of the Plast Toronto Huculak Centre. You can read more about the event here: Building a University

The University, along with other leading educational institutions in Ukraine, have been under intense pressure to fall in line with the government's policies on education, language, and identity in Ukraine. It is one of the many elements of civil society in Ukraine that is resisting the pressure to conform and fighting for a pluralistic society.

The intent of the meeting was to inform attendees of what is happening at the University and in its environment. The goal was to raise awareness as well as funds to help the University continue its work unmolested. An article in Kyiv Post linked here details some of the funds that were raised. Ukrainian Credit Union Limited is proud to have had the opportunity to contribute $5,000 to this worthy cause, as we believe that a stable and democratic Ukraine that respects the rights of its citizens is the key to peace and economic development for all the nations of the former soviet bloc.

You can see more pictures of the event on Facebook.