Interactive workshops for cultural exchange - Ukraine/Sweden

 

 

Sweden and Ukraine are countries that have historically developed significantly different. Ukraine has been especially influenced by the long period as part of the Soviet Union, which has as a result dramatically shaped the views of the population. It is a country that has never experienced real democracy - and consists of some of the highest levels of corruption where human rights are expressed solely on paper.

 

Despite different developments, we have found that both Swedish and Ukrainian students have a significant knowledge gap about the respective country. Students in Ukraine have very limited or biased views of information about Sweden when it comes to culture, democracy, religion, and politics, and vice versa. This extends to the Ukrainian students’ limited ability to define human rights. In Ukraine specifically, lack of knowledge and unity is also an issue between local communities, such as Kiev and Lvov.

 

To bridge the gaps, we want to spark a debate by utilising interesting facts about Sweden and Ukraine that unite the two countries in ways people may not be aware of. We want to find the common aspects to help young people understand each other as well as find when and why we think differently and make diverse conclusions today. By using the below questions as a starting point, we want to create a new platform for discussion, analysis and information sharing:

 

1)  What do we know about each other's history, culture, social life and politics?

2)   How can understand the current circumstances in Ukraine?

3)   How can we help to build a new democratic society in Ukraine?

 

 

The information gap has direct implications on how students perceive themselves on local and international level, as well as their rights as citizens in their respective country. By addressing events in Swedish and Ukrainian history and modern times relating to human rights, democracy and gender issues, we want to ensure that the students are given the opportunity to learn and set expectations about their own rights. We will also give special attention to the women in history, such as female movements and inventors in Sweden.

 

Misconception and lack of information is particularly important to address with the changed political situation Ukraine where biased historical knowledge or misinformation about the conflict have become widely available in Sweden and Ukraine. By improving relations locally between Kiev and Lvov, we also hope to strengthen the communities on grass-root level.