UN Day for Cultural Diversity and Development

Within the framework of the educational project #УкраїнаSpeaking DOUNB Library and "Window on America" Center were presented to new comers.
This Saturday the Gabfest’s Club observed the UN Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development (May, 21). Cultural diversity matters, because three-quarters of the world’s major conflicts have a cultural dimension. Bridging gaps between cultures is urgent and necessary for peace, stability and development.
The session’s moderator introduced a recent UN Alliance for Civilizations’ campaign “Do one Thing for Diversity and Inclusion”. 10 easy actions may improve the situation in different parts of the world. We defined these 10 actions and illustrated them with local opportunities. Among the actions were:
- visit to an art exhibit or museum dedicated to other culture
- learn about other religion
- watch a foreign movie
- listen to music from a different culture
-play a sport from a different culture
- invite a friend and cook a foreign meal
-learn about traditional celebrations from other culture
-volunteer with an organization working for diversity and inclusion
-learn another language
-invite people from different culture and share your customs.

The Club members shared their own experiences of other cultures during business and leisure trips abroad. The ones who has never been abroad told about their encounters with different cultures in Ukraine .We laughed about the funny cases when Ukrainians impose their traditions on foreigners (like offering huge servings of spirits and pork)..
The topic was not easy, but it was educational for all participants. We hope that some of the sessions’ participants will do at least one thing for Cultural diversity in Dnipropetrovsk.
Number of participants – 36 persons.
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World Women’s Day

Today’s session of the «Gabfest» Club (at Window on America center Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine) was dedicated to the observance of the “World Women’s Day” in different countries.
The Club had an influx of newcomers and we allowed them to break ice by introducing themselves to the regular club members. The newcomers were pleasantly surprised to meet Club’s native-speaking US volunteer Mr. Jason.
We started the conversation with description of the iconic American poster “We Can do it”. The club members explained why the poster was associated in their minds with American women. Our American volunteer was interested in the Ukrainian images associated with the Women’s Day. The task for the club members was to describe and to explain the images from the Women’s Day postcards issued some fifty years ago in our country. The cross-cultural differences are quite substantial. The group had to explain to the foreign guest certain phenomena that they took for granted. And the task turned out to be very challenging. All the participants of the conversation realized that translation of inscriptions on old postcards was even more challenging.
The club members learned how to define cultural phenomena or describe them with limited vocabulary.
Number of participants – 34 persons.
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Session with American guest

Today’s session of the Gabfest Club (at Window on America center Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine) was attended by a big group of newcomers including new American guest ' Ms. Jennifer. All the club members had an opportunity to introduce themselves.
The American guests had to do it in a more profound way. We mostly talked about the cultural shock the Americans experience in Ukraine and recommended them things that might help to overcome this shock. Ms Jennofer impressed everyone with her list of countries that she visited through her job.
 
The session was a ‘full house’ and enjoyed by all the participants. Especially by the newcomers who met real Americans for the first time.
Number of participants – 22 persons.

JFK’s Library and Museum

Today’s session of the GABFEST Club (at Window on America center Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine) was dedicated to two important dates in May:
-    The Europe Day ( celebrated on May, 18)  and cultural diversity  issues in Europe 
-    the anniversary of the 35th President of the USA – John F. Kennedy  (celebrated on May, 29).
Before the start of the conversation the book display about JFK and his family was presented to the club members. The slide show on the JFK’s biography was demonstrated. The Club members learned several curious facts about the US president.  The group was introduced to the web site of the JFK’s Library and Museum. The site incorporated a very interesting feature – an interactive President’s table. We have virtually “explored” the table and discovered several very interesting objects. Our American guest Mr. David was kind enough to explain tricky things and introduce many cross cultural  details  in his comments.
The second topic of the day was a discussion about the cultural diversity phenomenon. We tried to answer a set of questions on this issue compiled by the HR office of a US college. In the discussion we have touched the benefits and disadvantages of cross cultural diversity in the study or work environment. The cultural diversity situations in the USA and in Ukraine were compared.

The session was educational and the new comers were positively impressed.
The number of participants – 17 persons.

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U.S. Promotion of Diversity - CO.NXC program

15.30-16.30
Information and Resource Center Window on America hosted web chat in English (CO.NXC program, Kyiv-Dnipropetrovsk) with a representative of the U.S. State Department EUR/UMB/PPD Desk Officer Joslin Mack-Wilson.
She shared with National Mine University teachers of English, students, workers of the library her views on issues of cultural diversity and tolerance. Participants actively asked questions and received competent answers.
The number of participants – 15 persons.


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English Speaking club - Cultural diversity

This week events are dedicated to the World Day for Cultural Diversity which is celebrated on May, 21.

Several displays were offered to the patrons of the WOA centre:

-        Posters display  “All Americans: Images of Heritage and Citizenship” – the art works of Texas students with different ethnic background

-        Brochures display – Multiculturalism in American  Culture

-        Book display “American Art”.

The art theme announced in advance urged some of the club members to offer their own art works for display at the center.

Tanya Shutina, the architect,  brought her oil paintings  –  mostly marine landscapes.

Janina Stets, a State University Scientific Library worker,  offered her craft works – cross stitch embroidery. Among her works were landscapes, still lifes and a portrait.

Tanya Volokita, a finance student, offered for display her hand–made decorations – earrings and wrist bracelets made from beads, metal and plastic.

All the artworks on display had positive feedback from the WOA patrons and ESC members.

The English Language Club meeting started with the slide show presenting the notion of multiculturalism in the world and in the American life. The slide show was complemented by the video clips of numerous types of ethnic music in USA.

After that it was decided to project multiculturalism on the reality of the Ukrainian life. The club members formed teams and   had a brainstorming session about cultural diversity in the Ukrainian music and art. The winning team produced the longest list of artists from different ethnic backgrounds.  The video clips of afro Ukrainian and other performers were thoroughly enjoyed.

To conclude the topic a round table discussion on multiculturalism was offered. The Club members discussed the positive and negative aspects of this phenomenon.

Today we also had a visitor from the USA – Deedra Hall. She is a Peace Corps volunteer working in the town of Verhovtsevo in Dnipropetrovsk region.  Deedra briefly introduced herself and shared her opinion about living in Ukraine. She promised to prepare a lecture about her native state Oklahoma and cultural diversity there.

Number of the visitors – 25  (the English language  teachers – 1,  specialists – 19 , retired –1, students – 2, pupils – 1, librarian –1)

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Deedra Hall  - a Peace Corps volunteer (in the center)

ART WEEK

This week events are dedicated to the World Day for Cultural Diversity which is celebrated on May, 21.

Several displays were offered to the patrons of the WOA centre:

-        Posters display  “All Americans –Images of Heritage and Citizenship” – the art works of Texas students with different ethnic background

-        Brochures display – Multiculturalism in American  Culture

-        Book display “American Art”.

The art theme announced in advance urged some of the club members to offer their own art works for display at the centre.

Tanya Shutina, the architect, brought her oil paintings –  mostly marine landscapes.

Janina Stets, a State University Scientific Library worker, offered her craft works – cross stitch embroidery. Among her works were landscapes, still lifes and a portrait.

Tanya Volokita, a finance student, offered for display her hand–made decorations – earrings and wrist bracelets made from beads, metal and plastic.

All the artworks on display had positive feedback from the WOA patrons and ESC members.

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ART WEEK dedicated to the World Day for Cultural diversity

Students of the Kyiv University for Arts and Culture (Dnipropetrovsk branch) have visited the WOA centre.

They familiarized themselves with the book and posters displays on Cultural diversity in American Art.

The displays with the club members’ art works also received a lot of attention from the appreciative patrons.

SHUTINA TANYA – oil paintings

STETS”   JANINA  – cross stitching craft: JESUS CHRIST   PORTRAIT, WINTER  LANDSCAPE, MARINE   SCENE, STILL LIFE WITH FLOWERS, STILL LIFE WITH APPLES

The group of students with major in “Hotel and Restaurant Management” watched the video “United Tastes of America”.
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Book Display: «American Art»

A display “American Art” was presented at WOA Dnipropetrovsk. 

It includes 20  colorful books about American and world artists. It immediately draw the attention of the patrons. The highlight of the display is the Thames and Hudson Multimedia Dictionary of Modern Art.