Kyiv, December 25, 2015. International youth NGO “AIESEC Ukraine” project “Feel Ukraine” is designed to disclose the image of Ukraine to the world, said Tetyana Landysheva, President of AIESEC Ukraine at a press briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center, presenting the project. According to her, through internship programs, young people from the overseas can learn about the country from within, during their six weeks’ stay. “The image of Ukraine in the world is one-sided. The project aims to improve the brand “Ukraine” in the world,” explained Ms. Landysheva.
Olena Shershun, Vice-President of AIESEC Ukraine incoming internships, said that this is the first “wave” internship program within which 15 interns are visiting Ukraine. The project “Feel Ukraine” is implemented in eight cities. Some interns will visit cities in Western Ukraine – Lviv, Uzhhorod, Ivano-Frankivsk and Chernivtsi. Others will travel around central Ukraine – Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv and Odessa. Over six weeks, students will meet with the local community, go on excursions, visit educational institutions, and familiarize themselves with Ukrainian culture and traditions. They will film everything and cover in their articles. “Every week they will send their videos, photos, interviews and articles to the “Feel Ukraine” site, which is being launched,” said Ms. Shershun. Thus, the world will know the interns’ impressions of Ukraine. “We understand that people best perceive information from their compatriots,” she said.
Hugo Vidal Manarini, intern from Brazil, said that in his homeland Ukraine is not very popular, so with help of this project he will be able to deepen his knowledge on Ukraine. Hugo has stayed here for a few days now and has noticed similarities between Ukrainians and Brazilians. “Ukrainians are very friendly and just like Brazilians, both like to talk a lot,” he said. Hugo expects to see “typical” Ukrainian cities and hinterland.
Another intern, Christopher Guzman is from Mexico. He said that when he had decided to go to Ukraine, his parents told him he was crazy. But Christopher is convinced that the only way to find out what is happening in Ukraine is to see it all with your own eyes. Ukraine pleasantly surprises him, especially communicating with people. “When you enter a coffee shop from a cold street, you feel warm, so it is with people – if you do not know them, they are cold, and when you make friends with them, they are very warm,” shared his impressions Guzman.
Next year, the project “Feel Ukraine” will be expended and about 150 interns will arrive in summer. Ms. Landysheva also mentioned that every year over 600 Ukrainians travel around the world with various AISEC internship programs, both social and professional. The top countries chosen by Ukrainians are Turkey, Tunisia, Egypt, Slovakia, Poland, Mexico and India.
