By Mette Skov Hansen
The wisest thing would probably be to leave Ukraine. Yurii Pyvovarenko knows this too well.
But even though the bombs and missiles continue to fall on several of the country's cities, he does not want to leave Ukraine.
I have already spent a lot of energy, resources and a lot of time trying to make Ukraine better, so I can not leave the country now. It may sound foolish, but it lies very deep inside me.
Yurii Pyvovarenko
"I have a feeling that the bigger goal of my life is in Ukraine. That this is where I was born for a 'mission'. I have already spent a lot of energy, resources and a lot of time trying to make Ukraine better, so I can not leave the country now. It may sound foolish, but it lies very deep inside me, ”says Yurii Pyvovarenko, who lives in the capital Kyiv on a daily basis and is now in a village in western Ukraine.
Plans for a Ukrainian folk high school
The way Yurii Pyvovarenko has been trying to make Ukraine better for the past two and a half years is inspired by a Scandinavian tradition. He is one of the leading forces in the NGO "Ukrainian Bildung Network", who is working to establish a high school movement in the country.
I believe that the creation of a folk high scholl network can help us strengthen the Ukrainian community, and I spend almost all my free time trying to make that happen.
Yurii Pyvovarenko
Among other things, the initiators are working on translating relevant articles and books about the movement into Ukrainian, and in addition, a building in Vovchok in northern Ukraine is being renovated as a folk high school, so that short term courses can be held already this summer.
“When I first heard about the folk high schools in Denmark, Sweden and Norway, I knew that it was also something I wanted to work for. For it has made your people more aware of and responsible and active in society. I believe that the creation of a folk high scholl network can help us strengthen the Ukrainian community, and I spend almost all my free time trying to make that happen, “said Yurii Pyvovarenko, who holds the title of Head of Council in the NGO.
Problems with misinformation
However, when Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, the plans for a folk high school movement was put on hold.
Right now we are all involved in the war and we do not have the resources to continue the work. The people who were to renovate our folk high school building are busy protecting their families and villages.
Yurii Pyvovarenko
"I still do not understand that it has happened. Right now we are all involved in the war and we do not have the resources to continue the work. The people who were to renovate our folk high school building are busy protecting their families and villages. I myself try to connect people and help where I can,” says Yurii Pyvovarenko, who, among other things, is trying to spread information about the situation in Ukraine to Russians to get them to stop the war.
"Among other things, I try to show pictures of the situation and explain to Russian mothers and wives that their husbands and sons have the right to say no to participating in the war. The independent media are closed in Russia, and it is difficult to oppose the Russian propaganda machine. Many Russians do not believe that their soldiers are killing civilians in Ukraine," he said.
Folk high schools can help spread the importance of dialogue
Yurii Pyvovarenko believes that folk high school movement - when the worst phase of the war is over - can help to improve the country's situation, as he says there is a need for institutions that will ensure critical thinking, solidarity and increased democratic commitment in Ukraine. And in the longer term, tools will be needed to create a better dialogue on peace with the Russian people.
Folk high schools can help Ukrainians understand the importance of responsibility, solidarity and dialogue. After the war, we must find solutions and dare to talk together about painful issues in our history.
Yurii Pyvovarenko
"Folk high schools can help Ukrainians understand the importance of responsibility, solidarity and dialogue. After the war, we must find solutions and dare to talk together about painful issues in our history. We must maintain solidarity in Ukraine. We are all different," he says.
A sense of solidarity
Despite all the destruction made by Russian soldiers, Yurii Pyvovarenko believes that the war has already created a positive change in the consciousness of the people - it has created a sense of solidarity.
We need people to behave like adults - not adults behaving like teenagers. I hope the folk high school movement can help us with that.
Yurii Pyvovarenko
"In the 1860s, something happened to the Danes after the war against Germany. The folk high school movement spread. It seems that we can be in a similar growth now. The war helps us to forget the small differences of attitude and understand that we must act as responsible adults. The folk high school movement can help us maintain that understanding, ”he says.
"Before the war, most Ukrainians were interested in politics, but they typically did not make an effort unless it concerned themselves or their loved ones. We need people to behave like adults - not adults behaving like teenagers. I hope the folk high school movement can help us with that, ”he says.
Visit to Denmark
The NGO behind the Ukrainian folk high school movement has planned a visit to Denmark later this spring, and Yurii Pyvovarenko hopes that the Danish folk high schools will have the opportunity to share their experiences and approach to working with folk high schools.
"But now, in the first place, we hope that the war will end soon, so that we can begin to rebuild the country," he said.