Volunteer movements and non-governmental organizations in our country have reached remarkably new level in recent years. Experiences of active youth show us that any change is first of all based on people and personal motivation. DOCU/CLUB project has recently joined “Here and now”, one of the most ambitious and dedicated initiatives.

This all-Ukrainian project intends to unite youth from the East and the West of Ukraine and spread ideas of active citizenship and steady developement in small villages of Ukraine.

“We show a lot of documentaries about volunteer movements, making difference and responsibilities to the society on Docudays UA these days. It is grass-roots activism that saves Ukrainians and gives hope in such difficult for the country times. The festival’s crew is working hard to spread ideas of active civic position, and we always find like-minded people. “Here and now” project is just like that. Our DOCU/CLUBS’ moderators have selected interesting and inspiring films followed by discussions for all the participants. As Mahatma Gandhi once said, “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” - says Olga Birzul, Docudays UA program coordinator.

Initiators of the project have been gathering volunteers (young people 18 to 26 years old) for three years to take concrete steps for life improvement in villages: they build playgrounds for children, paint and restore cultural monuments, clean up the banks of rivers and lakes etc. Two volunteer crews are going on tour on August, the 7th: one to the East and one to the West of Ukraine. Each crew will visit 6 villages in a week.

“The idea of our cooperation came up during last Docudays UA festival. As art-editor at “Kunsht” magazine I participated in presentation of “DOCU/TECHNO non-competition program. The festival shows examples of heroes of our time in catching documentaries. It shows those who take actions. This is something that inspires and gives an impulse to realisation of a one’s significance to our project’s volunteers as well as to inhabitants of the villages we visit. Watching documentaries is a ritual itself, just like a tea ceremony - you need to follow certain rules and know how to watch them to really understand them. That’s why we’re happy that experienced Docudays UA moderators offered us their help.” - says Kyrylo Bezkorovainy, the project’s organizer.

Maria Tsypyashchuk and Yosh, Docudays UA film clubs’ moderators from “Human rights through the camera” (Rivne city) and Lviv Art Palace will join the volunteers in their trip. 

Details and news of the project can be found on “Here and Now” facebook page https://www.facebook.com/tutizaraz/

Photos from the project’s official page.