The UCPI as an informal group has existed since 1993 in Ternopil City, Western Ukraine. The core of this group consists of people who previously were members of the first Ukrainian national anti-Communists political union known as "RUKH". Rukh was founded in 1989 when Ukraine was subject to Soviet rule and all political unions with anti-Communist ideas were strictly forbidden. It was this group that led the political upheaval in Ukraine during the turbulent years of 1989 through 1991 that resulted in the national independence of Ukraine and the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Many of the UCPI members have been elected to and hold political positions in City and Regional Councils in Western Ukraine during the time since independence. UCPI members have also become founders and owners of private firms and companies in Western Ukraine. Two of UCPI members presently are Chiefs of Departments in Ternopil City Administration. All members of UCPI are graduates of Ukrainian Institutes and Universities. The typical age of the members range between 34 and 40 years.

The main objectives and activities of UCPI have always been political and economical independence of Ukraine, development of Ukrainian national spirit and the promotion and defense of democratic principals that are beginning to appear in Ukraine. These objectives have determined our public work during these years. UCPI has helped its members win elections in Western Ukraine and after elections or appointments, it has helped the incumbents do their work, which include the public projects based on our initiatives.

A very important part of our work is connected with cooperation with different firms, companies, agencies and foundations. UCPI provides a trustworthy and safe way for these foreign organizations to do business in Ukraine in contrast to the often risky and costly alternatives. UCPI is a totally non-profit organization and collects no bribes, payoffs or other compensation from our cooperating foreign partners. During 1994-1996 our members who worked then in Ternopil City Administration developed a strong working relationship with the U.S. firm, CORBIA, located in Greenville, South Carolina. While CORBIA is indeed a for-profit organization, it has a totally non-profit division devoted to humanitarian work and the promotion of democratic principals in other nations. It is with this division that UCPI has worked so effectively in the past years.

While there have been numerous past programs and projects with CORBIA, the most significant ones include the vaccine project in 1994, which vaccinated 100,000 children in our region and which stopped the serious dyptheria epidemic raging at the time. Another was the acquisition of equipment and the development of a burn center in Ternopil to treat victims of serious burns in Ukraine.

UCPI has promoted national heritage and culture by partly sponsoring the Exhibition of Ukrainian Folk Arts, which was shown throughout Ukraine, in Russia and several other European countries. UCPI also supports young writers and poets in publishing their first books. Our web site includes a section promoting Ukrainian artists and craftsmen. We also provide support for various public organizations in Western Ukraine through information and technical assistance.

One of UCPI's present major projects is the creation of a non-governmental public office (The Center) which can help other public organizations, especially youth organizations, educational organizations, humanitarian groups, ecological groups, and democratic organizations find partners for mutual cooperation in foreign countries. UCPI serves as a facilitator of such cooperation among these various groups.

Another major role of "The Center" is providing assistance to foreign groups, organizations and individuals who wish to establish connections in Ukraine. Through The Center, we would like to help any foreign visitors who come to Western Ukraine to feel comfortable in Ukraine, to find here new friends and to establish good public and business relations. We wish to be able to provide all needed assistance and support to settle any kinds of problems that can arise during their travel to an unfamiliar country. For this purpose, UCPI fulfilled the complete procedure of the State registration and was certified in May 2000 as a Ukrainian non-profit organization.

Our other main task at present is to enlarge our informational and technical assistance to other public organizations in Ternopil City, Ternopil Region and Western Ukraine. Taking into account the present difficulties of our public organizations with computer equipment and Internet connections we are developing our work in this direction. The UCPI has formed an Internet research group that search for needful information for these public organizations. UCPI prepares printed reports of its research for its public partners. Through the cooperation of CORBIA, we have established a virtual library on our web site consisting of over 11,000 books, numerous magazines and hundreds of on-line newspapers around the world.

This virtual library is the source of much of our research until we can complete another of our major projects - the building and operation of English language libraries in Ternopil and throughout Ukraine. Under the guidance and cooperation of CORBIA, we are in the process of developing our first pilot library for this project. When completed later this year, we will be able to assist our schools with English language classes at all levels. UCPI will be able to sponsor English language classes for adults through the library and hold various cultural and artistic events. Once this library pilot project is operational, we hope to help other Ukrainian cities duplicate this project and establish English language libraries of their own.

UCPI's main partners are:

Lviv Branch of Ukrainian Academy of Public Administration,
Auspices of the President of Ukraine.

The Ternopil Union of Youth Public Organizations

Departments of Ternopil City Council

Office of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine

Karitas Foundation

Ternopil Juridical Institute, TANE

Main Political Parties in Ternopil Region

Our address is:

Ukrainian Center for Public Initiatives
Patriarcha Mstislava St., 1.
Ternopil 46000, Ukraine

Telephone: +380 352 432441
Fax: +380 352 249352

You may e-mail us simply by clicking HERE