Within the ІІ UGCC Forum of Ukrainian migrants from Central and Western Europe, entitled Ukrainian Youth in Europe. Challenges and Opportunities for the Church, held in Rome, there were discussed the challenges which all Ukrainians and our state are facing, in particular, the increasing migration of young people and rapid assimilation processes.
Lviv Polytechnic was represented by the Director of the International Institute of Education, Culture and Diaspora Relations Iryna Kliuchkovska. The scientist shared with us the highlights of the Forum and the ways to solve fateful problems for Ukraine, and for Ukrainians (especially those who are abroad) that were discussed at the meeting.
Thematic continuity and consolidation of efforts
– It was not the first time I took part in such an event. The Forum of Ukrainian labor migrants from Central and Western Europe was established two years ago. At first it was held in Fatima (Portugal), and then in 2017 – in Kazakhstan (focused on Ukrainians in Asia).
At the Forum in Fatima, His Beatitude Sviatoslav stated: «Integration, but not assimilation». And this is a truly huge challenge, not only for the Church, which builds its communities and parishes throughout Europe, and is the center of gathering for Ukrainians who are outside their homeland. It is also relevant for the state, scholars and those who deal with the Ukrainian diaspora issues and, without a doubt, for active people who left their country ...
Once they cherished their Ukrainian origin, and now they assimilate
Now it is obvious that the latest labor migration is very different from the previous ones. In the past, very literate, patriotically minded people, representatives of various political forces, parties, public organizations and scientific environments left their country (or rather, they were thrown out by the system). And in the conditions of statelessness, it was their priority to keep the attributes of the nation outside their homeland, and that is why they actively developed churches and schools. The Forum was attended by the representatives of the fourth and fifth generations of migrants who did not get assimilated, feel themselves Ukrainians and speak Ukrainian.
And today assimilation processes are getting more rapid. People go to Europe and set themselves up completely different tasks, trying not just to assimilate or to accept the «rules of the game» of that state, but to dissolve.
Significant in this context was a study, presented by a priest from Caserta (Italy). The Ministry of Education of Italy has registered nearly 20,000 children and youth migrants studying at schools and universities. Only over a thousand study at Saturday and Sunday Ukrainian schools (5%). The rest do not feel this need. However, these 5% are the golden fund with which Ukraine will work in the future. Therefore, I understand such a far-seeing vision of the Beatitude – «integrate, but do not assimilate» ...
According to official figures in Italy, there are more than 200 thousand Ukrainians, although someone says this number should be multiplied by four. This is a real threat to the national security of Ukraine.