Mykolayiv May 2011

Mini-report from Mykolayiv May 2011

By Lennart Spolander

Photos by Lennart Spolander, Ywonne Wiklund

Project Human Rights Umbrella I – III

The May 2011 trip to Mykolayiv was the second journey to Mykolayiv within the three-year

Human Rights Umbrella project, but it was the 5th

time we, Lennart Spolander and Ywonne

Wiklund, were in Mykolayiv. This project is founded and supported by the Swedish Institute

and Department of Education, Umeå University. We have been here on 1st of May, on the 9

th

of May – The V-day, and now, this year it was the E-day. That means Europe days, something

that was organized in Kiev and Mykolayiv by the Delegation of EU in Ukraine. The Swedish

Embassy had also a table on Sovietskaya Street trying to inform visitors about the Other

“Blue and Yellow” nation. In the evening there was family activity and popular music

between the statue of Lenin and the Orthodox church – Sovietskaya was full of people also in

late evening … Europe has a special attraction here.

Small changes are going on all the time … like new repaired highroads, houses and parks.

The landscape looks the same – the beautiful huge fields of rape (Brassica napus, Swedish

Raps), increasing number of areas of wine stocks but most of all – now things seems so

familiar to us that it feels like our second home town. In order to check out the courses on

Human Rights with responsible staff at the two universities (The Black Sea Petro Mohyla

Mykolayiv State Universitity and Mykolayiv State University named after V O

Sukhomlynskyy) we inaugurated a special place in a special restaurant in the centre of

Mykolayiv. The name just comes over our lips – “the Swedish Corner in Mykolayiv”. Now

we easily know where to meet in the town.

Serhiy Ponomarov, Ywonne Wiklund, Kateryna Shapochka, Olexander Pronkevych, and Lennart Spolander

The courses had this year over 50 students and young teachers. The students and teachers

were from different departments; The Foreign language department, Law, International

relations and History Some students at Sukhomlynskyy came from other universities like the

nearby Agrarian or Shipbuilding universities. The lengths of the courses were three days,

from 9 to 4 (09:00 – 16:00) every day. It is a quite intensive course – one need to focus on the

work and as a result each day goes very quickly … and many lessons learned and stay inside

the participants for a long time. This is an often repeated view that former participants say

when we meet them in Mykolayiv or by email-connection.

The Black Sea Petro Mohyla Mykolayiv State University

Our first two days at Petro Mohyla we had our seminars in the universities board room. A

familiar place for us so we could quickly start our course. Mmost participants didn’t know

each other before, but with very participant-active methods the unknown was quickly brought

out for everyone to see and get involved with. We had many different activities with the

purpose of knowing each other from the beginning of the course; drawings, line up – new

group constellations etc. to be able to have an open discussion climate. Some of these

activities are also fun to do - ice-breakers is good to use. To interview a new person and

make a drawing with the “wrong” hand and also to make the presentation in an oral way,

before the A4- faces are put on the wall for three days … easy to look at if one has forgotten

person XYZ’s name …

What about a mini-lecture? New development of historical understanding – MA Glendons

research about the origin of UDHR 1948. A tricky thing to understand the UDHR and its 30

articles. What has Jack Donnelly to say about the document? The classroom as both an open

and a closed room – To understand the good authority is very important in modern education

and teaching AND very seldom put on print. One needs to go to Hannah Arendt’s last book

from the seventies – Between the Past and the Future to have a thinking scholar to talk with.

How can one visualize the contemporary society and besides moving in the fresh air also gets

hold on one’s own feeling. Council of Europe, COE, and the book COMPASS (e-book too)

has some suggestions. Ywonne was leading the exercise “Take a step forward” – were

everyone was given a new role. After listening to statements/ list of situations they were

supposed to take a step forward – or not, and the debriefing was focused on if anyone felt that

their basic human rights were being neglected.

A simple and very instructive exercise – all participants know a lot about society in a social,

cultural, economic and political way. What is the biggest wall to pass through? Go back to

square one – and the two fundamental questions about WHAT IS? and WHAT OUGHT TO

BE? … so where will you stand?

“I like everything you do. You do a very good work. Thanks to you, many young people, many

students get a lot of information about human rights. And now we can use all that experience

in our common life. I understood that I should always stand on my both human rights legs –

and I will do it! I hope sometimes I’ll have an opportunity to visit your country and your

university. Thank you for these three days, three great days. Thank you, with love …”

From the final evaluation

We also shoved the movie Pay it forward that created a lot of emotions, thoughts and

engagement to do something. Lectures about prejudice, change, and “Scientific chair” at

university level created the best platform to act in and the framing was perfect - a room filled

with books and students energy to take part in civil society. The role plays when groups were

given a situation, a feeling and a thing - created wonderful acting over a human rights theme.

The final evaluation was made in two steps. First there was the picture evaluation that brings

out the feelings in the room followed by four open questions – two pages – one paper!

The written evaluation is in the end of this report.

After the certification ceremony the student gave us presents which we will remember for a long time

… we really like to come to Mykolayiv – it is the best thing we do during the academic year, so we

love and long to come back to the country, the city and its people.

Many thanks to Professor Olexandr Pronkevych and lecturer Serhiy Ponomarov for this time in

Mykolayiv. In short – once again the best group … strange – that is what we have said about all

groups.

The Mykolayiv State University named after V O Sukhomlynsky

Sukhomlynskyy University looks the same, but there have been many indoor renovations

since last year. More computers and smart board has been installed in several classrooms.

Since we started our course on a Sunday did Kateryna Shapochkas daughter followed a part of

that day.

We used many short activities from the beginning so the participant could quickly learn

something about all participants in the big group. Communication without words functions

very well in the beginning of the three day seminar.

The green post-it-papers can be a small and simple detail that makes it possible for all

participants to participate with a big time-reduce-effect … and a mind-breaker before mini-

lecture over different themes of human rights.

Origins – the beginning – but where to start? 10th

of December 1948 - For the UDHR that is

the starting point but how to understand that? Why is it necessary to stand on your human

rights leg? What about the state sovereignty and the individual?

A tricky thing to understand the UDHR and its 30 articles. What does Mary Ann Glendons

research over the UDHR-48 show? What has Jack Donnelly to say about the document? The

classroom as both an open and a closed room … To understand the good authority is very

important in modern education and teaching AND very seldom put on print. One need to go to

Hannah Arendt’s last book from the sentries – Between the Past and the Future – to have a

thinking scholar to talk with.

The individual – the group – the whole group and the classroom – lesson learned was …

- Many answers were similar

- To do what the teacher says

- … but not all the way

- The impact of today’s view on education, so easy to forget a lot of things – perspective

- One word or one world

- Universal – inalienable – indivisible – interdependent; Vienna 1993

The two basic questions: WHAT IS? WHAT OUGHT TO BE?

What does that mean? Here and now? For whom? All?

What are the main ideas that Wiktor Osiatinsky put forward in his latest book Human Rights

and its limits? He writes that HRs and democracy was seen as synonyms in Poland … in

1990 one municipality voted and a big majority was for the local law banning HIV-positive

from the community… Rights doesn’t mean it’s right! Democracy and HRs are inter-

dependent and need the balance were the needle is HUMAN DIGNITY. There are many

things that you can find out yourself by reading the book.

How can one visualize the contemporary society and besides moving in the fresh air also gets

hold on one’s feeling. The outdoor event was followed by the universities photographer.

Council of Europe, COE, and the book COMPASS (e-book too) has some suggestions. We

use the exercise “Take a step forward” – follow Ywonne’s instruction in your new role as …

The second reflections over authority through the exercise “The Scientific Chair” – the

individual drawings under the Human Rights Umbrella in the normal classroom with the

respectful and respective teacher.

What happened? How to explain the outcome? What lessons are to be learned?

Ywonne’s lesson in Prejudice and Perspectives. What do you see? I see …

The movie Pay it forward made a strong impression and the discussions were on the top even

if the movie had a sad end, but that is not THE END! You are the master of your life …

The new groups were given a task to make a role play from a situation, a feeling and a thing

within the frame of human rights discourse – another exercise to take a step forward for

everybody. Great performances – thank you!

The participants own human rights case under big glasses and points of view from all other

participants … something very engaging and a strong will to participate to offer possibilities

… A future-oriented engagement instead of blaming the past, something you can’t do

anything about.

“I am very glad that I participated in this course. It was interesting for me. It is also a great

experience. My knowledge is deeper. I can use this information in my life. The exercises that

we have done were very interesting and useful. I had a lot of thought during the course. And I

have a will to find more information about human rights, human rights violation, how we can

prevent it and what we can do. I want to find more information about Sweden, about history

of HR. I have a very good impression of the course. Thanks for this time. It was excellent.”

From the final evaluation

The circle of friendship – to stand on your human rights leg – to sit on “the Other” …

“Dear Lennart and Ywonne! This course was amazing and that knowledge that you gave us

especially that you gave me, I think will help me and the others in the future. These three days

I will remember to the end of my life. Now and further I will know how and what I can do for

myself and the others in this world. Now I have more knowledge and strength to do something

and I will use this chance.

It was a great pleasure to meet you and spend time together in communication. I hope to be in

touch with you for the rest of our lives! I hope you had a great time with all of us, and I hope

to see you next year in Mykolayiv again.”

From the last day evaluation

I have chosen this picture. It makes me think of … and the feeling is …

“I was very impressed, and it was very interesting, important and informative course. During

these three days we have had a of conversations such as discussions regarding human rights,

some society and political issues, discussed our human rights cases and have a very good

time here. Also we met friends, those who we have never met before, so it’s something like a

symbol of the course. We were thinking about the world, and even if we had some different

views it was more interesting than ordinary classes. I am very pleased that I took part in this

course and I’m sure that most of us have changed their minds so now we are looking on this

differently! Thank you!”

From last days evaluation

We received nice gifts from the rector V Budak handed over by Iryna and from all the

participants. In a way we think it is we who should thank all participants and our friend since

five years - Katja Shapochka. She participated in a two week course at Umeå University …

We really like to come to Mykolayiv – it is the best thing we do during the academic year, so

we love and long to come back to the country, the city and its people.

Mykolayiv May 2011

The Black Sea Petro Mohyla Mykolayiv State University

Evaluation: underline/mark the alternative that is close to your opinion.

1. Your opinion of the course in whole (all three days):

Excellent very good good (okay) not so good bad

24 2

2. Mark to what level you consider yourself have gained a deepen knowledge about

the context of the Human Rights Declarations and Conventions.

Very much much a little not so much nothing

12 14

3. Do you think that you will have good/any use your new knowledge from this

course in your own education and everyday life?

Very much much a little not so much nothing

13 13

4. We are also very pleased if you could write your personal reflections of the

course:

First of all I’d like to say thanks for such an interesting and pleasant seminar.

During this time I found out that everyone can fight, in the limits of law, for our rights

and sometime for our freedom. These days I was trying to make something that is

usually not typical for me, for example, to draw with my left hand, while I can write,

draw only with the right one.

The film that we watched during the second day is very sad, however it made me

understand that there are ways to change the society, just we should start ourselves.

The third day showed us that we mustn’t always do what we are said to do (when we

were drawing). I suppose we should always think for ourselves to improve our life.

Furthermore I suppose that right now we shouldn’t think about the stereotypes of the

best thing in our world and avoid it.

I think that it is a great idea to make this course. It is a perfect way to get

knowledge and know to use it in present life. As for me, I got, during these 3 days a lot

of great thoughts, ideas, easy connection and I hope, new friends, with who we will

connect. This course gives us much knowledge we must have and maybe teach it

others. Also, I like to visit this course next year; I will tell my group mates about it

and invite them. During these days we talked about very important things, and you

make a great thing! Thank you for that! With love …

I like everything you do. You do a very good work. Thanks to you, many young

people, many students get a lot of information about human rights. And now we can

use all that experience in our common life. I understood that I should always stand on

my both human rights legs – and I will do it! I hope sometimes I’ll have an

opportunity to visit your country and your university. Thank you for these three days,

three great days. Thank you, with love …

Your course is very good and I appreciate the way you organize it. I like much

comprehension and intercourse, discussions. I really adore the performance we

played and think they help us to get closer and to show our ideas and understand each

other. Stories that we had written helped us to recall the cases of human rights

violation, to think of them and analyse them. I really liked this course and your way of

teaching and hope you will keep on doing it the same way. Thank you!

Frankly speaking, I liked it very much. These three days of the seminar were great. I

met a lot of new people, made new friends and improve my knowledge in human

rights. During the first day I liked so much the activity of presenting our group mates,

especially drawing of the portraits with left hand if our main hand is right and vice

versa. I am so good in drawing but still it was funny to try.

During the second day I liked the film “Pay if forward”. In the evening I was

looking in the Internet for this film. I got more information about the film and about

the movement, that has the same name and now I will try to take part in it. It is not

difficult, we should just endeavour to begin.

During the third day I liked the role play, when we were given a situation, an

emotion and a thing. Everyone managed to make nice and interesting scenes and even

sad situations looked funny. I think it means that to everything in our life attitude

should be positive. Thank you for these great three days!

I am very glad that I had an opportunity to visit this seminar. It is very interesting

for me to meet new people and to learn something new. This “something” isn’t

unimportant or useless. Human rights are an interesting topic that every person has

to know. The course was held in very pleasant and comfortable atmosphere. But we

didn’t only talk about serious things, we had fun too. It was really amazing to

communicate with new friends, to share ideas, opinions and smiles. This course

teaches to be a person, to understand whatever you fellow a right way and what can

you do to become better or to change somebody or something. I’d like to participate

in the course next year- Thank you for your ideas!

All these three days were wonderful! It was really interesting not only because you

both gave us some information about human rights (as for me I didn’t know much

from all that you’ve told us), but also it was interesting to hear what other people

think. You know, I think that in our country many people need to visit such seminars,

such kind of work is important, because thought we all are individuals and we differ

from other and it’s good, but we must remember and someone always have to remind

us that if we are together and we learn to respect each other we become stronger and

our individualities shine brighter. This course that we have had made we think about

some things that often seemed to me not really important. Your course made me jumps

out of my inner problems and tries to look around and see that we all actually need

help. I have very pleasant emotions connected with this course. I am glad that I

somehow appeared here and I’m sure I will remember this. That was great! Thank

you - Lennart and Ywonne.

For me this course was really something new and extremely interesting. Before I

didn’t have a chance to know more about human rights, so this course gave me brand

new knowledge about it. I think, that the information you gave us during this course

was important for everybody. Thanks to it, we maybe become more open and caring.

During this course I was made thinking about the world, about the people in iot, their

life and about the rights, given to people by this world.

There were so many interesting and entertaining activities; movies, games, making

scenes, communication … I really liked it all!!! This time with all of you during the

course was priceless! It was a great pleasure for me to participate in this course.

Thank you for your work, for this great opportunity for communication and for the

time we all spent together! Hope to see you soon again!

It was a useful course. I have got new information, new knowledge about human

rights. All is very important for me. Maybe I could use information in my scientific

work.

I’ve got a great opportunity to participate in these seminars. We all had a lot of

topics, problems to think about. I guess we won’t forget such experience. We all

opened our hearts, showed our consideration to all people , our awareness of their

problems. There should be people who could remind everybody about that this world

is created for all of us, because in everyday routine we forget about this at times.

Tolerance and kindness increased in … in our hearts. Thank you!

I am really happy I participated in the course of HR, because it give me a lot of

information to use in further life and a lot of lessons to learn. The course is well

developed, each part and exercises helped to learn more about the world and people

around. The atmosphere of the seminar was pleasant and warm and helped to open

one’s mind and speak up. There was breaking the barriers between people, nations

and just inside each participant – barriers and walls and prejudices in our minds. I

feel very free and open to the world after all these considerations. I stared feeling

power to do something good, to help someone to have better life or, at least, better

day. Moreover, I have a desire to do it. I am looking forward to see such great

teachers next year. Thank you a lot, dear Lennart and Ywonne.

I think this course is very useful. And I do not regret that I’ve participated in this

seminar. And of course, if I had a chance to attend this course once again, I would do

it. I think no one should skip such a chance. It is interesting and very important

information that we’ve learnt here. But this … not only just getting new information. I

am convinced that my thoughts, reflections and convictions are correct, that I’ve

chosen the right way to go in my life. I am the part of society – the inseparable part,

and so are the other people. It’s important that others could realize it as well. We are

like small details of a huge mechanism – a society. We live together and interact and

to communicate with other individuals we should have the knowledge in the sphere of

human rights. Being a human being we all have the right to dignity, liberty and

equality. Thank you!

This course is interesting, useful and cool for me. I will advise my friends to take a

part in this course in next year. I understood how it is important to have human rights

in our lives. I understood how it is important to have freedom, liberty and

brotherhood in our society. Thank you Lennart and Ywonne for your visit in our

country!!! Welcome to Ukraine next year.

I like this course very much. It was interesting, useful and fun at the same time.

There were a lot of information and I really like our tasks and discussions with group

mates and with you. You are really very nice people, I was glad to communicate with.

Everything was amazing, thank you for this course and for the time that you spend

with us. With best wishes!!! I will be very happy to go to Sweden and meet you again!

Thank you very much for making this course for us. It is nice to see you again!!! I

am not for the first time on this conference but it is not prevent me to get something

new. Spending time with you is always great and interesting. With love …

I love this course. I enjoyed every day passed here! I met here new friends. This

course helps to develop ourselves. Maybe, in future you can make more games and

group work. But I think that these three days were excellent. I hope you also enjoy

spending these days with us. Thank you very much. I’m really happy to see you

again!!!

Dear Lennart and Ywonne! Thank you for having spent three unforgettable days

together!!! It was very pleasant to meet you again! That was REALLY GREAT!

Thought I attend your course last year, it was very interesting to re-discover the

world of human rights! I’ve revised the information I’ve learnt before and, of course,

found out something new. I think, such kind of experience cannot be replaced with,

any other ones. I hope we will continue being friends! You are very interesting and

kind people! I wish you good luck! Best wishes …

Thanks for all! It was super! I will use my new knowledge from this course in my

life!!! Lennart and Ywonne, I will never forget you! You are wonderful people! With

love! I hope to see you soon!

Thank you very much! These three days are unforgettable! It was very interesting to

listen to you and discuss together different questions about human rights. It was very

useful and pleasant experience to visit your course. I’m sure that these three days will

change for better my life and help me to improve my native country. I would be very

happy to see you one more time. With great love from Ukraine!

I am so happy to meet you! Thank you for your very interesting course! I will be

happy if you come to Mykolayiv again and again. I believe that after your course I

can improve the situation in Ukraine. With love …

I can tell you that your course is so interesting, energetic, beautiful, funny and I

know you can change some part of course. I know a lot about human rights because

I’m learning the politology so much. Thank you very much that you can get so more

information about HR! Sincere …

This course helped us to pay more attention to the problem of human rights, to find

out a lot of useful things, to … sea that human rights are the most important things in

people’s life. It was very bright three days; they provide us not only for reflection, but

also for some actions. We smiled a lot, cried a little, felt the whole scale of emotions.

Played different games, drew pictures, and watched the movie. All that helped us to

broad our mind, to view on well-known problems from different angle. We are looking

forward to our next meeting!!!”

I like your course very much in all cases, but lectures that Lennart gave us was

interesting but a little bit hard to understand. Anyhow I love your courses. I already

know I will use knowledge that I got here in real everyday life. Thank you very much

for these great three days.

This amazing course was something new and unexpected that has happened to me.

It gave me a huge amount of positive emotions though. It was a pleasure to work with

you during these three days. I’m looking forward to having our next year spring

session and I hope to take part in it as well. Sincerely …

I am very glad to visit this course so I received many interesting information for use

in a life or education. I think this course give me some communication ability. Lennart

and Ywonne are very friendly. During all three days I had positive impressions, smile

and so on. I think this course help me better understand our life and changed on the

best. So I am very pleased! I love you! You are the best!

I have the rights legs & every time I’m against I stand on them. This is a good

lesson, thank you. You really inspire me and now, looking at you, I see that future is

in my hands. Future is better than I imagine it. Human rights are the topic that we

need to discuss in Ukraine. This was the great opportunity. Come back soon!!!

Thank you for your active participation,

for your comments on our course, and

your suggestions for improvement so that

we can make a course like this a step better

next time…

Lennart & Ywonne

Mykolayiv May 2011

The Mykolayiv State University named after Sukhomlynsky

Evaluation: underline/mark the alternative that is close to your opinion.

1. Your opinion of the course in whole (all three days):

Excellent very good good (okay) not so good bad

22 4

2. Mark to what level you consider yourself have gained a deepen knowledge about

the context of the Human Rights Declarations and Conventions.

Very much much a little not so much nothing

6 18 2

3. Do you think that you will have good/any use your new knowledge from this

course in your own education and everyday life?

Very much much a little not so much nothing

13 13

4. We are also very pleased if you could write your personal reflections of the

course:

Dear Lennart and Ywonne! This course was amazing and that knowledge that you

gave us especially that you gave me, I think will help me and the others in the future.

These three days I will remember to the end of my life. Now and further I will know

how and what I can do for myself and the others in this world. Now I have more

knowledge and strength to do something and I will use this chance.

It was a great pleasure to meet you and spend time together in communication. I

Hope to be in touch with you for the rest of our lives! I hope you had a great time with

all of us, and I hope to see you next year in Mykolayiv again.

I would like to express only the best reflections and experience of the course. Three

days were very different and full of new emotions. Except of getting the information

about human right I was glad to communicate with such interesting group, and of

course, with you Lennart and Ywonne. Your activity, your tasks and exercises were

excellent. I have been at such seminar for the first time and I’m impressed. I wish you

all the best and good luck! It will be very pleasant if you visit us again. Thank you!

The course was very interesting and I knew more information about human rights. I

find new friend. I saw new people. It was an excellent course with kind and friendly

people, especially Lennart and Ywonne. I want to meet them one more time in the next

year. All three days was very interesting. Lennart and Ywonne – thank you very much

for your job.

The new experience in a new vision on the things that you know. For these three

days I found out a lot of important things. I reckon that this experience in one of the

most pleasant ones in my life and that’s why I don’t regret that I agreed to take part

in this course. The main goal for me was to try to listen to people, try to understand

them and of course to impress my own feelings and ideas, thoughts etc. I hope, no, I

know that this course will be my step forward to the future. I come closer to people, to

their ideas, and I shared with them ideas, happiness, laughs’… I found out, what is

brotherhood, equality and respect to each other. Thank you my teachers, Lennart and

Ywonne for your work. Kind regards!

I like you and your course very much. It was really excellent! I wish to attend your

courses more and to communicate with you Lennart and with you Ywonne. I regret

only one thing that your course last only for three days. I wish it would be more time

to enjoy your company. Hope to see you again, maybe in Sweden!

Dear Lennart and Ywonne! Thank you for your course. I have spent three good days

and have found out a lot of news and very useful information about human rights. I

saw film and heard a lot of ideas that changed my views on life and people (in a good

way). Thank you for everything.

I am very glad that I participated in this course. It was interesting for me. It is also

a great experience. My knowledge is deeper. I can use this information in my life. The

exercises that we have done were very interesting and useful. I had a lot of thought

during the course. And I have a will to find more information about human rights,

human rights violation, how we can prevent it and what we can do. I want to find

more information about Sweden, about history of HR. I have a very good impression

of the course. Thanks for this time. It was excellent.

I liked this course. It was very interesting to know something new, new information

about human rights, to read the Declaration of Human Rights. There were interesting

exercises; we played different scenes on the theme human rights. All was fun and

interesting!. It was more interesting when we spoke ourselves about human rights

problems. We practised our English, we improved our knowledge. I would have more

such exercises. It would be better and more interesting for students.

Thank you very much for this interesting course. These three days were wonderful.

Your information was very interesting and necessary nowadays. I really know today

much better human rights and I will try to do many good acts that to make better our

entire world. I hope you will come to us next year. I will be very glad to see you

again.

Thank you for knowledge about human rights. It was very interesting. The

information was very important especially for me. The film was strong – I was crying.

The atmosphere is very good. I believe that I can change my life.

I was very impressed, and it was very interesting, important and informative course.

During these three days we have had a of conversations such as discussions

regarding human rights, some society and political issues, discussed our human

rights cases and have a very good time here. Also we met friends, those who we have

never met before, so it’s something like a symbol of the course. We were thinking

about the world, and even if we had some different views it was more interesting than

ordinary classes. I am very pleased that I took part in this course and I’m sure that

most of us have changed their minds so now we are looking on this differently! Thank

you - Lennart and Ywonne.

I was glad to have come to this course. I have found much new information for

myself and know a lot about human rights. I really enjoyed the time. I hope that it will

help me in my future life. I’ve also met many new friends here. I visited this course the

first time but I hope not the last! I also liked the way the courses were held. It was

very interesting for me. I hope to meet Ywonne and Lennart again next year.

I’d liked this course very much. It were very interesting these days. I’d learned a lot

of new things about human rights and I think I will have a good use of my new

knowledge in my own education and in future life. I enjoy all the games and different

situations that we pass by during these three days. I am very happy that I pass this

course. Thank you very much, Lennart and Ywonne.

So we had a three day course, on which we discussed the topic Human Rights. This

course has brought me a lot of positive impressions. When I first came here the main

reason where: to get new information about human rights; to find new friends; to

communicate in English; to improve my knowledge. And now sitting here at the end of

our three day course I can truly admit that I have fulfilled all these aims. And now I

regret only one thing that – that we were meeting only for three days. I’d love to

spend more time on such a course, because its main topic is worth to be spoken about.

We had very interesting three days of the course about HR. I got new information

and new knowledge. It’s really very useful for teenagers, young generation. I think

that we will have a very good future, if people think about those things and

understand them. Here I met new people and made new friends.

I’ve got much new knowledge when we spoke about human rights. The course was

very interesting. I have made new friends. A god way of practise English.

I think the course is perfect. I’ve got a lot of new knowledge on HR. The course is

very interesting. I hope you will come back next year. I have made new friends. A

good way of practising my English.

I am really glad that such an event takes place in our university and I have an

opportunity to visit it. I found out a lot of human rights subject. I think the course is

really perfect, because it combines not only theoretical material but also funny

exercises which helped us to relax, to find new friends and to apply our own

knowledge and new information in practice. Besides I fully enjoyed the discussions we

had. It was really nice to encourage us …, to share your opinion, listen to others and

to find out new compromises.

I hope you will come next year and I will attend your course one more time. It is a

perfect possibility to get some European experience. PS Lennart and Ywonne – I liked

your course so much, not only because of your lectures but because of your energy

and charismatic characters. You made people think and realize the importance of

such meetings.

I was very glad to receive knowledge from this course and also to know such nice

and interesting people. Also I was glad to find new friends here. These three days

were amazing for me. I have got interesting and helpful information about human

rights. I enjoyed very much exercises we did and film we watched. I would like to visit

such courses one more time, as it’s really developing humanity in every people. It

helps us to understand how important it is to hear each other, to understand each

other and to be helpful to each other.

From human rights course I made a lot of conclusions for myself and it is really

cool I have such opportunity. I want to say big thank you for such knowledge and

experience!!! I will be glad to take part in such meetings again. Thank You!

To be honest, your course is a very good thing! If you come next year I will be very

happy and of course visit your course again. Thank you for very important

information about my rights. You forced me to think about different things. I mean my

behaviour, actions, dignity and responsibility! Lennart and Ywonne, you are very kind

and good persons and I think that all Swedish people like you! Thank you for the

course!

Wonderful! I think that common situations of friendship and cooperating will help

me in my life because I’m ready to act for changes in our post-Soviet society. I also

would like to use HR exercises with my students, to show them the importance of

respecting themselves and the others. This will be my first step for changing mentality

of others in good way. Thank you very much for useful experience, for interesting

overview of HR. I will be very happy to see you in Nikolayaev!!!

Excellent! Wonderful! Amazing! I would like to thank you for such course. It gave

me a chance to practise my English and gave me knowledge about HRs; and it was

very interesting to discuss HR-cases, also the many exercises we did. I think,

nowadays, to know info about HRs is very important. Thank you once more. I am glad

to know you!

I would like to thank you for such three wonderful days. It is really amazing – we

have known many facts about HR. As a teacher, I’ve discovered for myself a great

amount of exercises. I am sure I will use them all at my classes. After watching the

movie, I’ve checked the internet for extra information and was pleased to get to know

about the real movement “Pay it forward”, so I think we should start in our university

to make our students be more kind and respectful.

Besides, you are such wonderful people. Very optimistic!!! Thanks to you, I’ve

changed my attitude to life (though I am rather optimistic, I had some hesitations

about it), but now I know for sure that optimism and kindness are very important! I

am happy now for meeting such people like you. Good luck in everything!

This course helps me to know a lot of information about human rights. They help me

to be more open for people. I know many interesting information for these three days.

I like all exercises what we have done, and I have opened one my mind for … it is

drawing!!! Thank you for this very useful course!!! I hope we will see you next year!!!

I want to thank you for our opportunity to study the HR course. It is really useful

and funny and positively influenced my ideas. I will be glad to use some of your ideas

in our class work. I’m sure my students will love these activities the same as I do.

Thanks to you I felt free and happy and I got acquainted to members of our group

really close. Thank You!

Thank you for your active participation,

for your comments on our course, and

your suggestions for improvement so that

we can make a course like this a step better

next time…

Lennart & Ywonne

Literature about human rights - past, present and future …

http://eycb.coe.int/compass/

http://eycb.coe.int/compasito/default.htm

LIVING DEMOCRACY - Educational book from Counsel of Europe – to download as

pdf.

http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/education/edc/default_EN.asp?

http://youth-partnership-eu.coe.int/youth-partnership/publications/T-kits/T_kits

Training Kits has several good books as pdf in many different languages