They are as old as Ukraine, they love and respect their country but see their futures elsewhere
They are as old as Ukraine and, while they love and respect their country, they see their futures somewhere else.
“I love Ukraine, of course, but I don’t want to live here. It is impossible to work in this state,” said Vitaliy Chervinskiy, a young Kyiv resident who finishes school next year.
His attitude is prevalent, according to a poll of 17-year-olds. The survey of the first post-Soviet generation was conducted by the Democratic Initiatives Foundation and Nova Doba History and Social Sciences Teachers Association, both Kyiv-based think tanks. It surveyed 1, 349 graduates of 43 secondary schools nationwide in October and November.
“Their view of their own future and that of the country is different. They are more patriotic, pragmatic and interested in high-quality education,” according to Svitlana Bernadska, who has taught in Crimea for the last 25 years.
More than 93 percent of Ukrainian teens consider themselves to be citizens of Ukraine. But only 45 percent said they plan to live and work only in Ukraine, citing Western Europe, Russia and the United States as possible destinations.
“I would like to live and work in Ukraine. The reason is simple: it’s my motherland,” said Yevhen Pastukhov, who graduates from secondary school next year. But this reason is not good enough for others. “I hardly imagine my future here. I wish to move to a country with higher living standards,” Iryna Moroz said.
The majority of Ukraine’s youth are critical of democracy as the best way to run the country: some 41 percent said Ukraine does not need democracy but a “strong hand” that will bring order, while 17 percent said they are willing to sacrifice democratic rights. Only 19 percent expressed full support for democracy.
“We already have democracy, it gave nothing to Ukraine. So it makes sense to try ‘strong hand,’ but not like Josef Stalin’s,” Serhiy Kozhevnikov said. “The country is a complete mess. We need a strong leader to bring order, like in Russia.”
But Chervinskiy disagreed. “There is no real democracy in Ukraine. But I am against giving power to a ‘strong hand.’ It can lead to unpredictable results.”
Iryna Bekeshkina, a sociologist with Democratic Initiatives Foundation, explained the apparent contradiction in views on democracy.
“It’s a reaction to the current [political] mess,” Bekeshkina said. “If we were to ask adults the same question, there would be even more people calling for a ‘strong hand.’’’
Psychiatrist Semen Gluzman, a Soviet-era dissident and human rights activist, said talk about the need for a strong leader is not necessarily in conflict with supporting democratic values. “I think children define ‘strong hand’ as rule of law, not as the rule of an authoritarian leader,” he said.
The poll found that only 39 percent want to participate in social and political life. Similarly low percentages were found in these areas: 24 percent are willing to become involved in resolving problems in their communities; 25 percent said they regularly follow Ukraine’s political events, have firm political convictions and are ready to participate in protests or rallies; 23 percent of Ukraine’s teenagers said they support a specific political party.
Two-thirds of Ukraine’s teens defined an “active citizen” as someone who knows how to protect his or her rights while respecting the rights of others, obeys laws, respects national symbols is ready to defend the country and knows its history.
Only 22 percent said that good citizenship means respecting government officials while another 22 percent defined it as participating in local government. Only 11 percent said that being an active citizen means being a member of a political party.
Other features distinguishing the country’s teens from older generations are their self-confidence, independence and tendency to rely on their own resources to resolve problems and build a future career. The poll showed that Ukraine’s teens think their future will be foremost affected by three factors: education, health and their own strength of character. Fewer believe that their future depends on help from “influential people.”
“Today’s youth don’t demonstrate the paternalism of older generations,” Bekeshkina said. Kozhevnikov agreed: “To reach success and build a career I need a good education and experience as a trainee in a serious company.”
The poll also indicated that 43 percent of young people lack knowledge on how to protect their rights.
Some 48 percent said they do not know about Ukraine’s governmental system, including what taxes must be paid and how state budgets are formed.
The poll found some reason for optimism. “The children’s answers show that in 10 years they could change the situation in Ukraine for the better,” said Gluzman, adding that Ukraine’s young people are increasingly embracing European values.
