Oksana Andrusyak

Previous EYP experience
Active EYP member since 2004;

Positions taken:
Board Member on PR (2004-2005),
Vice-President on PR and International Activities (2005-2007),
President (2007-2009);

Sessions attended:
47th International Session in Berlin, 2004 (delegate),
Riga Regional Session 2005 (journalist),
49th International Session in Basel, 2005 (delegate),
Bialystok Regional Session 2005 (vice-president),
Kyiv Regional Session 2006 (organizer),
52nd International Session in Riga, 2006 (international organizer),
53rd International Session in Kyiv, 2006 (organizer),
54th International Session in Potsdam, 2007 (chair),
National Selection 2007 in Kyiv (organizer),
57th International Session in Prague, 2008 (BNC representative),
National Selection 2008 in Kyiv (organizer).

Why you want to be elected?
EYP has become an important part of my life since 2004 when I first met the members of EYP-Ukraine and went to Berlin International Session to represent Ukraine. It just happened that people I saw for the first time in my life – accepted me as their good friend from the moment we started talking, trusted me from the first activity I took part in, relied upon me from the first task I tackled, supported me in everything I did for organization and in my non-EYP life. EYP-Ukraine added a lot to my personal and professional growth: many things that I know and can do – were first experienced in EYP: communication and analytical skills, creative thinking, project and crisis management, knowledge about youth actions and ways of youth empowerment and many more.

And it is of the people that I still am and still want to be active in EYP: people make our organization the way it is: work and fun at the same time. People make me feel comfortable and supported whatever I do: cutting badges for participants at night before the session, asking for money from strangers – on the phone, via email and in person, delivering a speech at the session, brainstorming during the strategic meeting, celebrating Halloween or dancing a Zulu dance on Arsenalna square with tens of people staring.

I have been a President of EYP-Ukraine for two past years: during this period of time our organization has undergone a remarkable stage of development: in 2008-2009 we have conducted 2 national sessions, 5 regional sessions, several workshops and trainings, 25 mini-sessions in 25 Ukrainian cities within Inter-Rail project, several General Assemblies; the members of EYP-Ukraine have participated in tens of regional and international sessions all over Europe. These are the achievements the current Board and the whole leadership of EYP-Ukraine share credit for.

When EYP-Ukraine’s application to conduct a second International Session in Ukraine in 2010 was approved by EYP-International, I, as a member of the initiative team, felt a commitment to make everything possible for the session to be a success – so, I started thinking of how I could contribute to it most effectively. It was then when I thought about running for the presidency again. Right now with the elections approaching I realized that the session is not the main reason. The reason is that I am not yet ready to become an alumnus of EYP-Ukraine and start living a not-normal life (life can’t be normal without EYP anymore): I want to continue my work in EYP, to be involved into the organisation’s activities and what is most important I want to work with people who are active in EYP – people I like, people I respect and people I trust and value. Thus, my motivation is originally twofold: I still want to continue contributing to EYP and I still want EYP to continue making me happy.

How will you contribute to the work of the European Youth Parliament – Ukraine?
If elected I will try my utmost in:

- efficient supervision of the work of organisation’s departments,

- strengthening and improving the organisational structure of our organisation,

- establishing and developing a regional net of EYP representatives in all regions of Ukraine,

- developing effective strategy of fund-raising, thus ensuring the financial security of EYP-Ukraine.

What are your plans for the term you are running for?
Strategic Action Plan for 2010-2011

(developed by current leadership and Board of EYP-Ukraine)

The aims of the action plan for the next two years are to introduce EYP to over 5000 young and active Ukrainian youth, encourage them to take an active part in the public life of their communities and contribute to the development and strengthening of the civil society in Ukraine, empower them with the knowledge and skills to initiate and organise youth events/actions in their home cities/towns

Among the activities planned for 2010-2011 are:
• 2 trainings for regional representatives of EYP-Ukraine (to empower and encourage them develop EYP in their home cities/regions),
• 2 national selection sessions (to introduce EYP to active young people of Ukraine and select Ukrainian delegations to international and regional EYP events),
• ‘Invite EYP to your school’ Project (to introduce the unique EYP methodology to over 5000 young and active Ukrainian youth from 150 schools, communicate democratic values of the EU to them, and therefore enable school students to develop their personal skills and knowledge, discuss urgent economic, politic, social and environmental problems of Europe),
• 5 regional sessions (to empower active participants from schools and universities with skills and knowledge necessary for conducting youth projects in their home cities/towns),
• 1 international forum (to provide young Ukrainians with an opportunity of international communication, of international communication, knowledge and experience sharing and broadening the outlook),
• 1 international session (to develop EYP-Ukraine as EYP NC as well as improve Ukraine’s image, on youth level in particular),
• regular General Assemblies of the members (admission of new members to the organisation),
• celebration of the 10th Anniversary of EYP-Ukraine (to celebrate EYP-Ukraine’s birthday, re-establish the connections with the diplomatic representative offices of European countries, existing and potential partners, emphasize the position and image of the organisation among pro-European NGOs),
• regular working and partying meetings of the leadership and members of organisation.