"Improving Through Learning"

June – November 2017: Project "Improving Through Learning"

Implemented in partnership with the Chernivtsi Regional Universal Scientific Library named after M. Ivasiuk, with the support of the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the DVV International project and the IDC "Integration and Development" initiative, titled "A Learning Community: Transforming Conflicts in Ukraine and Moldova Through Active Civic Participation."

Issues Addressed by the Project

The project aimed to tackle the following challenges:

• Rapid obsolescence of knowledge and skills (approximately 5% of theoretical and 20% of professional knowledge is updated annually).
• Discrepancy between the formal education system and the growing demand for new knowledge and skills.
• Issues of mutual understanding and trust in multiethnic regions (such as Chernivtsi Oblast), particularly concerning the rights of ethnic communities, internally displaced persons, and ATO veterans.

Project Concept

The initiative aimed to strengthen the partnership between the Public Resources and Initiatives Charitable Foundation and the Chernivtsi Regional Universal Scientific Library to further develop the Open University for Adults, which was established in 2016. This informal regional cultural and educational platform facilitates open dialogue and civic engagement.

Educational Programs of the Open University for Adults (2017)

1. Healthy Lifestyle Course

• Topics covered: balanced nutrition, physical exercise, stress management, memory improvement, cognitive speed enhancement, and achieving harmony with oneself and the external world.
• Duration: June – July 2017
• Participants: 93

1. Critical Thinking Development Course

• Topics covered: civic activism through digital tools, gender equality, media influence, protection from manipulation, online privacy, and cybersecurity.
• Duration: June – November 2017
• Participants: 209

1. Romanian Language Course

• Provided basic knowledge of the Romanian language, along with an introduction to Romanian culture and traditions.
• Duration: June – August 2017
• Participants: 30

1. Creative Thinking Development Course

• Focused on creative thinking techniques, avoiding clichés, blog writing, and autobiographical storytelling.
• Duration: September – October 2017
• Participants: 126

1. Acting Skills Course (in Brusnytsia, Kitsman District)

• Training in acting fundamentals, stage speech and movement, and personal artistic development.
• Duration: August – October 2017
• Participants: 12

Additional Activities

• Library Staff Training Program (15 participants).
• Cultural events (ethnic heritage tours of Chernivtsi, poetry evenings, literary readings with Ivanna Stefanyuk, and a theatrical performance of "Teremok: A New Take" in Brusnytsia, Kitsman District).
• Public engagement initiatives, including:

• • Flash mobs: "Want to Know More?" and "Have You Read It?"

  • "Five Shades of Red" – a discussion on wine culture.

Impact and Results

• 800 participants engaged in the Open University for Adults throughout 2017.
• The project contributed to lifelong learning, civic engagement, and social inclusion, fostering a culture of continuous personal and community development.