On 30 September 2017 in Curitiba, Brazil, a conference titled “UWC at 50 and beyond: The South American Vector” marked the 50th anniversary of the Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) with the participation of representatives of Ukrainian community organizations in Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay.
The conference, organized by UWC member organization Ukrainian-Brazilian Central Representation, was the fourth in a series of conferences organized by the UWC in 2017 to include various regions of the world in an analysis of its achievements to date and development of a roadmap for the future.
Words of welcome were delivered by President of the Ukrainian-Brazilian Central Representation Vitorio Sorotiuk, who was also the moderator of the conference.
During the conference, presentations were made by UWC President Eugene Czolij on the topic “Past accomplishments of the UWC and a vision for the future”, Professors of the Slavic Department of Unicentro University Marileia Gartner and Luciane Trennephol Da Costa on teaching the Ukrainian language and the first accreditation of 15 professors who teach it, and Professor of Ukrainian languages at Federal University of Parana Olga Kalko on teaching Ukrainian language courses.
Two authors presented their books during the conference: Jorge Balanda presented “Nashi Llude” on the history of Ukrainians in the Province of Misiones and Emilio Gaudeda presented “Herois Nao Morrem” (Heroes never die) featuring biographies of 44 individuals who contributed to the development of Ukrainian community in life in Brazil.
“The Ukrainian World Congress congratulates the Ukrainian-Brazilian Central Representation for a successful conference on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the UWC on South American soil,” stated UWC President Eugene Czolij.
In the photo from left: M. Czaikowski and E. Czolij