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Brief Info about Democratic Alliance
“Democratic Alliance” is All-Ukrainian Youth Public Organization, which unites thousands of politically active young people all over Ukraine.
The mission of the organization:
To prepare, on the basis of Christian Democracy, new, responsible, patriotically-oriented, civil-political elite of the country, by means of creating conditions for development, improvement and realization of youth to the benefit of Ukrainian people.
The history of “Democratic Alliance”
The first initiative groups on establishing the organization originated in July 1994 in several cities of Ukraine. About 100 delegates from the most regions of the country took part in the Constitutive Congress on 29 April 1995.The organization was registered on 26 January 1996 according to the judgement of the Ministry of Justice ¹711.The registered organization was named – All-Ukrainian YPO “Christian-democratic Youth of Ukraine” (CDYU). In December 1996 CDYU become the member of DEMYC and in 1998 the member of YEPP as the youth organization of the Reforms & Order party. In June 2007 during the Congress of the organization there was made a decision to change its name. The new name of the organization is All-Ukrainian YPO “Democratic Alliance”. In October 2007 Democratic Alliance become the full member of the Robert Shuman Institute.
Ideological principles of “Democratic Alliance”
The main task of “Democratic Alliance” activity is overall realization of legal, social, economic, creative and other common interests, abilities, rights and liberties of young people on the basis of Christian Democratic ideology.
The main tasks of the organization are:
- spreading the ideas of Christian Democracy in society;
- creation of favourable conditions for overall development and expression of individuality of young people on principles of Christian ethics;
- increasing the level of public activity and patriotism of youth;
- realization of enlightenment (public education) activity;
- revival and popularization of the Ukrainian cultural heritage;
- propagation of a healthy life-style;
- assistance in establishment of the religious peace in Ukraine;
- assistance in the activity of Ukrainian political parties which stand up for the idea of realization of state policy on basis of Christian Democracy;
Governing bodies
The highest authority of “Democratic Alliance” is the Congress, which is convened not less than one time per two years.
In the period between the Congresses a governing body of “Democratic Alliance” is the Coordination Council, which is formed by the Heads of regional branches and the Board members of the organization.
In the period between Congresses and sessions of “Democratic Alliance” Coordination Council, the activities of the organization are governed by its National Board.
The chairman of the organization leads the sessions of the Coordination Council and "Democratic Alliance" Board meetings and also realizes operative management of organization between its sessions.
Realizing the necessity of the development of democracy and civil society in Ukraine “Democratic Alliance” always paid much attention to the processes which hastened and intensified it.
Since the day of its establishing “Democratic Alliance” held hundreds of different activities (seminars and conferences, congresses and round-table discussions) on local, Ukrainian and international levels on the subjects of political education of youth, democratization of Ukrainian society, honesty and transparency of the elections in the country, development of independent mass-media, Christian-Democratic ideology, students’ and pupils’ self-governing, European integration, activation of youth social movement, training of patriotically-oriented young political elite of Ukraine.
“Democratic Alliance” took an active part in establishing youth unions, the activity of which was aimed at protection and spreading the democratic values in Ukraine. Thus, the organization became one of the initiators of the youth coalition “Our Ukraine”.
The members of the organization took an active part in, Free Initiative “Students’ Wave”, and the Heads of some regional branches of Democratic Alliance were regional leaders of this movement, which was one of the strongest leading forces of Orange Revolution.
Hundreds of representatives of organization become members of Councils of different levels and work in state authorities.
Last several years Democratic Alliance has made an accent on such activities:
- increase of the role of youth in political life of the state, its participation planning and realization of state policy. Creation of favourable conditions for the development of the leadership features of Ukrainian youth in the contest of preparing responsible and patriotically-oriented political elite of Ukraine. Since 2005 „Democratic Alliance” realizes all-Ukrainian project „School of Young Leader „Start with yourself – change the country!”;
- assistance in raising the attention of Ukrainian youth to working out a strategy of Ukrainian integration to European and Euro-Atlantic structures. Since 2005 „Democratic Alliance” is realizes all-Ukrainian informational enlightening project „Youth on the Way to Europe!”;
- enlargement of youth knowledge about the spectrum of political ideologies and increase of the supporters of Christian-Democracy in Ukraine. Since 2007 „Democratic Alliance” makes all-Ukrainian project „School of Young Politic „Let’s go together!”.
Realizing the necessity of overcoming negative effects of interconfessional confrontation and their harm to Ukrainian society, understanding topicality of establishing friendship relations between church confessions and non-government organizations of Ukraine, aspiring to engage youth of different confessions into the participation in social-political life of the country, for the sake of mutual understanding and realizing mutual interconfessional projects, on 12-19 September 1999 on the eve of 2000 anniversary of the Christ’s birth with benediction of hierarchs and heads of Ukrainian Christian churches, CDYU (Since 2007 Democratic Alliance) initiated the realization of the congress of Christian youth which was held by the patronage of the President of Ukraine in Kiev.
During the Congress, in which more than 2000 participants from all the regions of Ukraine and from abroad took part, the questions of engaging Christian youth into social projects, coordination of the efforts considering mutual struggling with negative phenomenon in youth sphere and the question of Christian education were discussed. The President of Ukraine, Hierarchs, the heads of state committees for family, youth and religion took part in the congress. The delegates of the congress made a decision to create coordinating body for the constant work in youth sphere, “Interconfessional Council of Christian Youth”, the part of which formed the representatives of youth organizations and youth of different confessions.
So, the congress which was initiated by CDYU (Since 2007 Democratic Alliance) became the first ponderable step to establishing the dialogue between youth and state organizations and youth of different confessions.
Together with Interconfessional Council of Christian youth, our organization accomplishes activity in the youth sphere. Since the Congress in 1999 CDYU (Since 2007 Democratic Alliance) and Interconfessional Council of Christian Youth organized solemn celebration of 2000 anniversary of Christ’s birth in Kiev – “Ukrainian Christmas”, in which thousands of Kiev residents and guests of our ancient city took part; we also took part in XV World Day of Youth which was held in Rome; we held „The day of open doors” in theological establishments of eight Christian confessions for the first time in our country, as the search of mutual ways in theoretical and practical work of religious establishments and familiarization with the programmes of study, spiritual life and everyday life of students; we published the first interconfessional chronicle “Millennium”, which clears up the activity of social and missionary work of Christian interconfessional youth.
Since 2000 CDYU (Since 2007 Democratic Alliance) together with “Interconfessional Council of Christian youth” and with the support of the Ministry for Family, Youth and Sport of Ukraine makes Interconfessional international camps, which are aimed at consolidation of affords of interconfessional church communities and youth organizations for the continuation of Christian dialogue and solving the social problems of Ukrainian society.
During all the period of its existence „Democratic Alliance” paid much attention to the international aspects of its activity.
Because of the active position on the international youth scene our organization got a full membership in such two youth European organizations as YEPP (Youth European Peoples Party) and DEMYC (Democrat Youth Community of Europe).
CDYU (Since 2007 Democratic Alliance) became the member of DEMYC in 1996, and the member of YEPP in 1998 as the youth organization of the Reforms & Order Party.
Hard and fruitful work in these two youth structures gave our representatives an opportunity to be elected to the governing bodies of YEPP and DEMYC. Thus, in 2001 Vladislav Sinyagovskij, who at that time was the General Secretary of CDYU (Since 2007 Democratic Alliance), became the Vice-president of DEMYC. Before, in 1999-2000 Vladislav was elected the representative of YEPP in the European Youth Forum. In 2004 Galina Fomenchenko who was the International secretary of the organization, became the Vice-president of YEPP. In 2008 next International Secretary of Democratic Alliance was elected as the Vice-President of YEPP.
So, “Democratic Alliance” is one of only few organizations in Ukraine, whose representatives are the members of the governing bodies of the biggest youth European formations.
During the time of its activity in YEPP and DEMYC “Democratic Alliance” triggered different decisions and political resolutions. The activity of the organization promoted the establishment of the partner relations with many European youth organizations, which were incarnated in dozens of realized projects in Ukraine and abroad. In 2003 CDYU (Since 2007 Democratic Alliance) hosted YEPP seminar in Kyiv and in 2007 DEMYC seminar.
Except its traditional activity in aforementioned European platforms, the organization actively cooperates with PanEuropean Union and has the full membership in Robert Schuman Institute.
It’s worth mentioning that “Democratic Alliance” became the only national youth organization in Europe and the only representative of Ukraine which has the membership in Robert Schuman Institute. So, in 2007 Robert Schuman Institute has already become the third international organization, after YEPP and DEMYC, in which “Democratic Alliance” has the full membership.
The representatives of “Democratic Alliance” visit dozens of international activities which are held in different European countries every year, the leaders of the organization has a big number of meetings with the politicians of European level.
“Democratic Alliance” realizes active bilateral cooperation with centre-right European youth organizations.
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