OUTLOOK for the International Day of Tolerance...

A friendly and relaxed atmosphere accompanied the event held under the title Ethno-Get-Togethers, which was organized specifically for third-year students of the Kyiv National University of Culture and Arts in order to draw their attention to the ethnic diversity of our country.

Nowadays Ukraine is home to over 100 ethnic groups with total number of about 14 million people. Each of them has its authentic traditions, cultural characteristics which are being kept outside the country of origin. Therefore, the notion of "multi-ethnic Ukraine" is always relevant and requires consideration.

To do this, especially designated to the launch of the week of tolerance, which is held annually at the Library - the organizers invited speakers who spoke about the specifics of residence of various diasporas in the territory of Ukraine. Thus, the head of the NGO Ukrainian Creative Reformers Lilia Tkachenko presented the audience with her creative documentary entitled Multi-Ethnic Ukraine. As a director and author of the idea, Lilia has demonstrated a real everyday life of the Poles, Moldovans, Hungarians, Tatars, Belarusians and Jews residing in Ukraine. Having travelled through our country, she managed to mingle and join the life and customs of different nations.

The head of the International Fund for Cultural Cooperation Vlada Litovchenko, during her speech told the guests about the work of the Fund which is also connected with the peculiarities of working with different National Minorities. As part of the Ethno-Get-Togethers Vlada presented the project "Bridges of Friendship" organized jointly with the Embassy of Palestine in Ukraine. It is an exhibition of drawings created by Ukrainian orphans under the common themes of Happy Childhood and The Cultural Heritage of My Country.

In our turn, the OUTLOOK team prepared the thematic quiz for the participants. theoutlook.com.ua chief editor Darya Karyakina offered to students to solve a crossword puzzle in cognitive cells of which there were encrypted titles of nationalities living here in Ukraine. Guessing the questions that were asked in an interactive format, each participant was able to get some souvenirs from the country to which belongs name of the people that was encrypted. As well as to broaden their horizons while listening to interesting facts about the more than 15 diasporas, their numbers, activities and uniqueness.

A phrase pronounced in the Arabic was an excellent clue to solve in a crossword encrypted nationality of the "Syrians". The first participant who answered was presented with oriental sweets brought out from Damascus. The guests also liked a "gourmet" question in which everyone can sample one of the variations of the Egyptian dish sambusik. In addition to emotions and knowledge, students will keep good memories thanks to dolls in traditional costumes of Belarus and Lithuania, Turkmen handmade accessories, Kyrgyz tea sets made from felt.

Finally Darya Karyakina invited all comers to paint the symbol of tolerance and present it to the audience, explaining all the meanings that have been embedded in the picture. Guests of the event supported this idea eagerly and came up with excellent logos. As a result, the participants have chosen the best one, and its author received prizes.

The OUTLOOK team thanks the organizers for the opportunity to participate in this important event. Being a project about the world and pay special attention to cultural diplomacy and inter-ethnic dialogue, and our immediate goal is to bring people together and to instill love and patience with each other, we are pleased to support such initiatives!

Photos from the event are presented in the gallery!