Pages of history

An idea to create the youth organization of People's Movement of Ukraine (Rukh) came into being in the political active student's surroundings in spring 1993. The members of the Ukrainian Student's Association (USA’s) became its founders.

In October 1993 73 delegates of the constitutive conference approved the Declaration on the creation of the youth organization of People's Movement of Ukraine - "Young Rukh" and approved the Regulations of "Young Rukh". Great Council of Rukh (Velika Rada Rukhu) confirmed the Regulations.

V. Kyrylenko was elected the Chairman of Young Rukh. Yuriy Zubko and Valeriy Dehtiar became his deputies.

In 1994 the main direction in the activity of Young Rukh were the parliamentary elections. Organization actively supported the candidates from Rukh to the Parliament (Verkhovna Rada) and to the city councils. Despite their young age many candidates got honorable second and third places.

In December 1994 Young Rukh and the Ukrainian Student's Association held an action of the protest at the Russian Embassy in Kyiv. We required to withdrawal of the Russian troops off the Chechen territory. As well we spoke in favour of the beginning of mutually beneficial Russian - Chechen negotiations.

In 1995 Young Rukh hold the scientific - practical conferences: "Ukrainian Youth in political measurements" ,"Influence of the students movement on political situation in Ukraine in 80 -90's" and International students summer educative camp on Shatskiy Lakes in the region of Volin'. The same year we organized another seminars. They are as follows: "Is authoritarian regime possible in Ukraine?", "Ukrainian directions : Europe or Asia ? " etc.

In 1996 the most important direction in the activity of Young Rukh was the struggle for adoption of the Constitution of Ukraine. Young Rukh and the Ukrainian Student's Association initiated the creation of All -Ukrainian social committee to support an adoption of the Constitution. The committee actively worked in all regions of Ukraine. We held a lot of meetings to familiarize the youth with the main items of the draft constitution. We worked at the realization of the TV and concert shows which were devoted to that problem.

In November 1996 Young Rukh held all - Ukrainian campaign "Constitution. Freedom. Education". More than 6 thousand signatures were gathered and sent to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. The documents contained the requirements as to financing the education and abolition of the institute of registration. Numerous of young people held the picketing of 15 regional administrations over Ukraine. In Crimea 2 thousand students organized the strikes and demonstrations. That campaign got wide resonance in the local and central mass - media. It gave us an opportunity to recruit hundreds of new members to Young Rukh and to create the organizations in all regions of Ukraine.

We draw special attention to the education of the active members of Young Rukh and their preparations for the electoral battles. So we organized the summer educative camp and the seminar "Strategy and tactics of electoral campaign" for 147 activists of our organization in Ternopil in August 1997.

In the beginning of 1997 our organization held the scientific and practical conferences: "The problems of reforming the higher education in Ukraine" , "Main aspects of the youth legislation in Ukraine " as well as some round tables and the seminars.

International direction is the important aspect of our activity. In December 1995 Young Rukh became a full member of E.Y.C.("European Youth Conservatives") , in October 1996 - full member of I.Y.D.U. (International Young Democrat Union which unites 145 democratic and like-minded youth organizations). In August 1998 due to our help fifth year process of the Ukrainian Student's Association joining the European Democrat Students (EDS) successfully ended. Thus Young Rukh is the only organization on the youth level which represents Ukraine in all prominent youth international structures.

In April 1996 Young Rukh organized the International conference "Ukraine on the way to Europe". The leading specialists of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the Presidential Administration and the scientific establishments took part in its working. The resolution on Ukraine's joining the NATO was approved.

Young Rukh gives constant supporting to the Youth organization of Belarusian People's front and cooperates with the biggest organization of the Crimean - Tatar youth - Crimean - Tatar Youth Center.

Young Rukh pays great attention to supporting talented artistic youth. The All-Ukrainian Youth Festival "Pearls of season " became popular in the country. Its final show is dated for the World Day of Youth and International Student's Day. Festival became an evident occurrence of the cultural life of Ukraine. This way many of young talented artists, journalists, theatrical actors and directors , performers of rock and pop music, folksongs could show themselves.

Young Rukh took an active part in electoral campaign 1998. 12 members of Young Rukh ran for the Verkhovna Rada Deputies. More than 250 of them - to the City Councils. Leader of the organization
V. Kyrylenko became the Member of Parliament, the Secretary of theParliament Committee on Social Policy and Labor. Members of Young Rukh became the Councilors of Kyiv , Zhytomezh , Rivno, Poltava , Lviv and some other councils, regional and district councils. They took prominent positions in the commissions and executive self- government institutions.

In November 1998 Young Rukh began long-term all – Ukrainian campaign “Professional army for Ukraine!”. The purpose of the campaign was to stepwise a transition to the professional army. The action began the same day in all regions of Ukraine. About 40 thousand signatories to support Young Rukh requirements were gathered and given to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.

On February 19, 1999 we held the round table “ Professional army for Ukraine ” with the assistance of the representatives of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense.

In spring 1999 Young Rukh members took an active part in the elections of Mayor of Kyiv. In general statement of Young Rukh, Ukrainian Student’s Association and Association of the Ukrainian Youth we called upon the inhabitants of Kyiv " not to give criminal oligarchs to get the power in Kyiv and to vote for Oleksandr Omelchenko who was supported by the main democratic parties and public organizations".

In February 1999 Young Rukh became a full member of DEMYC - the most influential European youth organization. It's symbolical that the consideration as to Young Rukh full membership in DEMYC was going on in the National Assembly (Parliament) of Slovenia. This country was the first among the former socialist republic which gained the highest success in the development of the democracy and market reforms. No questions aroused during the Young Rukh's campaign for full membership in DEMYC taking into consideration the fact that the activity and ideology of Young Rukh fully corresponds to the requirements of this organization,

On July 9 1999 the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine registered Young Rukh as the All-Ukrainian Youth Public Organization "Young Rukh".

Today our organization consists of more than 11 000 members. We work in all 25 regions of Ukraine and almost 150 cities and districts. We regularly work at the development of our structures in regions.