Ihor Bardyn, Canada Ukraine Parliamentary Program.
On July 16, 1990, the Supreme Soviet of the Ukrainian SSR adopted the Declaration of Sovereignty, which declared that Parliament recognized the need to build the Ukrainian state based on the Rule of Law.
On August 24, 1991, the Ukrainian Parliament adopted the Declaration of Independence, which the citizens of Ukraine endorsed in the referendum of December 1, 1991. Also in 1991 Canadians celebrated the Centennial of Ukrainian group immigration to Canada. To mark the Centennial, Canadian organizations planned programs and projects to celebrate this milestone in Canada’s history.
The Chair of Ukrainian Studies Foundation of Toronto marked the Centennial by establishing the CANADA-UKRAINE PARLIAMENTARY PROGRAM (CUPP), an internship program for Ukrainian and Canadian university students.
CUPP gives Ukrainian and Canadian students an opportunity to observe parliamentary democracy and gain experience from which generations of Canadian, American and West European students have benefited.
Since 1991, over 1,000 Ukrainian and Canadian students have participated in the CUPP Internship Program, and the CUPP Model Ukraine Conferences held at Wycliffe College of the University of Toronto, George Washington University in Washington D.C., USA, University of Ottawa, Oxford University in the U.K., Kyiv-Mohyla University in Ukraine, Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv, Trinity College of the University of Toronto and the Government Conference Centre in Ottawa.
The biographical sketches published in the NP-UN will introduce the 34 university students who will serve an internship in the offices of 34 Members of Parliament during the Fall Sitting of the Canadian Parliament in 2020.
Please support the CUPP Internship Program by sending a donation to CUPP (cheque payable to Chair of Ukrainian Studies Foundation), 620 Spadina Avenue, Toronto ON M5S 2H4 or call 416-234-9111 Ext. 241. Your donation is tax deductible.
Iryna Kukhta
Iryna Kukhta is a candidate for the CUPP 2020 internship program.
She earned BA and MA degrees in law at National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy in 2016 and 2018 respectively. During her BA studies, she also completed a Certificate program in International Human Rights.
Currently, she conducts a human rights monitoring project on the topic “Language rights of national minorities in Ukraine” with OSCE/ODIHR. Its strategic aim is to confront speculations about language policy in Ukraine with data-based research and analysis, involving a wide range of national minorities representatives living in Ukraine.
Her professional experience includes working with UN Institutions and prominent Ukrainian NGOs in the sphere of reform support, democratization, human rights and good governance.
Iryna is an activist for women and LGBT+ rights in Ukraine, and supports green initiatives for environmental sustainability for Kyiv and Ukraine in general.
Iryna likes reading about psychology and health and watches a lot of Netflix shows about U.S. politics.
Her favourite composition is The Spoils by Massive Attack.
Borys Lesyk
Borys Lesyk is a candidate for the CUPP 2020 internship program. Originally from Kherson, in 2015 Borys was chosen a FLEX exchange scholarship student, and attended high school for a year in Cass 
City, Michigan, U.S. In the spring of 2016, he participated in a one-week long CIVIC workshop in Washington, D.C.. During that workshop, he attended meetings with state representatives and government officials on Capitol Hill. After returning home, he became involved with volunteering for the American Councils for International Education in Ukraine.
Borys is currently studying International Relations in Lviv Polytechnic National University. He plays the guitar, the harmonica and also collects vinyl. His favorite author is Zbigniew Brzezinski and his favorite book is “The Grand Chessboard”. His favorite famous Ukrainian is Ihor Sikorsky, famous inventor and pioneer of aviation. His favorite quote by a Ukrainian author is: “We need reforms today, not revolutions; the force of law, not law of force; the well-being of the people, not the people’s misery; public consent, not intense hostility; democracy, not dictatorship ” by Vyacheslav Chornovil.
Olha Luchka
Olha Luchka is a candidate for the CUPP 2020 internship program.
She earned a BA and MA degrees at Ivan Franko National University of Lviv in Law and Journalism. Born in Ternopil, Olha is active in running a family-owned business in agriculture and international consulting. Her social activity is focused on rural development projects, pro bono legal aid, and rethinking Ukrainian traditions in villages. Olha’s favourite author is Hryhorii Skovoroda, favourite compositions are folk songs of the Carpathian Mountains. A famous Ukrainian she respects a lot is Oksana Zabuzhko, writer and public intellectual.
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