COLORADO UKRAINE AGRICULTURAL GROUP

These are potential exchange students from Novomirgorod, which is located in the approximate geographical center of the country. CUAG is supporting student exchange to bring young people from remote villages to the USA to see more of the world and experience a different kind of society and government. They are candidates for the FLEX {future leaders exchange) program of the American Councils for International Education. Their English teacher is on the left.

This is an example of the wood craft done in the village of Richka by the Houtsoule (HootSUElee) ethnic group of the Carpathian Mountain region. Fine soft white linden wood, good for carving and building, is abundant in the forested hills. Carpathian burl elm is coveted worldwide for exquisite table and counter tops. You can see that the siding has been joined by careful dove tailing. This is one of 20 homes in the village started but not completed due to the downturn of the economy since 2008.

This is what we call the 'lake' district. This is the one and only road out of the village to the district center.

Here members of citizens union Hospodar (means 'to nurture') are looking over the final documents that will be submitted to the district government office for registration.

Sunday mornings the village center is crowded with kiosks and vehicles for the weekly open market. This is the two horsepower grain wagon.

Trash being burned when the trash hauling contract ended due to lack of money. The trash burning makes acrid smoke which settles over the village. The trash does not burn completely so it remains there in unsightly piles. CUAG is trying to find a dump truck that could be used by the citizens to haul trash.

This is the nice big Soviet era school in the village. Our interpreter Marta is one of two English teachers at the school. The whole school, including the new kindergarten rooms, is currently without running water, CUAG is sending a donated high capacity submersible well water pump to help restore the water system at the school.

This is the submersible well water pump donated by ABC Plumbing and Heating of Pueblo, Colorado, and being displayed by John Pauletich operations manager at ABC. This pump will provide running water for the whole school including the new kindergarten rooms.

This is a typical rural road in the hills around the village. Tax revenues meant for road maintenance are somehow misplaced, so that little road repair gets done. The citizens are fed up and want to maintain the roads themselves. CUAG is trying to help with organization, advice, and equipment.