Group picture from the meeting
Group picture from the meeting

Seven FLEX alumni hosted a panel on March 15, for 16 graduate students from the Harvard Kennedy School, Georgetown, and Johns Hopkins. The U.S. scholars traveled to Ukraine in order to meet government, business, and civic leaders and learn more about recent events in Ukraine.  The students were from the United States, China, Thailand, and Ecuador, and were traveling to Ukraine on a student-organized trek.

The alumni-led panel discussed recent events surrounding last year’s EuroMaidan demonstrations and the current political situation in Ukraine.

Olesya Shambur '96, Nataliya Bugayova '05, Halyna Vorona '11 answering questions from guests
Olesya Shambur ’96, Nataliya Bugayova ’05, Halyna Vorona ’11 answering questions from guests

The guests were very interested in learning about alumni’s personal perspectives on the recent events and what impact these events had on their lives and the lives of their family members.  Alumni represented all of the regions of Ukraine and ranged from university students to the CEO of a Ukrainian newspaper and a professional at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Following the panel, a dinner was held during which alumni and the students discussed Ukraine in a much more informal setting.