On April 29, 2025, the XIX International Public Pupils’ Readings “I Vote for Peace” took place at our University.
This year marks the twenty-ninth anniversary of their founding. of Sciences, Academician Stepan Yakymovych Demianchuk. A talented scientist and a passionate patriot of our country, he considered the idea of peace to be one of the most pressing problems facing humanity, and, accordingly, the main goal of the public student readings held annually at our university is to educate students in the spirit of peace.
The coordinator and organizer of the readings is the Head of the Department of General Pedagogy and Preschool Education Liliia Melnychuk.
At the plenary session, the participants of the readings were greeted by honored guests, including our partners from the Bath Spa University (UK). Andrii Korniuk, junior sergeant of the communication group of the Rivne Regional Training and Development Center, joined the plenary session.
The university administration, represented by Rector Vitalii Demianchuk and Vice-Rector for Organizational and Educational Work, Social Affairs and University Development Nataliia Ternovyk, expressed their gratitude to the students for participating in the readings and promoting peacekeeping ideas among children and youth.
Associate Professor of the Department of Geography and Tourism Rostyslav Shykula, who is now an officer in the tank forces and is defending our land from the Russian enemy, expressed his gratitude to the young patriots for the peacekeeping position expressed in their works in a video message.
Professor John Strachan, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise at Bath Spa University, said:
"I want to express my deep admiration for all of you at Academician Stepan Demianchuk International University of Economics and Humanities for your commitment to peace, education and international partnership, particularly in these challenging times. Here in the UK, we stand in solidarity with you as friends and colleagues in Ukraine, and we are proud to support initiatives that champion peace, dialogue and hope for the future."
Professor Ian Gadd, Head for Development of European Projects at the Bath Spa University, added:
"We recognize the importance of this event for everyone involved and thank IUEH for organizing this event so well every year. These are grim times and it is difficult to find the right words. We will stand with you, our Ukrainian friends, to help to find the words you need: to tell of your grief and sorrow, to declare your unyielding strength and our unstinting solidarity, and to proclaim that Ukraine will once again be free, sovereign, and at peace”
This year's readings were attended by a record number of participants - 255 students representing 59 general secondary education institutions from different regions of Ukraine. The collection of the XXIX International Public Pupils’ Readings “I Vote for Peace” includes words of support and condolences from the international community (Great Britain, Ireland, Turkey).
The youngest students of preschool education also joined the readings by preparing creative works on the issue of peace preservation for the exhibition
For the third year in a row, this year's readings are part of the project “I Vote for Peace: Cooperation and Compassion in Time of War,” which is being implemented jointly with the Bath Spa University with the support of Research England and the UK for Research and Innovation.