Kyiv, 10 February 2022 (TDI): The Foreign Ministry of Ukraine recently launched the information campaign “Ukraine’s Cultural Diplomacy Month”.
This is the second time the country has taken such an initiative. The Ukrainian Institute and Wikimedia Ukraine are key collaborators in this project.
BRIEF OVERVIEW OF CAMPAIGN
As a global campaign, it aims to increase the quantity of Wikipedia articles on Ukrainian culture. Simultaneously, it intends to make the content accessible to people worldwide by translating it to other languages. The campaign will kickstart on 17 February, and last till 17 March 2022.
The previous campaign took place in 2021, amassing 172 active contributors who edited and produced over 1200 articles. They created 817 new articles, in not only Ukrainian but also other foreign languages.
This allowed for individuals to receive authentic reports on Ukraine’s traditional heritage as opposed to false pictures painted by global media. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry remarked that the opportunity provides a wonderful platform to showcase to the world Ukraine’s creativity and dynamism.
A primary feature of the Government’s Foreign Policy Strategy is to promote a positive image of the nation to the international community. This project fulfills just that.
UKRAINIAN LEADERS’ REMARKS
The Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, encouraged natives to participate in this campaign and play a part in constructing well-articulated write-ups on Wikipedia. He suggested that these could reflect themes of Ukrainian cinema, music, theatre, or even literature.
The month will be dedicated to renowned Ukrainian artists who have set the standards for newer artists to follow. In particular, those who have contributed in the areas of architecture, design, music, literature, and cinema about whom no information is available on Wikipedia, will be prioritized.
Volodymyr Sheiko, Director General of the Ukrainian Institute, also shared his views. He stated that Wikipedia, with its powerful global reputation, is the perfect site to launch this campaign. This is because so many turn to it for knowledge.
He further noted that it is crucial for these Wikipedia articles to be drafted and edited to accurately reflect Ukrainian heritage and values. This information should be unbiased, clear, truthful, and present in a variety of languages.
This is so people from all areas of the world can engage with it and learn about the rich history and culture of Ukraine. As a result, it will strengthen the country’s cultural diplomacy.
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