Ukraїner is an educational, multimedia Ukrainian studies project, the materials of which are based on the results of socio-cultural expeditions.
Ukraїner was created by journalist and writer Bohdan Lohvynenko as a volunteer media project. The team went on the first expedition in June 2016.[1] By the end of 2019, a collection of media materials was created, which are translated into nine languages,[2] two books were published, a full-length documentary was made, project collaborated with the government to popularize initiatives directed to familiarize non-ukrainians with some of the aspects of Ukrainian culture,[3] events were held in a number of European capitals with the support of Ukrainian diplomats.[4]
According to the project participants, the purpose of their expeditions is to help non-ukrainians as well as Ukrainians[5] to explore and understand culture of different Ukrainian regions, document the lives and crafts of local residents,[6] overcome negative stereotypes and develop society where people are open to each other and to change.[4]
The result of these expeditions were more than 200 stories published on the site, two books:『Ukraїner. The country from within』and "Ukraïner. Ukrainian Insider", documentary film "Ukraїner. The Movie". Video materials of the project are shown on Intercity trains and at the airports of Kyiv and Lviv.[7]
Project founder Bohdan Lohvynenko called the lack of information about different Ukrainian regions to be the biggest problem for the development of tourism in Ukraine.[8]
Since its inception, the Ukraïner team has been striving to attract the attention of foreign tourists to Ukraine and its tourist locations.[5] The website is available in Ukrainian and 11 foreign languages: English, Polish, German, French, Czech, Russian, Spanish, Georgian, Greek, Turkish and Japanese.
Ukraïner participants presented the project in a dozen of different countries. In particular, in Great Britain (October 9, 2019),[9] Finland (October 11, 2019)[10] and Israel (December 24, 2019)[11]
Among the events at which the stand of Ukraine used the videos produced by the project were Frankfurt Book Fair 2019 and Warsaw Book Fair 2019.[12]
