The Lee group before heading to Ukraine
A group of Lee University communications students and professors are working in Kiev, Ukraine, with the Mohyla School of Journalism on a project to highlight the displaced people due to Ukraine’s recent conflict.
Dr. Michael Finch, assistant professor of communication, and Dr. Megan Moe, associate professor of communication, are leading the 20-day trip for communications students. This cross-cultural trip includes complete immersion into the Ukrainian culture as well as hands-on research done while visiting the country. The 10 participating Lee students have created a website called The Uprooted to share stories of displaced people with a Western audience.
According to Kiersten Powers, a communications major on the trip, various revolutions and Russian invasions over the years have caused over 1.4 million Ukrainian people to be displaced from their homes. Those who are in this situation struggle to obtain things that Westerners might take for granted like a stable job, food, and permanent shelter. Many who are displaced find themselves in detrimental health due to these poor living conditions.
While in Ukraine, the Lee students will collaborate with masters-level students from the Mohyla School of Journalism to conduct interviews with those displaced by the conflict. Their website, The Uprooted, will spread awareness through videos, photographs, and content based on the information from in-depth research and interviews.
By informing people about the reality of the situation in Ukraine, the group hopes to raise awareness and evoke a response. The Uprooted will be supporting Save Ukraine Now, an organization that provides emergency relief, food, medicine, clothes, and blankets for displaced Ukrainians.
For more information about the displaced people of Ukraine the Lee group documented, please visit theuprootedproject.wordpress.com or www.facebook.com/theuprootedproject. For more information about Save Ukraine Now, or to donate, please visit saveukrainenow.org.