Наше Життя (Our Life), рік 1993, число 12, грудень

A gerdan display, by Anna Halamay.Ms. Prokopovych remembers her school days whenpeople labeled Ukrainians as Russians, and believesthat society today is much more aware of what beingUkrainian means. Some of Manor Junior’s professorsbring their classes to see the Center. One class wasgiven the assignment to choose some display andresearch it. The next step was to write an essay on howthat object fit into society in general.A Hutsul mannequin, wearing the traditional Hutsul outfit.Photos courtesy of Chrystyna Prokopovych.making, pysanky, embroidery, weaving and pottery/ceramics.The folk art museum collection is exhibited in tworooms: one section dealing with almost every aspect ofthe Hutsul region, a sampling of objects from otherparts of Ukraine, a map of various pysanky designs andfolk costumes, a collection from Boykivshchyna (thanksto the Boykivshchyna Society) and many Ukrainianmusical instruments donated by Mr. Walter Pelensky.Ms. Prokopovych has taught Ukrainian culture andlanguage (on a volunteer basis) in the Philadelphiapublic schools. “It was such an exciting project,” shesays of her experience teaching Ukrainian language togifted children. She has also taught at the UkrainianSaturday school where she says the Ukrainian culturecourse she teaches to 6th and 7th graders, "gets them(the students) very interested in learning more aboutbeing Ukrainian.” Ms. Prokopovych says she loves “justabout everything” that comes with teaching. But most ofall, she loves teaching young children that beingUkrainian “is something that makes them very special.”By promoting the Ukrainian Heritage Studies Center,Ms. Prokopovych feels children can actually see thedifferent aspects of Ukrainian culture on display. “Sometimeschildren don’t really appreciate it as much,” shesays, “until they see it at the museum.”Pysanky exhibit.The Ukrainian Heritage Studies Center at ManorJunior College depends on donations and is open from9 AM to 1 PM, Monday through Friday, or by appointment.For more information contact Manor JuniorCollege at (215) 885-2360.Ms. Prokopovych is determined to raise the generalawareness of the richness of our culture. She feels thatappreciation for Ukrainian culture begin in the home,and that we can instill a love for it “by teaching ourchildren — we can’t let them forget!”22 ’’НАШЕ ЖИТТЯ”, ГРУДЕНЬ 1993