Did you know that Maryna Mykolayivna Popatenko, a proud graduate of our department, holds the position of Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine?
Read the interesting answers to interesting questions below.
1. Tell us about your journey after SSU.
My way of becoming an active person with a clear civil position began at SSU. During my studies, I met people who are important to me, with whom I spend my whole life. We are a real team of change makers in the country! (Smiles)
And back in 2004, we have been changing our university, when we defended it with student protests and it was at that time that we learned to communicate with the state. At that time, we opposed the unification of universities and our university remained a separate legal entity, an important unit of science. This was my first experience in negotiations, diplomacy, communication with the state and finding consensus.
Later on, in the dean's office I saw an advertisement for an internship in the Sumy Regional State Administration. I got interested and decided to participate. Viktor Bobyrenko, the head of the Department of Youth and Sports at a time, visited our seminars. That's why I chose his department as an internship base. Then I stayed there to work, became a specialist of that department.
The main area I was interested in was working with NGOs and implementation of a project competition. It was at that time that I got acquainted with many public organizations in Sumy and the region.
I always had the feeling that I was involved in something important, we organized tent camps, kayak rafting, opened a youth center. It was this center that I became the head of later. Then I began to delve into the topic of youth center management and in 2015 I went to a conference devoted to this theme. Since then, we have begun to cooperate with the ministry, began to develop the regulatory framework for the work of centers. Being immersed in the work of youth centers, I have visited a number of them all over the world. I was very impressed by the youth centers in Strasbourg and Budapest. And a new dream appeared: to create a modern youth center in Ukraine.
Four years later, I was appointed Head of the Department of Youth Policy and National-Patriotic Education in the Kyiv region. It was a completely new area for me, new challenges, a new team. And this is where my dream came true - the construction of a large youth center began from scratch. Now in Ukraine we have a youth center built based on the recommendations of the Council of Europe!
- What do you do as a Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports?
I am very happy that I worked in both local government and at the regional level. This gave me a clear understanding of what government agencies should do. We develop the regulatory framework, formulate policies and strategies in the field of youth policy. Now the strategy of youth policy and the law of Ukraine "About youth" are undergoing approval, we began to develop the governmental program for the next 5 years as well. The main priorities for the next 5 years are: healthy lifestyle, development of young people's own competencies, development of youth centers and their employees, support of young people from the temporarily occupied territories, improvement of mechanisms of interaction with civil society institutions, etc.
- What role did the university play in your professional self-realization?
I understood what teamwork is, how to work with people, where you need to have your own way, and where to negotiate.
- What subjects and teachers do you remember the most?
I really enjoyed studying. I remember Professor Balatsky. He was a very wise and interesting man! I am very happy to have been his student.
My favorite teacher is Hannah Shvindina. She had very cool approaches, everything was tested on practice. I understood what management styles, interaction with people, teamwork, etc. are. I now use this knowledge in my work.
- What knowledge gained during your studies is especially helpful in your work?
I never worked outside my specialty. I am a manager. Knowledge of this discipline and communication skills are very helpful. My dissertation was devoted to personnel management. I flipped through it recently and thought about how much more information I could add now.
- What qualities should a deputy minister have?
First of all, you must always remain human. Be an open person who seeks change and is ready to work for the people and the state.
- Your wishes to the Department of Management.
I wish the department to attract even more people who really want to develop youngsters, to develop themselves, to constantly improve approaches to learning, to take a creative approach to their work. I also wish that very conscious, cool students who the department would be proud of came to you.
