INTERNATIONAL RENAISSANCE FOUNDATION (IRF)

International Renaissance Foundation was established in 1990 by the "Prosvita" company (named in the honor of the Ukrainian writer - Taras Shevchenko), the Ukrainian Council of Peace, and Green World ecological association together with an American financist, George Soros.

The foundation provides financial, organizational, and methodical support for programs in the following areas: education, science, society, culture, ecology, and healthcare. The foundation supports progressive scientists, public leaders, entrepreneurs, and organizations.

Foundation programs:

- Education and science
This department promotes transformational processses of humanities education in Ukraine and the development of new alternative educational systems according to the international standards.
List of educational programs:

transformation of humanities education: development of new educational programs, textbooks, and supplies for secondary schools and universities

support of higher education: development of humanities and social sciences at Ukrainian universities
English language: support of English classes in Ukraine

Management training: Ukrainian specialists trained in western companies in areas of management, finance, and bank transactions

"Junior Achievement": introduction for teenagers in the basics of business and free market economy

Osvita center consults people interested in education abroad, provides students and scientists with informational support


Physical health programs: high school education for lifelong healthiness, work with parents, sharing of non-traditional methods of teaching about health issues.

-Society
This department assists in the process of developing a stable and open democracy in Ukraine.
Directions:

Creation and establishment of non-governmental societies, organizations, and movements.

Support of social, public, politcal, and economic movements

Social adaptation for the retired military people

Support of independent mass media

- Culture, ecology, health protection aimed at support of restructuring and development of Ukrainian arts, music, etc.

Directions:

Program of cultural iniatives: support of governmental and private museums, development of art schools, art centers, and research centers for development of Ukrainian folklore

Library program: aimed at increasing the level of libraries and widening the resources available

Publishing program: financing books on culture, market economy, history, philosophy, and world cultural processes.

- Program for foreign travel support: The program goal is to speed up Ukrainian entrance into world society. The program helps Ukrainian citizens to participate in international conferences, seminars, scientific research or training abroad