Born in independent Belarus :: Charter'97 :: News

These guys have turned 17 thus year. And this is the time our native Belarus is independent. July 27, 1990 Declaration of State Sovereignty of Belarus was adopted. Hopes, dreams and interests of these young people are a mirror our country can look into today. The future of these q17-year-old boys and girls is decided today. After leaving school they choose universities and their future profession. Today’s Belarus is also facing the choice: a dictatorship or freedom, an oppressed poor republic or a flourishing European country. They say: “Do not ask what Motherland can do to you, ask what you can do for your Motherland”. Modern young people are real patriots, and they are ready to do a lot for their country. And they told about that to the Charter’97 press-center.

- What would you like to become after leaving school?

Katsyaryna Pikarenya, a school-leaver of a grammar school No.18 in Minsk: I want to work as a doctor. I like people and want to help them. I always try to help people, be it a psychological or physical problem… It’s usual in our family. My parents are physicians, and medicine is a familiar and I could say the most important thing for me…

Zmitser Hamyaniuk, a student of Minsk state polytechnic college: I would like to become an economist. I would like to work in this sphere all my life.

Mikalay Yasinski, a school-leaver of a secondary school No. 116, Minsk: I would like to become a programmer. I would like to enter the Belarusian State University of Informatics and Radio Electronics, a faculty of computer networks and systems.

- What is your dream?

Katsyaryna Pikarenya: An aim to change Belarus exists. I want to make it closer to my dream I cherish from my childhood, and about which my parents have been dreaming a long time… I mean a rally independent, really free and original country, a country with its rich history and culture, a county which is not equated with Russia.

Zmitser Hamyaniuk: It’s not exactly a dream, it’s a plan. I want to be happy with my family, with my children. I want to have my house and land. It’s a long way certainly, and support by the state is needed. I cannot afford that now certainly. But I will try to get it.

Mikalay Yasinski: I want my life to shape well, I want to find a good job and realize my potential. I dream everything to be fine in Belarus, I want changes for the better; I dream the regime will become democratic. I want a good start in life, so that I could live freely without my wings clipped…

- What is the name of the street you would like to live?

vKatsyaryna Pikarenya: I would like to live in Kalinouski Street, because kastus Kalinouski is a national hero of Belarus… It is worth living in the street called y his name, and not the names of the so-called “heroes”, whom we do not know and nobody knows what they had done for their country.

Zmitser Hamyaniuk: I would like to live in Francis Skaryna Street, because now people try to forget his name. He is a person thanks to him Belarus became a civilized European country.

Mikalay Yasinski: I would like to live in Vasil Bykau Street. This person is the most important personality in modern history. He is not just a superb writer, but an outstanding historic personality… I admire what he has done for Belarus, for its revival.

- What concert would you like to attend?

Katsyaryna Pikarenya: NRM surely. My life is connected with all its albums, and I grow up with it.

Zmitser Hamyaniuk: I am fond of Belarusian music. I have many idols in music: Krou, Krama, B.N., NRM. I would definitely go to a concert of Belarusian independent music.

Mikalay Yasinski: I would like to go to “Tavarysh Mauzer” concert. A young band which firstly signs in Belarusian, andseconly plays heavy music.

- What books do you read?

Katsyaryna Pikarenya: At the moment I am fascinated by Viktor Pelevin. I like Uladzimir Arlou with his old historic stories very much.

Zmitser Hamyaniuk: The latest book I have read is a book of Uladzimir Karatkevich. I received a collection of his works as a birthday present. I like history and scientific books very much. I want to know real history of Belarus, and not the one which is taught in Belarusian schools and universities now.

Mikalay Yasinski: I do not like Russian classic literature very much. The latest book I’ve read, is Of Human Bondage by Somerset Maugham. It’s a book about a young man who lost his mother and father at an early age. He was all alone. The book tells about his growing up,. He was a self-made man. It is really interesting to me.

- What does the word “Motherland” means to you?

Katsyaryna Pikarenya: Motherland is a part of me. My country’s interests and my interests is the same thing. But today I cannot say proudly that this is my land, when I walk down the streets of the present Minsk, when I watch today’s TV…

Zmitser Hamyaniuk: My Motherland is the Belarusian nation, our country, its sky, sun, meadows… It’s the place where I will always be happy, the people with whom I will always be happy…

Mikalay Yasinski: Your native land, where you are born, the place where you live.

- In what country would you like to live?

Katsyaryna Pikarenya: Certainly in Belarus! I want to live in such a country in which everyone could say it’s his country… In which there is no confusing questions to oneself or society, where everyone have a possibility to be own self.

Zmitser Hamyaniuk: In Belarus. This is my mother country, I was born here, and no matter how hard they try to get in the way, I will try my best to make life easier not only for me, but for many others.

Mikalay Yasinski: Only in Belarus, in a free, democratic, independent country where people would remember their history, culture, their language, so that our self-awareness would awake at last. I want us to become a Nation.

- What would you like to do for Belarus?

Katsyaryna Pikarenya: Everything within my powers. I will do all I can.

Zmitser Hamyaniuk: I would like to stay in the history of my country as a person who had done a lot of good not for the regime, but for the people. I would like very much to have an effect on the national revival, on what laws are adopted in the country, and on the way it is done.

Mikalay Yasinski: All I can. I would like to reflected glory upon my country, for instance, to become an outstanding programmer. In any case, I would like to stay in my country and work for it, for better or for worse.