23 July 2014 Charity. Education

OSTCHEM Invests in Future of Ukrainian Chemical Industry

OSTCHEM Holding, consolidating Group DF’s mineral fertilizer producers, has become the general sponsor of Ukraine’s team at the 46th International Chemistry Olympiad taking place in Hanoi (Vietnam) on 20-29 July 2014.

Since 2011, OSTCHEM has been implementing the ‘Support of School Chemical Education’ programme, initiated by the Group DF owner Dmitry Firtash, by systematically helping in organization of All-Ukrainian and international chemical Olympiads among school students. 

“We think about the future of Ukraine, and we lay the foundations for this now. By supporting young Ukrainian chemists we aim to promote the country on the global stage”, said Oleksandr Khalin, General Director of OSTCHEM

This year, 291 pupils from 75 countries compete in the most prestigious chemistry contest. At the Olympiad among young talents Ukraine is represented by four high school students.

In 2014, pupils from Kyiv and Lviv gained the right to represent Ukraine in the International Chemistry Olympiad.

“We have very talented children in Ukraine. They long for knowledge and are willing to work hard on themselves. Owing to this they have a chance to prove that our chemical industry has future,” said Kostyantyn Gavrilenko, Senior Researcher of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, the curator of Ukrainian pupil’s team, who accompanies them in the International Chemistry Olympiad.

Ukrainian team included Khrystofor Khokhlov, a pupil of Kyiv Natural Sciences Lyceum #145, has become a member of Ukrainian team not for the first time. In 2013, he won a bronze medal in the 45th International Chemistry Olympiad.

Also members of Ukrainian team became Roman Didenko, a pupil of ‘Podil’ Kyiv lyceum #100, as well as Oleg Gordiychuk and Vladyslav Neshta, high-school students of Lviv Physics and Mathematics Lyceum, are the winners of the last year’s International Mendeleev Olympiad.

Selection of Ukrainian team members was held after the All-Ukrainian Chemistry Olympiad which took place in Vinnytsia in March 2014 and gathered 146 participants from all Ukrainian regions.

NOTE

OSTCHEM consistently supports Ukrainian Chemistry Olympiads among high school students. Moreover, the company sponsors English courses and awards special prizes for competition winners, while their teachers receive special scholarships, and schools receive chemical equipment and reagents. Furthermore, OSTCHEM initiated establishment of specialized Industry Council under the All-Ukrainian Industrial Association of Employer Organizations in the Chemicals Industry which will develop professional standards for education of the chemicals industry specialists.