NON-FORMAL EDUCATION IN UKRAINE IN EARLY 20TH CENTURY: ASPIRING FOR BETTER LIFE OR LEARNING TO LIVE IN CRISIS?

Abstract

The paper analyses the activities of children’s organizations in the first decade of the 20th century. They were years marked by pressure of the weakening monarchy on raising democracy processes, and active political struggle and anticipating change. Differentiations in social stratification, earlier children’s inclusion in community life are presented as factors resulting in emerging numerous children’s organizations. They ranged from non-formal self-organized gangs of marginalized children to strictly structured political children’s associations. They were powerful enough to draw attention of the government, the church, political parties, as well as the army to the existing problem with the view to use their potential. The forms of their relations are presented with the emphasis on the ability of children’s organizations to modify the further life of the children participating in them.