African students in Lviv

Michelle Goldhaber, a 2010 Residence Grant Fellow, presented her research on African students in Lviv. Michelle was joined by representatives from the African population, who shared their stories, backgrounds and experiences in their own words.

Michelle began research on Africans in Lviv last March. She presented initial findings at the conference, "Lviv as a Mirror" at the Center for Urban History. Her current research is an extension of that initial work, and involves collecting stories and experiences of African students in Lviv. Although there have been Africans in Lviv for decades, and are currently over 150 students at the Medical Institute, National University and Lviv Polytechnic, their presence is little known by most Lviv residents. Michelle’s research aims at understanding their experience and making it accessible to Ukrainians and others. Topics for the evening’s discussion will include background about the students’ home cultures and environments, the best and worst parts of life in Lviv in their eyes, how and why they came to Lviv, and how they reflect and make meaning of their lives in Ukraine.