Abstract
The purpose of the article is to study the problems of the formation and functioning of the Podillia "Prosvita", which promoted the idea of creating an independent Ukrainian state on the pages of the local press in 1919-1920, fostered a sense of patriotism among citizens, and served as a cultural, educational, political, and moral guide. The methodological basis of the study was formed by such general scientific methods as analysis and synthesis, which consisted in determining the grounds for the creation of centers of "Enlightenment" in Podillia, the development of the educational movement in the region during the era of the Directory of the UPR; using the comparative historical method through the prism of the local press, the difficulties in the activities of "Enlightenment" and extracurricular education in the conditions of the unstable situation of the government of S. Petliura were considered. Petliura's government; it was found that in general, the activities of the "Enlightenment" societies during this period were weaker than during the Central Rada and the Hetmanate, which is explained by the difficult internal and external situation of the Directorate, the weakness of its central and local bodies, in particular, cultural and educational institutions; the method of analyzing documentary information allowed to thoroughly study the content of periodicals of Podillia, which reported on the active work of the national-democratic centers of "Enlightenment" in 1919-1920, actively covered the political course of the Directory, published appeals of the revolutionary leaders to the population, actively promoted the cultural and artistic life of Podillia, supported the development of national education, Ukrainianization, and reform of the school system; talked about the influence of conscious representatives of rural communities on the development of the Ukrainian movement, and popularized folk customs, traditions, and calendar holidays. It is concluded that during the UPR, the Podillia Prosvita played the role of a unifying body that, through the local press, promoted the idea of national identity among the people, inspired the struggle for the independence of the Ukrainian state, fostered a sense of patriotism, and cared for the morality and high spirituality of the people. The magazines served as a cultural, educational, political, and moral guide for Ukrainians.