Different municipalities are united by similar experiences — understanding the needs of young people and seeking to build conditions for them to live a full life. The municipalities of Kurne, Baranivka and Myropillia shared their practices for boosting the youth community.
In Kurne, this push was the participation of school teams in UNICEF’s UP SHIFT project. The training and the first supported project idea prompted the formation of an active community of young people. In turn, the Active Youth project facilitated learning about project management and leadership. The outcome was the creation of Tolkovi, an NGO that successfully works with grant projects and holds many sports and art events not only in the municipality’s capital city, but also in villages. The NGO was able to reach beyond its own municipality to partner up with youth in the neighbouring municipalities of Dovbysh and Bronyky; it attracts resources for youth development and educates the younger generation.
The Baranivka municipality shared its experience of bringing the youth together through the VidnovaUA project, which resulted in young people independently creating the MoloDiia space. Here, they now host meetings with youth to involve them in the development and implementation of new ideas in the municipality. They also created an eponymous NGO, whose members are always learning and coming up with new ideas to improve life in the municipality.
The municipality of Myropillia shared its experience of arranging a youth space with the Building Ukraine Together initiative. The project facilitated involving local youth in a public initiative on a volunteer basis and creating a cosy BAZA space. The space is always lively, hosting various events and building cooperation with local businesses, folk craftsmen and NGOs. The project was implemented as part of U-LEAD’s partnership with the Building Ukraine Together initiative and included an animal protection component, teaching young people to handle stray animals.
“Engaging municipalities in the development and implementation of youth policy is among the most key factors in the successful development of society. When young people are actively involved in decision-making at the local level, this strengthens their municipal engagement, as well as contributes to a more just and inclusive society,” said Vasyl Nevmerzhytsky, Head of the Regional Office of U-LEAD with Europe in the Zhytomyr Oblast.
