Before the full-scale invasion, youth policy in the municipality of Shulhynka thrived thanks to the commitment of active citizens.
“A long time ago, we used to gather with the local youth in the evenings simply at the stadium. One day, however, we realised that we wanted to do more. This is how our youth NGO, RIZNI RIVNI, was born,” recalls Valeriia Otroshchenko, the Head of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports Department of the Executive Committee of Shulhynka Village Council.
Eventually, a youth council was established in the municipality. It opened a small youth space where teenagers could gather, watch films and discuss their ideas. In 2021, the construction of a 400-square-metre youth centre in Shulhynka began, implemented with the support of international donors and Ukrainian businesses. It was then that the municipality’s cooperation with U-LEAD in the field of youth policy started.
“When the centre was ready, Ihor Ahibalov, the Head of the Regional Office of U-LEAD with Europe in Luhansk Oblast, visited us. He learned about our work, and later we conducted several training sessions together. Among other things, U-LEAD organised training on the basics of entrepreneurship,” says Valeriia Otroshchenko.
Following the outset of the full-scale invasion in 2022, the municipality was forced to relocate. The Youth Council of Shulhynka municipality took up residence in Vorokhta, where, together with the local youth council and with the support of an international donor, it created Viaduct Unites Resource Centre – a space for young people, including internally displaced persons and residents of the host municipality.
In spite of the temporary occupation of the territory, Shulhynka municipality team has continued to grow. In 2024, the municipality joined the initiatives of U-LEAD with Europe, including the League of Leaders project and the TIPS4UA pilot programme, which provided training for heads and project managers of municipalities.
“U-LEAD conducted training on project writing, grant application development and fundraising. We joined the mini-grant competition. Although we were unable to implement the project on our own due to the temporary occupation of the territory, we found a solution by joining forces with Novovolynsk municipality in Volyn Oblast,” says Valeria.
This is how the joint Green Roots project was born, with the support of U-LEAD with Europe, which brought together young people from the municipalities of Shulhynka and Novovolynsk. This is an eco-coworking space for teenagers aged 14 and older, focused on growing microgreens. It aims to unite young people from different regions of Ukraine and integrate internally displaced children, develop entrepreneurial thinking and a culture of healthy eating. Another highlight was a business school on Lake Svitiaz, where teenagers worked on their own ideas with the support of coaches. Young people learned to plan business processes from production to sales and mastered marketing and strategic thinking skills.
“The aim of Green Roots is to encourage young people to get involved, to show them that it is possible to have fun, socialise with their peers and think about the future. We sought to unite internally displaced children and children from Novovolynsk municipality, raise their environmental awareness and teach them the basics of entrepreneurship,” says Valeriia.
Shulhynka municipality is committed to supporting its residents by introducing a youth policy development programme that will run until 2027.
“When developing this document, we consulted with young people, asked them about their interests and took this into account in our plans. Young people want not just to have fun, but to have opportunities to do something,” emphasises Valeriia Otroshchenko.
Against all odds, the municipality of Shulhynka stands as an example of how, even in the most challenging circumstances, to support young people, give them a voice and instil confidence in their own abilities.
