On August 12, Ukraine, together with the international community, celebrates Youth Day. This date was established by Presidential Decree No. 333/2021 of July 28, 2021.
International Youth Day was established by the United Nations: on December 17, 1999, the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 54/120, which endorsed the recommendation of the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth to observe August 12 as International Youth Day. The holiday was first celebrated worldwide in 2000.
Amid Ukraine’s War of Independence, the role of youth has extended far beyond traditional civic engagement. Young military personnel, volunteers, medical workers, entrepreneurs, educators, civic activists, and representatives of youth organizations are contributing to the defense of the state, support for communities, humanitarian work, and the country’s recovery.
Despite the war, the youth of Donetsk Oblast remain active, responsible, and committed to the future of their region. One mechanism for involving young people in decision-making is the Youth Council under the Donetsk Regional State Administration. On April 20, 2026, its new membership was formed—comprising 26 representatives from civic and charitable organizations, student self-government bodies, and local youth councils.
And in June of this year, a regional Youth Congress was established in the region—a special platform for dialogue and consultation that brought together active young people. This format of participation helps strengthen young people’s involvement in public life, their integration into the system of public administration, and the development of youth initiatives.
At the national level, young people from all regions of Ukraine have been brought together by the Chamber of Regional Youth Congresses. This initiative is designed to ensure effective dialogue between young people, communities, and government authorities. At the same time, the launch of the newly established regional youth congresses opens up new opportunities for consolidating active youth, developing partnerships between the state and communities, and implementing projects that will contribute to the sustainable development of the regions.
Today, young people in the Donetsk region are directly involved in developing solutions at the local, regional, and national levels. In the context of the war, this experience takes on special significance: young people are not merely talking about the future of Ukraine and the Donetsk region—they are already helping to shape it today.