Every year on the last Sunday of June, Ukraine celebrates the Day of Youth and Children’s Public Organizations. The holiday was established by Decree of the President of Ukraine No. 599/2008 of June 27, 2008, with the aim of promoting the development of civil society, supporting the youth movement, and recognizing the contribution of youth and children’s organizations to the country’s development.
Youth and children’s civic organizations are an important component of civil society. They bring together active young people around socially beneficial initiatives and promote the development of volunteerism, patriotic education, leadership, education, culture, sports, and the protection of youth rights. It is within these organizations that young men and women often gain their first experience in civic engagement, project implementation, and participation in decision-making processes.
After Ukraine regained its independence, the youth movement became one of the key drivers of democratic transformation. Representatives of the civil society sector actively participated in public and political life, volunteer initiatives, charitable campaigns, and projects aimed at community development and supporting the population.
The activities of youth organizations took on particular significance amid Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. Since the start of the war, thousands of young people have joined the volunteer movement, providing assistance to military personnel, internally displaced persons, and those affected by the hostilities, as well as participating in humanitarian projects. The younger generation has become one of the driving forces behind the social cohesion and resilience of the Ukrainian people.
An important step in the development of the youth movement was the adoption in 2021 of the Law of Ukraine “On the Basic Principles of Youth Policy,” which established modern principles for supporting youth and developing youth work.
The Day of Youth and Children’s Civil Society Organizations is an opportunity to recognize the contribution of active young people to the development of civil society, the volunteer movement, and the strengthening of Ukraine. It is precisely civic initiatives, civic engagement, and a willingness to take responsibility for the country’s future that remain key factors in its democratic development.