At a time when many young Ukrainians are seeking a better life outside their hometowns, the question arises: How can we move forward and improve ourselves? This philosophy is at the heart of the educational program “Youth in Focus: How to Stay and Grow at Home,” initiated by UNBROKEN UNIVERSITY in Lviv. And what is particularly noteworthy is that among the 15 participants selected from 40 applicants, the Donetsk region was well represented by young people from the Dobropillia community.
This experience is not just a trip. It is five days of lively action aimed at transforming consciousness. As confirmed by Marina Pasichnyk, a member of the Dobropillia Community Youth Council who completed the program, it was a real catalyst. “Change starts with us” — this simple but profound truth became the leitmotif of her stay in Lviv.
From October 7 to 11, 2024, under the patronage of the European Youth Capital Office and the new educational space UNBROKEN UNIVERSITY, young leaders, city council employees, and business representatives from different parts of Ukraine, including Dobropillia, immersed themselves in a world where practice, real challenges, and genuine community.
Instead of dry lectures, there were workshops and teamwork on the project “Between Opportunities and Challenges.” Participants didn't just listen about development, they learned how to create it:
- They learned to find opportunities for development that are always close at hand, in their own communities.
- They discussed how to create change, even with the smallest steps.
- They were inspired by the experience of local Lviv initiatives, visiting youth centers and participating in the creative Designarium.
This program proved that for effective development, you don't have to look far. You just need to see the potential where you are — in your city, village, or region. The youth of Dobropillia, united with like-minded people from all over the country, were able to see with their own eyes how the youth capital of Europe lives and develops, and realize that these same mechanisms can and should be applied.
It is thanks to initiatives such as Youth in Focus that a powerful reserve of active citizens is being formed, who see a promising future not in emigration, but in the reconstruction and prosperity of their own communities. The future of Dobropillia is undoubtedly in good hands.