This Youth Day will be remembered in a special way in Donetsk Oblast. Dnipro hosted the final event of the DIY Community mini-grant competition, which brought together more than 150 active young people from across the region. Organized by Zahidy NGO with the support of UNICEF, this event was a clear proof that the youth of Donetsk region not only exist, but are actively creating change. Their implemented projects are the best illustration of the slogan "Youth is here," which has become the main theme of the Youth Day celebration in Ukraine in 2025.
Main achievements of the year:
- 5000+ young participants from the region's communities.
- 50 successfully implemented youth projects covering a variety of areas - from ecology to the creation of youth spaces.
- 195 participants from 38 communities who attended special training workshops to effectively implement their ideas.
The most active participants and authors of the most important initiatives were recognized with gratitude from UNICEF and Zahidy.
"Such competitions are not just about projects, but about trust. At UNICEF, we believe that young people have ideas and a desire to change the world around them. And we are proud to support this initiative," said Yuriy Rudenko, UNICEF Program Specialist.
"We have seen that the youth of Donetsk region do not want to wait. They want to act! Our task is not to interfere but to strengthen this enthusiasm," added Oleksandr Kashlakov, the contest's assistant.
"We have created not just a contest, but a real community. DIY Community is about believing in yourself, in your ideas and in your community. And we can see how it works," said Yuriy Davydenko, head of Zahidni, an NGO.
DIY stands for "Do It Yourself". In the context of the competition, this slogan means: create change with your own hands, together with your friends and community to prove it: "Youth is here" - and they are creating the future!
The event was held as part of the UNICEF program in Donetsk Oblast, organized by Zahidy NGO in partnership with the NGO "Country of Development" with the support of the Donetsk Regional State Administration.