How to turn challenges into a development strategy? This is the question that brought representatives of youth councils, public organizations and active youth of Donetsk region to Lviv. As part of the study tour, which took place on May 5-7, 2026, more than twenty leaders who currently live in different parts of Ukraine united for a common goal - the future of their native land.
The visit took place within the framework of the project "Impulse: Expanding the capabilities of civil society for the resilience and recovery of Ukraine", which is implemented thanks to funding from Norway (Norad) and Sweden (Sida) in partnership with the Eastern Europe Foundation. Organizational support was provided by the NGO "Land of Free People" and the Lviv Bureau of European Integration in cooperation with the Department of Family, Youth and Mass Events of National and Patriotic Education of the Donetsk Regional State Administration.
The first stop was the Lviv Municipal Enterprise “Lviv Bureau of European Integration”. Here, the participants delved into the practical aspects of implementing European approaches in the daily work of the city. The Bureau team shared their experience in formulating solutions and overcoming challenges facing the municipality.
Particular attention was paid to youth policy. Since Lviv is the European Youth Capital 2025, colleagues from the relevant Office presented the opportunities that this title opens up for the city. The participants saw how young people become real drivers of change through the development of the network of “CREATE!” spaces.
The delegation was most impressed by the UNBROKEN Ukraine ecosystem of humanity. This is a space where support and recovery are felt not through numbers in reports, but through real stories of people and a unique atmosphere. Visits to a rehabilitation center, prosthetic workshop, and social housing demonstrated how the city is building an inclusive environment for those affected by the war.
The program was full of practical cases:
Lviv Open Lab: Participants saw how to create modern spaces for learning and scientific research. The real drive was provided by chemical experiments by Mykola Lekhnovsky.
MoloDvizhCentre and "Open": Here, the youth of Donetsk region studied the synergy of the public sector. The experience of the NGO "Poryv", BUR, and the project "Hear the Doctor" became an example of ready-made solutions for uniting community residents.
Civil defense: Familiarization with the work of the municipal shooting range "Strilnytsia" showed the importance of preparing the population for modern challenges.
This study tour was not just an excursion, but a deep dive into the mechanics of a successful community. The organizers took care of all the logistical aspects: hotel accommodation, meals, and travel reimbursement. This allowed the activists to focus on the main thing - finding answers to the question of how to rebuild the Donetsk region based on modern European approaches.
The young people took home not only a baggage of knowledge, but also the inspiration to change the country today.