Participant of the Regional Competition "Young Person of the Year – 2025" in the Nomination "Youth Worker of the Year" Iryna Bondarenko
I am Iryna Bondarenko, a member of the Youth Council under the Maryinka City Military Administration in Pokrovsk district. By profession, I am an educator; by calling, a mentor for young people who strive for change and believe in the future of Ukraine.
Since childhood, I dreamed of being a teacher. For some, it's just an ordinary profession, but for me, it's a mission. I always saw a teacher as a mentor who doesn't just teach but leads, inspires, supports, and helps to find one's place in a changing world. I was especially drawn to working with young people – their sincerity, potential, and thirst for change. I dreamed of being there when they were searching for their path.
In 2013, I graduated from Bohdan Khmelnytsky Melitopol State Pedagogical University. This was an important milestone: my dream was gradually becoming a reality. I returned to my dearest city – Maryinka, where in 2013 I began my pedagogical journey. But the following year, our lives were divided into "before" and "after." War burst into everyday life, changing everything around us. Yet, even in the most difficult conditions, we didn't give up. We continued to work, support children, and create a space for them where they could learn, grow, and believe in the future.
Since 2018, I have actively participated in training sessions, seminars, and forums organized by public organizations such as Terre des Hommes, UNICEF, Save the Children, and the UN. These experiences not only deepened my knowledge but also solidified my conviction: a modern educator must also be an active citizen, a leader, and a mentor for youth in difficult life circumstances.
2022 marked the full-scale invasion. Fear, anxiety, uncertainty… but at the same time, an even stronger desire to act. We didn't give up; we accepted the challenge. Even in darkness, without communication and stability, we taught, inspired, and supported. Remotely, from different parts of the country, we held the educational front together with our students.
In 2024, the Youth Council under the Maryinka Administration was established in our community, and I had the honor of joining it. We work with young people who are not only in Ukraine but also abroad, staying connected with them through events, projects, and initiatives. Specifically, I organized patriotic events for Heroes' Day, Day of Remembrance and Reconciliation, as well as a mine safety event – "Youth for Safety."
In 2025, aiming to be even closer to youth and the modern information space, I completed an "SMM Intensive" training course. This provided me with new tools for working with young people online, the ability to communicate effectively on social media, create relevant content, and disseminate important ideas beyond the classroom.
My story is a journey towards a dream that became my life's work. I believe in the power of education, the power of words, and the power of support. And I believe in youth. It is for them and together with them that I continue to work – every day, under any circumstances, for a shared future.