Participant of the regional contest "Young Person of the Year – 2025" in the nomination "Youth Worker of the Year" Oleksandra Sysenko
In every community, there is a person who inspires others. In Marinka, that person became Oleksandra Sysenko. Her story is a journey through danger, challenges, and losses—to new horizons, new youth initiatives, and thousands of inspired young men and women.
Oleksandra began her youth work in 2018 when she took charge of the "Victoria" Youth Center. In a city where explosions rang out every day, she created a space for youth development. Here, trainings, meetings, and cultural events were held, and a volunteer movement was formed. The conditions were extremely difficult, but they were what forged Oleksandra into a leader—brave, resilient, creative, and determined.
After the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022, she was forced to evacuate to Kropyvnytskyi. However, her calling remained unchanged—to work with and for youth. In the new city, Oleksandra did not start from scratch; she immediately began building, creating, and engaging. Her initiatives quickly became noticeable: over 3,000 young people participated in events at the Youth Center she helped relaunch.
A volunteer sector was also created, which became an active participant in community life, running campaigns such as "Give Up Your Bottle Caps," "Stop Bullying at School," and the "Eco-toloka" at Lake Kopan, among other projects. In total, over 100 events were held—educational, motivational, and cultural. Together with the "Creative Volunteers" movement, 5 million hryvnias were raised for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, an example of how youth can be a pillar of the state. In addition, projects to support IDPs were implemented, including "Leaders of the Donetsk Region," which helped restore activity to those who had lost their footing due to the war.
Oleksandra is not just an organizer. She is a facilitator of change. After training to become a trainer for the "Democracy Through Action" course, she teaches young people to understand their rights, defend them, and act responsibly. Her projects are implemented in partnership with international organizations such as IFES, USAID, the Council of Europe, UNDP, and the Danish Refugee Council.
Thanks to her, youth work has gained a new lease of life, and the young people of Marinka have real opportunities for growth, self-fulfillment, and influence on the community.
Oleksandra does not work just "for show." Her approach is humanity, responsibility, and trust. Her vision is not just to organize events but to build a society where youth are conscious, united, and strong.
Today, when her native Marinka has been destroyed by war, Oleksandra continues to fight—not with a weapon in her hands, but with the light that she ignites in others.