Participant of the Regional Competition "Young Person of the Year – 2025" in the Nomination "Youth Worker of the Year" Olena Ohorodnikova
My name is Alyona (Olena) Ohorodnikova. I am the head of the youth movement at the "Slovianska Mriya" charitable foundation, a volunteer, a businesswoman, the deputy head of the Youth Council at the Sloviansk City Military Administration, and most importantly, a mother.
I am a person-of-energy who inspires. Active, sincere, creative, I easily implement new ideas and energize others into action. I know how to not just build a team, but to unite people into a circle where trust, development, and support thrive. My work is the source of my inspiration.
I adore activities, seek new knowledge, am interested in various types of creativity, and revive Ukrainian culture by creating ethnic-style jewelry. I am friendly, able to support and motivate. Despite all challenges, I move forward and lead the youth with me.
In 2024, driven by a desire to contribute to my homeland, I completed tactical medicine courses at a charitable foundation. With a strong intent to join the ranks of defenders as a paramedic, I approached the territorial recruitment center. Despite my readiness, I received the standard response: "We'll call you back," and since then, I've been awaiting further communication. This very moment became the catalyst for the beginning of my active volunteer work and engagement with youth.
I began actively helping the foundation, initially by performing repair work, such as painting windows and gratings. I attended various training sessions, master classes, participated in activities, and assisted in grant writing.
In October, I was offered the position of head of the youth movement at the foundation. The question arose: how to approach young people, what are their needs, and how to engage them? From that moment, I underwent numerous diverse trainings and exchange visits, which enriched me with new knowledge, acquaintances, ideas, and, most importantly, an understanding of how to work effectively with youth.
I started by surveying youth needs, but quickly realized that young people were not interested in filling out Google Forms, and everyone was already tired of online interactions. So, we began gathering for board games and tea parties, dreaming of creating our own space.
At one of the training events, I met a psychologist who works with teenagers. We agreed to conduct a training on sexual education. It was during this training that I realized the urgent need for offline meetings among young people.
Together with the youth, we organized celebrations in our park, set up a recreation area, held community clean-ups (tolokas), and various events for children and ourselves. At that time, I also became the deputy head of the local Youth Council, which opened new opportunities for me.
After the New Year, the charitable foundation gave us a great gift – premises for a youth space. And this is where our own "Vidnova" (Renewal) began. We opened a "bank" for fundraising, filmed video appeals, held charity fairs where we sold our own products (sweets, beaded jewelry), and organized a win-win lottery. We managed to raise funds, and the renovation of our space is actively progressing.
I also actively seek out various educational opportunities for teenagers and help them with grant writing. The first grant I wrote and which was implemented by the team is the "History Nearby" project: tablets with QR codes displaying the stories of our city's old buildings.
With each passing day, the number of interested teenagers grows, our team expands, and our meeting space is becoming too small. Our games are becoming more active and take place outdoors (we play volleyball, soccer), and we organize photo shoots. And now we are preparing for a training camp – we are taking active volunteers to a camp in Chernivtsi.
I could talk a lot about our joint activities with young people, but the main thing is this: without their activity and my energy, we wouldn't exist. Ukrainian teenagers are our present, and they are a driving force. I am proud of everyone in my team, because they are brave, determined, active, and ready for change.
My youth respect me for my sincerity, sense of humor, activity, friendliness, and for my ability to listen and hear them. And to understand them even better, I am going to pursue a master's degree in psychology. My own child is currently going through a transitional period, where at 10 years old, she has no authorities or role models. But her phrase: "Mom, when I grow up, I'll take your place in the youth movement" is the greatest indicator for me that I am on the right path.
If I had the opportunity, I would increase the number of off-site team trainings for young people, make them accessible to youth under 14, and give them more projects to implement according to their needs.
Through my example, I want to show that a young person can achieve anything. The main thing is not to be afraid to express yourself and move forward towards change. I dream that in our country and in our city, young people will actively participate in decision-making.