Participant in the regional “Young Person of the Year 2026” competition “Impulse of Youth Initiatives” category Iryna Shumey
Iryna Shumey was born in Donetsk, but due to the occupation of the city, she moved to Velyka Novosilka, where she attended the local School No. 2. The full-scale war forced her to relocate once again—she now lives in the Kyiv region but continues to represent her home community remotely.
Despite her evacuation, Iryna remains actively engaged in academic pursuits. She studies Donetsk region folklore and English language and literature at the Junior Academy of Sciences. Her research on curses and dreams in the traditions of Velyka Novosilka won first place at the All-Ukrainian Junior Academy of Sciences Competition and the International Competition in Ukrainian Studies. In addition, she participates in language olympiads, digital projects (“Cyberdzhura”), sports marathons, and chess competitions.
Iryna is actively integrating into the international community: she collaborates with volunteers at “GoCamp” and won the “Links of Memories” competition, dedicated to Jewish history.
In August 2026, Iryna will travel to Oxford on a scholarship from the “Together” Charitable Foundation. There, she plans to share with international students the experiences of Ukrainian students during evacuation. She aims to bring the knowledge and leadership skills she gains back to Ukraine to use them in developing youth projects and modernizing education in her home community.