Maria Bilytska, a participant in the regional “Young Person of the Year 2026” competition in the “Impulse for Youth Initiatives” category
Mariia Bilytska is a participant in the Young Person of the Year 2026 regional competition. She is an active youth leader whose story proves that determination, openness to new opportunities, and a willingness to take action can open the door to international success.
After being evacuated to Vinnytsia, Mariia continued her personal and civic development by joining the Youth Initiative Bank. She participated in evaluating community projects, making decisions on grant funding for youth initiatives, organizing fundraising events, and supporting local youth teams. Thanks to her involvement, more than 150 young people became engaged in community and charitable activities.
Mariia represented Ukraine at an international conference in Bosnia and Herzegovina, won several international essay competitions, and successfully completed the highly competitive selection process for the prestigious YouLead 2025 program, which enabled her to participate in a five-week educational program in the United States.
She believes that true leadership begins with the courage to act, work as a team, and take responsibility for positive change. Her personal motto, "If you dream big, you can achieve big. The key is not only to dream, but to take action," reflects her commitment to inspiring other young people to be active, confident, and determined in pursuing their goals.