On September 23–24, a two-day dialogue meeting titled “Working with Youth in Communities of the Donetsk Region” took place in Dnipro, organized by the “U-LEAD with Europe” regional office in the Donetsk region.
The event was attended by representatives of communities in the Donetsk region responsible for youth work.
The discussion centered on an issue that is particularly relevant for communities in the Donetsk region today: how to maintain connections with young people, engage them in community life, and give them the opportunity to influence decisions, even when a significant portion of the youth is far from home.
Over the course of two days, participants discussed the social adaptation and psychological support of young people, modern approaches to patriotic education, the development of youth initiatives, and securing grant funding. They also examined why even successful projects do not always ensure a lasting connection with young people and what barriers prevent their meaningful participation in community life.
The second day was devoted to practical work. Participants learned about the experience of a youth space operating in an evacuation zone, discussed how to engage young people and integrate them into host communities, and, during the “Solutions Workshop,” developed their own proposals for revitalizing youth work.
This topic is of particular importance for the Donetsk region. Keeping young people involved in community life today means preserving the people who will participate in the region’s return, recovery, and development tomorrow.