The Regional Youth Congress of Donetsk Oblast held a series of focus group discussions with the youth of Kramatorsk, Pokrovsky, Bakhmutsky, Volnovakha and Mariupol districts. The aim of the events was to study the current needs of young people, formulate proposals for improving youth policy and present the developed recommendations at the all-Ukrainian level.
Participants aged 14 to 35 discussed the key challenges that the youth of Donetsk Oblast are facing today, and also outlined the areas that require the most attention from the state and local governments.
During the meetings, the youth raised the issues of education, professional realization, employment, entrepreneurship development, psychological support, organization of meaningful leisure, activities of youth spaces and youth councils. Special attention was paid to the prospects for the restoration of Donetsk Oblast and the role of youth in this process.
The results of the discussions resulted in a list of recommendations that will be used in the planning and implementation of regional youth policy, as well as presented at the national level for consideration in the formation of state youth policy.
Conducting such events is an important step towards developing an open dialogue with youth and taking their needs into account in the decision-making process. The results obtained will contribute to the development of more effective programs to support young people and enhance their participation in the restoration and development of the Donetsk region.