Lviv, 27–29 November 2025 – A three-day study visit under the British Council programme “Youth Connect for Ukraine” brought 27 youth leaders from across the country to the city, turning Lviv into a temporary hub for exchange, coordination, and forward planning. The objective was straightforward. Share practical experience, consolidate connections within the Youth Connect network, and design new community-facing initiatives with real-world application.
The visit centred on the “Leadership of Change” training – part workshop, part working session. Participants toured Lviv’s youth ecosystem, engaging with spaces such as Urban Camp Lviv, Lviv Open Lab, PIX Lab, and MolodvizhCentre Lviv, and examining how these platforms convert ideas into programming. They also reviewed the contours of socially responsible enterprise through Bandit Socks, using the case to explore how civic value can be embedded in business practice.
Two national forums widened the lens. Delegates joined the “European Youth Capital 2025” Forum and the youth work forum “United by Light: Free and Unbreakable”, observing how partnerships are brokered, how local solutions are cultivated, and how sustainable support models are built – often under pressure, and with limited margins for error.
A concrete output emerged from the collaborative sessions: the “Change-Making Guide”. Developed collectively, the guide is designed as a practical instrument that compiles usable methods and adaptable approaches intended for replication in youth centres, grassroots initiatives, and communities nationwide.
These three days once again confirmed that youth policy in Ukraine is being forged in the present tense – by people who assume responsibility, build coalitions, and choose action over rhetoric.
Gratitude goes to everyone who took part in the training – for their drive, candour, and unwavering focus on delivery. The work continues. New steps and shared initiatives are already taking shape.
The study visit was implemented within the British Council programme “Youth Connect for Ukraine” in partnership with the Ukrainian NGO “City of Active Citizens”.