A five-day intensive of the Youth Connect for Ukraine youth leadership programme convened in Kyiv from 2 to 6 December 2025, based at the relocated Mariupol State University.
Participants aged 16 to 25 arrived from across Ukraine to convert civic momentum into measurable social change.
Across the week, the group moved through a complete cycle of team formation. First came values and roles and by the end, groups were operating as a coordinated “ecosystem”. The programme fused soft skills with hard-edged project management. trust, shared responsibility, and communication were reinforced by planning routines, structured workflows, and practical change-management instruments.
A central output was the development of participant-led social action projects. Teams advanced from early hypotheses to first prototypes – then sharpened their concepts through a focused “fundraising upgrade.” Young leaders worked through theory of change, partner identification, and the craft of grant-writing designed to compete for real resources. The strongest proposals will move forward to contend for mentoring support and funding from the British Council Ukraine.
A public discussion added a broader perspective. Polina Limina, Acting Director of Inscience, outlined how critical thinking and a scientific mindset can strengthen leadership and decision-making. Taras Finikov, a Board member of the President of Ukraine’s Foundation and an education ambassador, underscored continuous learning and academic collaboration as pillars of sustainable development. Anastasiia Klipachenko, Head of the UAF Women’s and Girls’ Football Committee, highlighted how sporting discipline can be transmuted into effective management and resilient team culture.
The speakers converged on one conclusion: young people are not a “future resource.” They are today’s driving force. Investing in their capabilities now is presented as a prerequisite for a competent, systematic recovery of Ukraine tomorrow.
The Kyiv, the training served as a launchpad. Participants are now preparing full applications, with the strongest set to receive implementation support – turning prototypes into community-level results.
Gratitude is extended to participants, facilitators, and partners for five days of concentrated work, sharpened purpose, and practical tools.
Youth Connect for Ukraine is implemented by the British Council, in partnership with local youth organisations and communities nationwide. The Kyiv event was organised by the implementing partner, the national NGO “Innovative University,” in cooperation with the President of Ukraine’s Foundation for Support of Education, Science and Sport.