Youth Connect for Ukraine comes to Cherkasy Oblast for the first time
Youth Connect for Ukraine has arrived in Cherkasy Oblast for the first time, with a five-day programme held in Chyhyryn from 21 to 25 February. The town became a space for learning, collaboration and fresh ideas for young people who want to shape life in their communities.
The intensive brought together 36 participants from Chyhyryn and nearby villages in the community: Tinky, Ratseve, Stetsivka and Halahanivka. Over the week, they moved from identifying local needs to developing practical solutions that could become community-led social initiatives.
Training in focus
The programme combined learning modules, practical sessions and simulation-based activities. Participants explored tools for leadership, teamwork, communication and designing change at community level.
Across the five days, participants:
- identified and analysed local challenges and explored their root causes
- practised teamwork by sharing roles and making decisions together
- developed skills in public speaking and presenting ideas
- worked through the full project cycle, from defining a problem to pitching and receiving expert feedback
A key part of the programme was direct engagement with people and institutions involved in youth policy and local youth ecosystems. This helped participants see how partnerships work in practice and how initiatives can be strengthened through cooperation with local authorities, civil society organisations and educational spaces.
OPEN DAY "Youth. Communities. Connections": a platform for dialogue
The programme concluded with an OPEN DAY event, "Youth. Communities. Connections", which brought together 125 participants. The event created an open platform for dialogue between young people, local authorities, civil society organisations and support institutions.
The OPEN DAY programme included:
- a marketplace of youth initiatives
- themed partner spaces, including the civic space "KHATA-HUB" and the youth centre of the Zolotonosha hromada
- interactive presentations, discussion formats and a talk-show
A central element was the "Youth Pulse" talk show, focused on practical tools for cooperation and on strengthening youth policy at local level. The discussion featured representatives of youth councils, youth workers, local self-government and regional institutions, and set out concrete steps to support meaningful youth participation in decision-making.
Guests included Chyhyryn Mayor Viktor Kharchenko and Deputy Mayor Valentyna Alieksieievets. Their participation signalled the community's openness to cooperation and its readiness to support youth initiatives and integrate them into strategic planning.
Arsen Kelichavyi, Head of Non-Formal Education Programmes at British Council Ukraine, also joined the event. He highlighted the importance of creating an environment where young people have the tools to influence change, alongside support and access to resources.
World Café: practical ideas for local change
During the OPEN DAY, participants took part in a "World Café" session under the theme "How to support young people in the community: from words to action". Discussions focused on five areas:
- education and skills development
- culture and leisure
- mental health
- careers, employment and financial literacy
- volunteering and civic participation
The proposals developed during the session were submitted to the relevant unit to inform updates to the local youth programme.
Creative practice and a sense of community
A dedicated creative space offered participants an opportunity to explore identity and mutual support through artistic practice. Workshops in traditional block printing and in making candles from beeswax sheets created shared experiences and strengthened participants' sense of belonging.
What happens next
The programme offered young people not only knowledge but also practical experience in facilitating ideas, speaking in public, engaging stakeholders and working with real community needs. The next step is a social initiatives competition for programme graduates, alongside mentoring support for teams as they deliver their projects.
The event also contributed to building interregional youth cooperation between Cherkasy and Kirovohrad oblasts as part of a partnership network developed by the Ukrainian NGO Agency for Sustainable Development "Khmarochos".
We thank all participants for their initiative and teamwork, and our partners and the Chyhyryn community for their partnership and commitment to supporting youth-led change.
Youth Connect for Ukraine is delivered by the British Council Ukraine in cooperation with local youth organisations and communities across Ukraine. The Chyhyryn event was organised by the implementing partner, the NGO Agency for Sustainable Development "Khmarochos".