Young European Ambassadors in Ukraine

I’ve heard about the Young European Ambassadors, but I’m not sure who they are and what they do

The Young European Ambassadors (YEAs) initiative is a non-political, voluntary, vibrant communication network connecting and building bridges of friendship among young people from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine and the EU Member States and the United Kingdom. The aim of the network is to raise awareness about the EU’s cooperation with its Eastern partner countries, showcase the tangible results of this cooperation, contribute to policy dialogue on various topics, help increase civic activism and work together for a better future.

The YEAs initiative was established in June 2016 as part of the ‘EU NEIGHBOURS east’ project and has involved more than 2,600 young people from over 30 different countries to date.

The Young European Ambassadors are students, young professionals and community activists who are volunteering their time to engage in hundreds of activities across the countries and online. Click here to see their PROFILES.

The YEAs initiative offers volunteering, career building and young leadership opportunities to its network members. They contribute to and take part in various forms of civic engagement activities, such as:

• School and University visits to inform school pupils and university students on EU-Ukraine cooperation and share opportunities created as a result of such cooperation. 
• Working with EuroClubs YEAs in Ukraine are cooperating with EuroClubs located in the various regions of Ukraine, conducting skills development and information-sharing workshops with the beneficiaries of the EuroClubs.
• Cooperation with Youth Councils YEAs in Ukraine conduct joint activities and youth events with Youth Councils, such as presentations, workshops, training courses, participation in public fairs, etc.
• Various civic engagement activities for Ukrainian youth, such are film screenings, board games, charity actions, panel discussions, public quizzes etc.
• International events including the European Youth Event, Eastern Partnership conferences, EU study trips and seminars across the region and in the EU Member States.

What will I gain from becoming a Young European Ambassador?

Being a Young European Ambassador, you will have the opportunity to meet new, like-minded young people and develop your personal and professional competences. You will get to know other young people from your and other countries who share the same ideas and interests as you. You will travel across the country and interact with other people about the European Union, its partnership with your country and the opportunities it offers. All of this will help you to improve your competences in the fields of teamwork, project planning and implementation, event management, presentation and public speaking, languages and communication, content creation, to name but a few. These are important soft skills to have for your future careers!

You will also benefit from a dynamic and inclusive support system, including:

• An inclusive and positive community of creative young volunteers to share ideas, create memories and build friendships.
• YEA mentors for personal guidance.
• YEA coordinators for administrative and logistic support to help you realise your own initiatives.
• Participation in the YEA Academy for information and coaching by experienced professionals in communication, strategy, content creation, media outreach, etc.
• Website and social media platforms on which to share, connect and engage with audiences.

By being active in your community, you will get the chance to show your friends, your family and your country what kind of community you would like to live in. You will be able to empower the people around you and have an impact on their lives!

In the end, and most important of all, being a Young European Ambassador gives you the chance to make friends, to share your knowledge and experiences, or simply to discover yourself and the world around you!

Will I be paid for my work as a Young European Ambassador?

The ‘Young European Ambassadors’ initiative is voluntary and you will not be remunerated. 

The costs for the organisation of YEAs activities are covered by the ‘EU NEIGHBOURS east’ project. This includes, for example, organisation of visits to schools and universities to have interactive workshops; environmental actions (e.g. planting trees, cleaning up the area, etc.), participation in international events abroad, and many others.

I would like to become a Young European Ambassador, how should I apply?

You can apply if you:

• are a citizen of one of the EU Member States, the UK or one of the six Eastern partner countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Republic of Moldova, Ukraine)
• are aged between 16 and 26
• have a good level of English
• are interested in EU affairs and the partnership and cooperation between the EU and your country
• are interested in public diplomacy and outreach activities, ready to share knowledge, experience and information
• are motivated in contributing to the development of your community and country
• are interested in voluntary activities and ready to dedicate sufficient time to be part of civic engagement activities.

You can read the full selection criteria and FAQ here. You can apply for the annual call here. The deadline for applications is 3 November 2025.

I am a young Ukrainian now living in exile in the EU due to the ongoing war: can I still join the YEAs?

Yes, you can. Due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, YEAs from Ukraine are active both on the territory of Ukraine and in the EU as well. Young Ukrainians living in the EU can join the network wherever they are now living, and Ukrainian YEAs have been active in organising awareness-raising activities about Ukraine and ongoing war in the EU, and writing blog posts about their experience. For example, you can read recent blog posts from Ukrainian YEAs living abroad here.

How are the YEAs selected?

In order to become a Young European Ambassador, you need to follow a process. The first phase is to express your interest in becoming a Young European Ambassador through the annual call for applications. After the call for applications is closed, there are few more steps to follow, which require further input from the candidates. Selected candidates will be invited to an interview, afterwards, candidates who successfully pass the interview will be invited to provide additional information (e.g. provide a profile photo, sign consent form, develop a description for the website profile, etc.), and as a final step, their profiles will be sent for further approval (to the official stakeholders). The process from the date when the call for applications is closed until the final results takes approximately eight weeks. It might seem to take a bit of time but it’s easier than it sounds!

How many Young European Ambassadors are there in Ukraine? What have they done so far?

There are 115 Young European Ambassadors in Ukraine. Click here to meet them.

In 2025, the YEAs in Ukraine organised and participated in over 130 civic engagement activities. For example, in February 2025, Ukrainian YEAs participated in the public closing event of ‘Together We Learn And Grow’ communication campaign of the Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine.  YEAs organised an informational stand featuring presentations on the EU’s history and the YEAs’ initiative, and a Kahoot quiz, engaging participants in learning key facts about EU-Ukraine cooperation. They also took part in a panel discussion, engaging with the Lviv Bureau of European Integration and presenting the initiative.

Other activities focused on:

• visits to schools and universities to share their knowledge about the EU and opportunities it offers to young people
• combatting disinformation
• environmental actions
• international and public diplomacy events
• social issues

You can see them IN ACTION here.

I can’t join the YEAs, but I’d like to take part in their activities: is this possible?

YES! Even if you are not a Young European Ambassador, you can participate in events organised by the YEAs! Are you interested? If yes, here is how you can stay up to date:

• Like and follow EU NEIGHBOURS east official Facebook  and Instagram  page – we regularly let you know about new ways to get involved with the Young European Ambassadors in your country!

• Join the ‘Young European Neighbours’ network on Facebook – keep up to date with the Young European Ambassadors, find more opportunities for you and join any of the contests and challenges!