EU4Youth: Final forum summarises eight months of advancing youth political awareness in Ukraine

On July 20-21, Ukrainian Youth Councils Association, supported by ‘EU4Youth: Youth Engagement and Empowerment’ project held a final forum in Kyiv to mark the culmination of the National Programme for the Development of Youth Political Awareness in Ukraine. The event brought together youth councils, civil society organisations, local government representatives, and experts to reflect on achievements and outline future directions for political education among young people.

Over the past eight months, the Programme has laid the groundwork for a sustainable infrastructure for youth political education across the country. Among the key accomplishments:

• A digital educational series on political literacy was launched on the Diia.Education platform, offering accessible learning tools for young people nationwide.

• A practical guidebook was developed to support civil society in promoting political education

• A series of thematic dialogues on politics as a social space for youth took place in different cities, fostering critical discussions and engagement.

• Capacity-building training was held on women`s leadership, political careers, and equal opportunities, enhancing the skills and aspirations of young women activists.

• Online focus groups and training sessions addressing topics of social inclusion and gender equality were conducted, helping integrate GESI (Gender Equality and Social Inclusion) principles into youth participation.

• Dozens of youth councils were actively involved in developing recommendations to improve youth political education.

The final forum itself featured panel discussions on politics as social space for youth and on digital political education, as well as group work to design a roadmap for implementing proposed improvements, interactive sessions such as a simulation game on inclusive practices, and a TED-style talk on young women in politics. Participants also had the opportunity to explore innovative solutions, exchange ideas, and build networks through informal activities and workshops.

The Ukrainian Youth Councils Association is a grant beneficiary of the ‘EU4Youth: Youth Engagement and Empowerment’ project, which is co-financed by the EU and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and implemented by GIZ.