EU4Youth supports Youth Participation School in Zhytomyr, Ukraine

From 6 to 9 February, the ‘EU4Youth: Youth Engagement and Empowerment’ project supported the SHUM (Youth Participation School) programme held by the Institute of Creative Innovations NGO in Zhytomyr, providing a four-day intensive training for young people eager to explore the world of youth participation. 

The programme received over 100 applications from various regions of Ukraine, demonstrating the high demand for capacity-building initiatives in the youth sector. Participants came from diverse backgrounds, representing cities from Lviv to Kharkiv, Vinnytsia to Chernihiv.

SHUM aimed to equip participants with a solid foundation in youth policy, practical tools for civic engagement, and skills for organising local initiatives. The training covered fundamental aspects of youth policy, tools for youth participation, and methods for developing and facilitating local workshops. The programme was structured to balance theoretical learning with practical exercises, ensuring that participants not only gained knowledge but also had the opportunity to apply it immediately. Through interactive methods, teamwork, and real-world case studies, SHUM empowered young leaders to take initiative in their communities.

After the training, participants received mentorship support to implement local workshops in their communities, ensuring the sustainability of their learning experience. SHUM also created a space for young changemakers to connect, share ideas, and develop joint initiatives that contribute to local and national development.

The Institute of Creative Innovations NGO is a beneficiary of the grant programme under the ‘EU4Youth: Youth Engagement and Empowerment’ project, co-financed by the European Union and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and implemented by GIZ.