What happened?

🔹 Discussed how young people can influence decision-making and drive changes in their communities.

🔹 Visited the Opportunities Fair featuring internship, volunteering and career development programs.

🔹 Took part in a World Café session to find solutions for developing youth centers, councils and internships.

🔹 Joined the panel discussion “Youth Policy as a Tool for Change.”

🔹 Learned more about international cooperation and professional growth.

“We truly want the best for you, for our city and for our country. And we work on this together. The fact that you are here in teams, getting grants and cooperating with the youth center – this is your first step toward success,” said Yurii Vilkul, Head of the Defense Council of Kryvyi Rih.

The key message of the forum was clear: “Youth is the driving force of change.”

“Facing today’s challenges, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, together with its partners, is developing programs that help create opportunities for young people,” noted Vladyslav Yatsuk, Head of the Youth Policy Department at the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine.

The forum also became a space for career development. Viktoriia Kotsuba (HR Director, talent development expert) and Andrii Shcherbak (corporate governance top manager) spoke about employment opportunities and essential skills for the future.

The results include not only new knowledge but also concrete plans for improving youth infrastructure. Together with young people and partners, the Kryvyi Rih Youth Center and a Multifunctional Center have already been opened. Two waves of the UPSHIFT program were completed, with 22 teams receiving grants for their own projects.

“UNICEF will continue implementing support programs in the city, contributing to the country’s recovery,” said Yurii Rudenko, UNICEF Programme Specialist.

Supporting youth means investing in the future of the community. The forum proved that Kryvyi Rih is a city of opportunities, and its young people are ready to shape not only their own future but their community as well.

Thank you to everyone who took part. This is only the beginning of bigger changes!

The UNICEF program in the Dnipropetrovsk region is implemented by Zahody NGO with the support of the Kryvyi Rih City Council, the City Defense Council and the financial support of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development through the German development bank KfW.