Publication date: February 11, 2025

Author: Halyna Kolesnyk, Head of LDN Communications Cluster

In 2023, Legal Development Network (LDN), in partnership with People in Need Czech Republic and with funding from the UK government, helped three communities – Shevchenkivska and Mishkovo-Pohorilivska in Mykolaiv region and Bilozerska in Kherson region – to develop their recovery and development strategies. Youth engagement became critically important for the effective implementation of these strategies. 

That’s why at the beginning of 2025, Legal Development Network, together with People in Need Czech Republic and with funding from the UK government, implemented two educational programs. These programs focused on youth personal development, building their leadership potential, and developing their ability to initiate changes in their communities. Let’s explore what has been achieved through these programs.

«UPDate: South»

The educational and career guidance program “Update: South” has already demonstrated its impact on empowering youth to shape decisions at the local level. In 2023, Legal Development Network implemented it with Global Giving support for 16 representatives of the Shevchenkove community. At the beginning of 2025, with mentor support, they had the opportunity to apply their acquired skills in practice and implement their initiatives.

The mentorship component brought together 14 teenagers. A distinctive feature of the program was the collaboration between experienced mentors and youth teams in two villages — Zelenyi Hai and Tsentralne of the Shevchenkove community.

“When Russian air bombs destroyed the school in Zelenyi Hai village, it seemed that young people had lost their space for development. But this tragedy became the catalyst for creating a new youth center,” says Viktoriia Pidlisna, “Update: South” Program Coordinator.

The youth team from Zelenyi Hai began repurposing a building to create a Youth House and received their first grant of 86,336 hryvnias from the “Building Ukraine Together” (BUR) organization.

A unique story also unfolded in Tsentralne village. The team is exploring the possibility of creating a mobile pharmacy for Tsentralne, Vavylove, and Znamianka. Negotiations are underway with potential partners, including Farmak pharmaceutical company and the Podorozhnyk pharmacy chain.

Another program component focused on improving communication, self-presentation, leadership, and project management skills for youth from the Bilozerska community in Kherson region. Out of 30 potential participants from 10 settlements of the Bilozerska community, 23 young representatives were selected. They had the opportunity to gain knowledge and skills from 12 invited speakers and trainers.

“The most valuable aspect of the program is the transformation of participants’ mindset. They begin to think in terms of projects, seeing opportunities where they previously saw only problems,” emphasizes Viktoriia Pidlisna.

Mykolaiv: A Space for Safe Connections

For many “Update: South” participants, the first meeting in Mykolaiv was a real challenge. After nine months of occupation, living without stable internet and often without electricity, some teenagers left their villages for the first time since 2022. This was especially true for participants from settlements near Kherson and the Dnipro River bank, where Russian forces are positioned on the opposite shore.

“Initially, it was noticeable how difficult it was for teenagers to open up — more than 40% of participants responded with just a few words. Social isolation due to war left its mark, which is why creating a safe space for them became our main priority,” share the program organizers.

The program began with a detailed introduction of the team and project concept, followed by creating a “dream map.” This process helped participants not only identify their own desires but also gather the courage to acknowledge them.

The story of Oleksandr Khomenko and Sofia Plyatsko, representatives of the Artists’ Ukrainian Movement (MUR), about creating Ukraine’s first historical musical about the artists of the Executed Renaissance, showed participants that big projects begin with small steps.

Mentorship was an important element of the program — every ten participants worked with a separate mentor who helped them: consciously experience each day of learning, focus on personal changes, develop key skills and competencies, create a working atmosphere, and receive emotional support.

Kyrylo Ratushniak, “Update: South” Program Mentor

“I noticed changes in participants in three directions: personal, social, and cultural. They were saying: ‘It turns out you can do something in your own village, you don’t have to live in a big city.’ It became much easier for them to communicate with each other, share thoughts and emotions in public,” notes Kyrylo Ratushniak, “Update: South” Program Mentor.

Educational Program in Kyiv: From Emotions to Project Management

The next intensive five-day program in Kyiv became a true immersion into the world of new opportunities and competencies for the participants of “Update: South.” In the context of information warfare, participants mastered critically important media literacy skills and learned to recognize propaganda. They deeply delved into understanding the mechanisms of how modern media works and developed the ability to critically analyze information. Work on emotional intelligence became an important component, where teenagers mastered self-regulation techniques in stressful situations and developed empathy skills.

Career guidance, introduction to modern professions, and labor market trends helped participants better understand their own potential and possible development paths. Special attention was paid to non-formal education and developing entrepreneurial thinking.

Theoretical knowledge was immediately reinforced through practice. Young people developed social projects, learned to work in teams, and speak in public. They created specific development plans for their communities, transforming abstract ideas into real initiatives.

“Teenagers saw that their voices, ideas, and initiatives are important, that they are important. For us, for the community, for Ukraine. And there are many more opportunities for development and self-realization than they imagined,” says the coordinator of the “Update: South” program, Victoria Pidlisna.

From Personal Growth to Community Change: Youth Leadership Development Program in Frontline Territories

11 youth representatives from Shevchenkove and Mishkovo-Pohorilove communities of Mykolaiv oblast and Bilozerkа community of Kherson oblast participated in a four-day educational program on leadership potential development.

Participants of the youth leadership development program. Far right: program trainer Yelyzaveta Tokmakova

“My task was not just to teach them leadership, but to help them understand themselves as individuals,” says the program trainer, facilitator, and developer of youth educational programs Yelyzaveta Tokmakova.

According to her, the program reflected time-tested tools that truly work in developing young leaders. The program’s distinctive feature was its comprehensive approach, where personal growth harmoniously combined with professional skills development.

“Leadership is primarily about personal awareness and the ability to take responsibility. It was important not to impose the role of a leader on participants, but to help them see their own strengths and ways to apply them,” explains Yelyzaveta Tokmakova.

A simulation game specially developed for the program became an innovative element. It was based on real community problems that participants sought to solve. This format helped overcome teenagers’ inherent fear of making mistakes and lack of self-confidence.

“When responsibility is transferred to a game character, it becomes easier for participants to open up and experiment,” notes Yelyzaveta Tokmakova.

The program covered a wide range of practical skills: from communication with authorities and business to risk management in conditions of uncertainty. Special attention was paid to working in frontline zones, where it’s important to be able to calculate risks and manage resources effectively.

“Now many programs teach project management, but few work comprehensively on revealing a teenager’s personality. It’s especially important that project activities bring satisfaction, as often first projects are implemented on a volunteer basis,” emphasizes the trainer.

Thanks to this approach, participants not only gained practical skills but also better understood themselves and their potential in community activities. An additional bonus of the program was a block about the trainer’s personal experience in international advocacy, which took place in a dialogue format. Participants had the opportunity to ask questions, learn more about how international programs work and how youth are prepared for meetings with high-ranking officials from other countries.

Key Findings

“Communication was planned from the beginning as the foundation of the program, and this completely justified itself,” shares Yelyzaveta Tokmakova.

Young people showed particular interest in developing public speaking skills and defending their positions. An unexpected discovery was that young people find it easier to work with specific numbers and budgets than with abstract concepts of risks — a trend opposite to working with adult audiences.

“For teenagers, risks seem like something elusive, while numbers give a clear understanding of the situation,” explains the trainer.

Although project management remains an important component, the personal growth blocks received the greatest response. The confidence development module proved especially resonant, where participants learned to transform their weaknesses into strengths.

“These observations are changing our approach to future programs. We see the need to focus on unique content that is difficult to find in open access — working with documentation, budgeting, and, most importantly, personal growth. This approach best meets the needs of modern youth from frontline territories,” concludes Yelyzaveta Tokmakova.

The difference in perception between teenagers and adult audiences emphasizes the need for an adaptive approach to educational programs, taking into account the characteristics of each generation.

How Community Context Influences Youth

During the program, it was noticeable that geographical differences manifested in group dynamics. Youth from the Mishkovo-Pohorilivska community, which has better access to opportunities, demonstrated greater openness and were easier to connect with. Meanwhile, teenagers from remote communities needed more individual attention and support to unlock their potential.

“In their stories about helicopters overhead and other realities of frontline life, you can feel different experiences that leave a deep imprint,” notes the trainer.

Creating a safe space where everyone could open up at their own pace played a significant role. Individual conversations during breaks became bridges to more active participation in group work.

“It’s critically important to pull teenagers out of their ‘bubble’ where there are only parents, online school, and sounds of shelling. They need to be shown that beyond this exists another world with opportunities they can also join. That’s why such programs have special value — they open a window to a world of broader opportunities for youth from frontline territories,” emphasizes Yelyzaveta Tokmakova.

“Already on the second day of the program, a strong group formed where everyone found their place,” shares Yelyzaveta Tokmakova.

Participants spent time together before classes, played Alias and made TikToks, demonstrating natural bonding and formation of friendships.

The formation of project mini-teams around common interests and community problems became especially valuable. Participants found common ground both in experience and ideas for future initiatives. For several participants who were already familiar from previous programs, this became an opportunity to deepen existing connections.

An unexpected discovery of the program was youth priorities regarding community problems. Contrary to expectations about creating youth spaces and educational initiatives, environmental topics proved to be the most pressing.

“They are particularly concerned about the littering of beaches, water bodies, and forests in their communities. They want to organize clean-ups and environmental actions,” says Yelyzaveta Tokmakova.

Importantly, these initiatives united youth from different communities — Mishkovo-Pohorilove and Shevchenkove of Mykolaiv region.

Social isolation due to online learning became the second critical issue. “Young people lack offline opportunities for socialization, meeting places, and joint activities. Notably, program participants, recognizing their greater activity compared to their peers, strive to create opportunities for others. They want youth to create projects for youth. This is extremely valuable — seeing their desire not just to consume opportunities, but to create them for others,” emphasizes Yelyzaveta.

This approach indicates the formation of a new generation of socially responsible leaders in frontline communities.

According to preliminary evaluations and feedback, the program achieved 85% of its goals. Participants actively maintain contact through social networks, request training materials and presentations, which indicates their desire to implement the knowledge gained.

“We would like to make the program more long-term. A four-day training is a powerful start, but systemic changes require constant support through regular online meetings or mentoring support and support for youth initiatives,” notes Yelyzaveta Tokmakova.

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