Today, the world commemorates International Youth Day. It also marks nearly six months since Russia commenced its unjustified full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Russia’s war of aggression has caused unimaginable suffering, including the displacement of millions of Ukrainians. In the face of unceasing injustices and horrors committed by Russia, young Ukrainians have demonstrated incredible resolve and determination in defense of their homes and their values.

In commemoration of International Youth Day, we invite you peruse a range of stories of inspiring young Ukrainians who are committed to Ukraine’s victory, both on and off the battlefield, and see democratic progress as a key steppingstone.

OUR STUDENTS ADVANCING DEMOCRATIC PROGRESS IN WARTIME

Anastasia is a student at Taras Shevchenko Kyiv National University. She is also one of several participants in an internship program at the Integrity Building Office of the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP).

Anastasia decided to participate in the internship despite the massive disruption caused by Russia’s war against Ukraine. In fact, the experience of hearing air raid sirens and hiding in bomb shelters increased her motivation to contribute to Ukraine’s victory and its future as a thriving democracy.

“The war changed our lives tremendously but participating in the internship allowed me to continue my professional development even when we worked from bomb shelters,” recalls Anastasia. “Our contribution to NACP activities was meaningful – we used creativity and new approaches to improve the agency’s ongoing work. Now I have a better understanding of how state bodies function, especially in the anti-corruption sphere. I now imagine a career in public service.”

Anastasiia wasn’t the only program intern and all shared an inspiring story of their experiences and views of Ukraine’s future. Click the following links to read the stories of Anastasiia, Maryna and Oksana.

STRENGTHENING STUDENTS’ LEADERSHIP AND COOPERATION SKILLS

Each year we conduct research of IFES’ civic education course, on offer at 46 universities throughout Ukraine. A recent study explored students’ experience with the course, “Democracy: from Theory to Practice,” during wartime.

Research found that students deepened their understanding of human rights and developed skills and attitudes to engage in civil discourse and conflict resolution. In all research focus groups, students discussed the invasion as Ukraine’s ideological struggle for democracy and Russia’s attempt to impose totalitarian rule. It became clear the course helped students better understand that reality and cope with the stress of war.

Here are a few major findings.

Learn more about the course’s impact via this link.

PROVIDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACTIVE STUDENTS

Since 2021, IFES has organized a nationwide competition of changemakers, called DemVision. It is a competition of civic action projects, created by students of IFES’ university-level civic education course. This year was no exception.

Watch the recording of DemVision here and learn more about the winners via this link.

ENTERING VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS WITH A CIVIC EDUCATION COURSE

IFES’ civic education course reaches more people every year. To date, it is available in 46 universities in 20 regions around Ukraine and the number of institutions is growing. Twice a year, IFES provides trainings for new educators to introduce them to the course and its methodology and help adjust to a challenging working environment in wartime.

This summer, IFES conducted hybrid trainings for new educators from universities and vocational institutions. Civic education in a vocational school is a new branch of the project as part of the memorandum between IFES and the Ministry of Education and Science. A course, called Democracy: Ideas in Action, will be piloted in 13 institutions in 11 regions in 2022/23 academic year.

CIVIC EDUCATORS ESTABLISHED ASSOCIATION TO PROMOTE DEMOCRATIC VALUES

Professors of IFES’ university level civic education course, Democracy: From Theory to Practice, established the Civic Educators Association (CEA). CEA educators represent a network of civic education champions who offer modern, interactive civic education to thousands of students across 46 universities in Ukraine. These educators united with a mission to improve the quality of education throughout Ukraine while fostering democratic values among youth.

CEA members believe that civic education is a driver for more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable democracies. They are convinced that the need and demand for civic education will only increase following Russia’s invasion.

“Civic education is needed to teach young people to be human,” said one of the co-founders and a professor from Taras Shevchenko National University in Kyiv. “Humanity, humanism, justice are not metaphors – they are achievable ideals for civic education and are an essential counterbalance to savagery and atrocities that continue to find space in the world.”

Learn more about the Civic Educators Association via this link.