University students Oleksandra, Ivan and Yulia hail from Snihurivka, a town in Ukraine’s Mykolaivska region. When the full-scale war broke out, many of the town’s residents were forced to flee their homes, and it has taken some time for normal life to resume.
“Young people are gradually returning to Snihurivka, but they have no place for leisure,” explains 20-year-old Oleksandra. “Schools and universities operate online. Sports and clubs have resumed, but not at the same level. We need educational activities to help us develop new skills.”
Determined to help rebuild their community, Oleksandra and her friends joined UNICEF Ukraine’s UPSHFIT youth innovation programme. Together, they formed the SMS (Snihuriv Youth Service) team and received the training, mentoring and resources they needed.
“It was our first experience with such training and project work,” says Oleksandra.
“Everything was explained step by step, so we clearly understood what to do and how to do it. We also had a mentor from a neighboring village who knew our area and its challenges well. She guided and supported us every step of the way.”
With support from the town administration, the three friends were allocated space to open a youth centre. During the day, they studied remotely at university and, in the evenings, they worked to renovate the space. Once it was ready, they held events focused on psychological relief and youth development. These included mini-lectures on Ukrainian folk crafts, art therapy sessions and workshops in which participants made Easter eggs, beaded bracelets and wax candles. They also hosted movie nights featuring Ukrainian films, providing a much-needed escape from the ongoing war. In total, around 200 young people took part.
“We aimed to help young people in the city socialise and the results are already visible,” says Oleksandra. “Many visitors to our space have made new friends here. During the workshops, they relaxed, created something with their hands and connected with others in a casual atmosphere. These meetings made them feel part of a community, where they could openly discuss various topics and momentarily forget the surrounding hardships.”
The team further expanded their efforts by founding the ‘Active Youth of Snihurivshchyna’ NGO. They have already secured several grants from various organizations and conducted training on first aid, media literacy and content creation.
“Our NGO focuses on the needs of young people,” says Oleksandra. “We conduct research and surveys to better understand these needs.”
“We’re planning to fit out a park in the city and promote sports development. Currently, we’re implementing a project involving educational training and art activities. It’s a long process, but we’re steadily moving closer to our goals.”
The team is also working with members of the community to advocate for the needs and rights of local youth. This summer, they joined the Snihuriv Youth Council and began collaborating with local authorities to enhance youth policies in the region.
Between October 2023 and December 2024, UPSHIFT organized 11 recruitment waves across southern Ukraine. Over 550 young people participated in impactful social projects across the Mykolaiv, Kherson and Odesa regions. These efforts supported more than 25,000 beneficiaries and led to the implementation of 117 projects. The UPSHIFT programme in southern Ukraine is managed by the ‘Needed Here’ NGO, with support from UNICEF Ukraine and the Government of Belgium.
