By Kira Syrotenko | CEO
While Ukraine continues to live through the devastating consequences of war, the Charity Fund Blagomay remains committed to its mission — ensuring that every child in Ukraine, especially girls from vulnerable backgrounds, has access to safety, education, creativity, and personal growth.
The Girl Power Ukraine (GPU) initiative was born out of this vision: to create safe offline spaces where girls can rebuild confidence, learn essential life skills, and experience what it means to be supported, seen and empowered.
Between June and August 2025, GPU reached new communities across Ukraine, expanded partnerships with grassroots NGOs, and successfully conducted several inclusive courses as well as a full-scale summer camp in the Zakarpattia region.
These activities took place under the constant shadow of air alerts and displacement — yet every session, every workshop, every moment spent learning and laughing together became an act of resilience and hope.
Program Overview and Goals
The Girl Power Ukraine (GPU) program is a national initiative designed to empower girls aged 12 to 18 through non-formal education, leadership training, psychological support, and inclusive community engagement, helping adolescent girls build confidence, strengthen communication and decision-making skills, and discover their inner potential in a safe, motivating environment. GPU uniquely focuses on inclusion and equity, targeting girls from vulnerable backgrounds, including internally displaced persons (IDPs), those who lost homes due to the war, girls with physical or cognitive disabilities, children from low-income or single-parent families, adolescents living in conflict-affected regions, girls of military personnel or those who lost parents in the war, and others in difficult life circumstances such as neglect, trauma, or exposure to violence, ensuring that every participant has equal access to learning, self-expression, and psychological recovery. The program’s curriculum combines interactive learning, peer-to-peer mentorship, and practical exercises, conducted by professional psychologists, youth trainers, and art therapists, so that every activity both builds skills and supports emotional healing and social reintegration. Core thematic areas include leadership and self-management, emotional intelligence and resilience, communication and teamwork, gender equality and rights, career orientation and future planning, health and well-being, and creativity and self-expression, with workshops and exercises designed to strengthen self-esteem, manage stress, promote personal boundaries, explore future professions, and foster body positivity and artistic self-expression. A major strength of GPU is its integrated approach to psychosocial support, merging psychological recovery with skill-building and leadership development to help girls reconnect with their identity, regain a sense of control, and rediscover hope after displacement, trauma, or social exclusion. Each cohort creates a safe offline space built on mutual trust, peer support, group reflection, storytelling, and team challenges, teaching girls that they are not alone in their struggles and that every challenge can become a source of growth. GPU also leverages a local partnership network of grassroots NGOs with strong community trust and experience in working with vulnerable children, ensuring effective outreach, inclusion of girls with disabilities, and sensitivity to regional realities. By combining education, mental health, and empowerment, Girl Power Ukraine helps adolescent girls not only survive the war but emerge stronger, leaving the program with enhanced self-esteem, practical life skills, and the conviction that their voice and actions matter in rebuilding Ukraine’s future
Activities Conducted (June–August 2025)
During the reporting period, GPU implemented several training cohorts and the Girl Power Summer Camp, with activities organized in multiple Ukrainian regions in partnership with trusted local organizations.
In Vilniansk (Zaporizhzhia region), the course was implemented together with the NGO Harmonia UA. Despite being close to the frontline, the community showed tremendous spirit and engagement. Thirty participants completed a series of leadership and wellbeing sessions that helped them develop self-awareness and a stronger sense of agency.
In Kropyvnytskyi (Kirovohrad region), in partnership with the organization Serce Materi (Center for Youth with Disabilities), twenty girls — including participants with physical and mental disabilities — took part in an inclusive cycle of workshops. These sessions focused on self-expression through art therapy, communication skills, and stress management.
In Kremenchuk (Poltava region), the NGO Liderka conducted a series of classes attended by thirty girls, exploring topics of social responsibility, gender equality, and community involvement. The participants also developed small social projects and presented them publicly at the end of the course.
In Kyiv, the Blagomay Hub hosted another thirty girls, most of whom were displaced from frontline territories. Here, the focus was on emotional stability, leadership development, and career orientation. The girls learned to set personal goals, explore professional interests, and strengthen teamwork skills.
In Irpin (Kyiv region), the Foundation of Good Deeds organized a parallel stream of the program. Thirty girls from affected families took part in workshops on stress relief, public speaking, and self-leadership. The program offered not only learning opportunities but also a sense of community and belonging after years of isolation.
Finally, in August 2025, the Girl Power Summer Camp took place in Illara, Zakarpattia region, with the support of To Make the Difference. Thirty girls from across Ukraine came together for ten unforgettable days of learning, movement, creativity, and rest. In a peaceful location away from daily air raid sirens, they could finally experience what normal youth should feel like — laughter, inspiration, and friendship.
Regional Implementation and Reach
Vilniansk, Zaporizhzhia region
Kropyvnytskyi, Kirovohrad region
Kremenchuk, Poltava region
Kyiv, Kyiv region
Irpin, Kyiv region
Program Content and Methodology
Each GPU course combines psychological, educational, and creative approaches. The curriculum includes topics such as:
At the summer camp, daily routines included morning exercise, dance therapy, yoga, neuro-gymnastics, creative workshops, outdoor games, and group discussions.
Participants also engaged in thematic quests, teamwork projects, and leadership exercises aimed at developing empathy, initiative, and confidence.
Participants and Inclusion
Throughout the summer activities, GPU directly supported 160 girls across Ukraine. The project maintained an inclusive approach, ensuring participation for those most affected by the war.
Among the participants were:
Every participant was provided with a safe offline environment, psychological support, and group facilitation by trained mentors.
Impact and Outcomes
The impact of the Girl Power Ukraine program goes far beyond the classroom. According to post-program feedback, nearly all participants reported a significant increase in self-confidence, communication skills, and emotional stability. Many also shared that the program helped them find hope and a renewed sense of direction despite the war around them.
Parents and guardians expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity given to their daughters — not only for the knowledge gained but also for the emotional healing and motivation that came from the experience.
Girls who participated in GPU courses and the summer camp learned to express themselves more freely, form healthy social relationships, and recognize their value as future leaders in their communities.
Moreover, several participants have already begun organizing small initiatives in their schools and towns — from peer-support clubs to volunteering activities — demonstrating the sustainable social impact of the program.
Participant Stories
Viktoriia, 15 years old
“For me, the most important part was overcoming fear and self-doubt, improving communication skills, making new friends, and escaping the daily routine. Every day at Girl Power Camp was full of energy and creativity. After the camp, I feel more confident in pursuing my goals. In wartime, we teenagers rarely get to have a ‘normal’ youth — no bright memories, no social experiences. That’s why this camp was a much-needed chance to catch up on what we’ve lost.”
Nastya, 17 years old
“At camp, I played tennis for the first time. I want to get better at it and explore new hobbies. What inspired me most was the silence — no air alerts, no explosions. It felt peaceful, like coming back to life. This experience gave me hope and strength to dream again.”
Daryna, 15 years old
“The most valuable thing for me was the atmosphere of trust and support among the girls. It helped me open up, be myself, and not be afraid to speak my mind. During the team project day, I realized how talented we all are and how well we can work together. I learned leadership, teamwork, and communication skills that I’ll use for the rest of my life.”
Girl Power Camp:
- Helped me rest and recharge: 4.7 / 5
- Inspired me to act, dream, and grow: 4.26 / 5
- Motivated and empowered me: 4.22 / 5
87% of girls reported making new friends at the camp
Overall camp experience rated: 4.5 / 5
Partnerships and Collaboration
The success of GPU is built on a strong network of regional partners that ensure local access, inclusion, and safety. Among them:
Harmonia UA in Zaporizhzhia, Serce Materi in Kropyvnytskyi, Liderka in Kremenchuk, Foundation of Good Deeds in Irpin, Ruka Pidtrymky in Dnipro, and Ukrainian Antiquity operating in Sumy, Chernihiv, and Kyiv regions.
These organizations play a crucial role in reaching remote communities, coordinating logistics, and adapting the curriculum to regional needs. Their expertise and trust within local communities ensure that every GPU cohort runs smoothly and effectively.
Plans for the Next Phase
As of September 2025, preparation is underway for new GPU courses in Vyshhorod (Kyiv region), Zhytomyr (Zhytomyr region), and Lebedyn (Sumy region). Each new program is expected to engage over 30 participants and continue the mission of building resilience, leadership, and equality among Ukrainian girls.
The expansion demonstrates not only the program’s sustainability but also the growing demand for safe educational and psychosocial spaces for young women across the country.
Acknowledgment and Call for Support
We extend our sincere gratitude to ING Bank, Mondelez International, To Make the Difference, Oriflame Ukraine and all GlobalGiving donors for their ongoing commitment to the GPU initiative. Your generosity has allowed hundreds of girls to rediscover hope, build self-esteem, and learn the skills they need to lead fulfilling lives — even in wartime.
Every contribution you make fuels another workshop, another camp, another story of transformation. Together, we are nurturing a new generation of strong, empathetic, and confident young women who will rebuild Ukraine with dignity and compassion.
Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.
Support this important cause by creating a personalized fundraising page.
Start a Fundraiser
