Youth 4 Youth: Building Skills, Transforming Lives

Dear friends,

The key to success is preparation. This, more than anything else, can relate to the young Ukrainian care leavers who participate in our project “Youth 4 Youth: Building Skills, Transforming Lives”. To ensure a smooth transition into independent living, 149 young people in formal care, orphaned youth and young people from the vulnerable families – with the invaluable help of your generous donations – attended 71 training sessions during this summer season. For many of the 15 to 18-year-olds such meetings have become an eye-opening, transformational experience. “Young people I work with revealed keen interest and desire to change their lives for better, they liked to be in the youth club, and they are looking forward to starting peer-to-peer work in September”, said Olga, youth trainer from Zhytomyr, the North West region of Ukraine.  

“I believe the key to success is a happy family. I am grateful for telling us how to achieve balanced and happy relationships. I will apply new knowledge in building a stronger relationship with my partner in the future, because I do not want to have such relations as my parents used to have...”, echoing Olga’s words 18-year-old Sergiy. During the informal trainings, young participants have been discussing their uniqueness and personalities, talking about inner resources needed to achieve a better position in life. Positive self-awareness, new patterns of behaviour, empowerment and motivation – these are the topics youth have been mostly focused on at the youth club meetings. “Training has helped me to realise that if I truly want to achieve a goal, I have to become more focused on my studying”, - says 15-year-old Victoria from Drogobych. Other discussions included time management, finance management, career advice. “It was interesting to see how I use and distribute my own inner resources and time. Experimenting with sand and stones today proved that by wasting my time on small details I cannot see a bigger picture on how to spot and how to overcome a problem lying ahead” (Ivanna, 16, Drogobych). "Even though I was struggling with making my monthly budget [during a training session], I realised that this [activity] will help me in the future when I will be left on my own" (Artur, 15, Smila).

Thanks to your continuous support to this project, we can proudly reflect on the first fruits of labour, a partnership between the GlobalGiving and the grassroots communities. Youth club events have been taken to the streets and communities of their native towns: “Picture me emotion”, “A city through my eyes” and a charitable event for under 5s in Odesa city orphanage have mobilised not only youth project participants but their mentors, friends and peers. As 16-year-old Ania from Odesa said: "It is so important to be useful". Without exaggeration, by preparing disadvantaged youth as the leaders today, we can create a real impact for a better tomorrow. 

Links:

• On the work of the youth club in Odesa (in Ukrainian)
• About charity initiative organised by young project participants