On 17–18 December 2025, expert teams from Ukraine’s youth sector discussed the results of educational, training and research activities implemented by the Council of Europe project “Youth for Democracy in Ukraine: Phase IV” during 2025. The implementation of programmes on trauma-informed youth work, participatory youth policies and a barrier-free environment in the youth sector was prioritised.
The Council of Europe project “Youth for Democracy in Ukraine: Phase IV” has been implemented since 1 April 2025 within the framework of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine “Resilience, Recovery and Reconstruction” for 2023–2026. The project’s key partners are the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, the All-Ukrainian Youth Centre and the Ukrainian Youth Foundation.
Yuliia Bayda, co-ordinator of the state programme “Youth Worker” at the All-Ukrainian Youth Centre, presented achievements and plans for 2026 for two specialised training courses: “Trauma-Informed Youth Work” and “Barrier-Free Environment in the Youth Sector”. The teams of trainers and the training programmes are prepared by the Council of Europe project and implemented in co-operation with local and international partners in Ukraine.
Sophie Kwasny, Head of the Education, Training and Co-operation Division of the Youth Department of the Council of Europe, expressed her gratitude to the partners and the expert team for their co-operation in strengthening youth work and human rights education in Ukraine.
Trainers Alina Kasyanova and Iryna Tkachenko, members of the delegation that took part in a study visit to Council of Europe quality-labelled youth centres in Belgium, presented their experience and shared ideas on Belgian youth work.
An updated Training Manual on Human Rights and Trauma-Informed Youth Work was presented. It consists of seven modules aimed at strengthening competencies related to human rights, young people’s access to human rights, understanding traumatic experiences and resilience, as well as engagement and networking to provide psychological support.
Expert teams reviewed the content of the new edition of the Council of Europe’s Youth Work Portfolio and planned to further strengthen their competencies in 2026.
More information about the Council of Europe project “Youth for Democracy in Ukraine”, news, Council of Europe youth-sector resources and open calls for participation in project activities can be found here.
