The Council of Europe project "Youth for Democracy in Ukraine: Phase IV" in partnership with the All-Ukrainian Youth Centre, the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine strengthened the competencies of 26 youth workers, representatives of local self-government bodies from 16 regions of Ukraine within the framework of the specialized training "Barrier-free environment in the youth sector" of the state programme "Youth Worker". The training took place on 16-19 September 2025 in Lviv, the European Youth Capital 2025.
Within three days, participants:
- Explored the role of youth work in ensuring human rights through the creation of a barrier-free environment as a tool for young people's access to rights.
- Studied the peculiarities of youth work with various young people, taking into account the concept of a barrier-free environment to ensure young people's access to rights.
- Exchanged practices of creating a barrier-free environment in working with young people in Ukraine and abroad.
- Explored the potential of the Living Library format to overcome barriers. The format was organized on the basis of the methodology of the Council of Europe manual Do not judge by the cover. The Living Library provided an opportunity to meet with invited Books who openly shared their own stories and encounters with stereotypes and prejudices against young veterans, young people with disabilities, Roma youth, young IDPs, young people with autism, blind young people, LGBTI community, young representatives of national communities.
It should be reminded that in June-August 2025, the Council of Europe Project "Youth for Democracy in Ukraine: Phase IV" in co-operation with the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine and the All-Ukrainian Youth Centre prepare a team of eighteen trainers to implement the specialized training "Barrier-free environment in the youth sector" of the state programme "Youth Worker".
More information about the Council of Europe project "Youth for Democracy in Ukraine", news, Council of Europe resources in the field of youth and open calls for participation in project activities can be found here.
