From 9 to 13 October 2023 ten representatives of youth centres of Donetsk, Volyn and Zhytomyr region, took part in a study visit to Marttinen Youth Centre who holds the Council of Europe Quality Label for Youth Centres since 2018.

This study visit was held in the framework of the Council of Europe youths sector’s project “Youth for Democracy in Ukraine: Phase III”, and responds to the needs of youth workers from Ukraine. The purpose of the visit was to develop international cooperation and to support the development of competences in the field of environmental youth work.

During the visit, the Ukrainian delegation had the opportunity to explore the educational approaches, methodology and resources of Marttinen youth centre based on an ecological approach to youth work. Representatives of youth centres from Ukraine also had the opportunity to present the experience of Ukrainian youth work and shared good practices from their work with their peers, in particular from the Donetsk, Zhytomyr and Volyn regions. Discussion were also held on the role of youth work during armed conflict and the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine.

This initiative originates from a seminar for Ukrainian youth workers from youth centres held in Strasbourg in December 2022 and the European Platform of Youth Centres that gathers Council of Europe Quality Labelled youth centres, which took place in May 2023 at the European Youth Centre in Strasbourg.  

 The study visit was jointly organised by Marttinen Youth Centre (Virrat/Finland), Donetsk Regional Children and Youth Centre (Vinnitsa/Ukraine), Volyn Regional Youth Centre (Lutsk/Ukraine), Youth Centre of Zhytomyr Region #kreativ_space (Zhytomyr/Ukraine), Council of Europe project  “Youth for Democracy in Ukraine: Phase III” and the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine.

 More information about the study visit can be found here: https://www.coe.int/en/web/kyiv/-/a-study-visit-to-quality-label-youth-centre-marttinen-in-finland