Since March 2022, the Council of Europe's "Youth for Democracy in Ukraine" project has been instrumental in shaping youth policy and youth work amidst the ongoing military agression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. The Annual Report to the President of Ukraine, the Verkhovna Rada, and the Cabinet of Ministers highlights the severe impact of the full-scale invasion on Ukraine's youth, with the Council of Europe responding to these challenges in close co-operation with the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine.

 Grant Support for Youth Initiatives

From 1 June to 31 August 2026, the Council of Europe project is providing grants of up to €4 500 each to four civil society organisations for open youth work initiatives.

The selected projects are:

• CSO "Democratic Initiatives Incubator": "Scroll Smart: Youth for Digital Well-being and Safety" – This project aims to transform digital spaces into accessible youth work environments, promoting healthier digital habits, stronger information hygiene and safer online participation.
• CSO "Education 360" in co-operation with CSO "SVOI PRO" and CSO "Women's Lobby": "Youth-Led Audits for Barrier-Free Participation" – This initiative focuses on strengthening young people's access to inclusive, barrier-free, and participatory youth work by building the capacity of community-based youth teams to assess barriers to participation and engage with local authorities.
• CSO "City Development Platform": "Model of Mobile Outreach Youth Work" – Targeting young people aged 14–35, with a focus on internally displaced persons (IDPs) and youth from underserved communities, this project aims to provide access to youth work services and equip young people with tools for democratic participation.
• Public Union "National Youth Council of Ukraine": "Human Rights in Action: Regional Youth Engagement" – This project seeks to expand young people's access to youth work activities in human rights education and strengthen local youth engagement through outreach and regional activities.

The "Youth for Democracy in Ukraine: Phase IV" project is part of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine, titled "Resilience, Recovery and Reconstruction" for 2023-2026. The project focuses on support measures and capacity-building activities in youth policy, youth work and democratic participation, adhering to Council of Europe youth sector standards and addressing the specific needs of young people in war and post-war contexts.

 For more information about the project, including news, youth resources, and open calls for proposals, please visit the project's official page here.