Since 2018, the United Nations Population Fund (UNDP Ukraine), in cooperation with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP Ukraine), the UN Women Ukraine, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), has been implementing the United Nations Recovery and Peacebuilding Program in Ukraine. The Program is supported by twelve international partners: the European Union (EU), the European Investment Bank (EIB), and the governments of the United Kingdom, Denmark, Canada, the Netherlands, Germany, Norway, Poland, Switzerland, Sweden and Japan.
Within the framework of the Program, UNFPA Ukraine works with the youth of Luhansk and Donetsk regions to help them develop 21st century skills as well as critical thinking and conflict resolution skills.
In support of the Global Initiative Youth. Peace. Security and UN Security Council Resolution 2250 the United Nations Population Fund organized a two-day Myropolis Forum.
Myropolis, a forum for the youth of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, was held in Sviatogorsk in September 2019.
More than 150 young people - representatives of local communities, activists and those desirous of developing in Ukraine - came together to explore ways of self-expression and develop skills of joint problem-solving and effective communication in two busy days, learning more about local opportunities for sustainable business development and self-realization.
What was interesting during Myropolis?
The whole program was divided into 4 focus areas:
- Art for Peace
- Sport for Peace
- Information and Communication for Peace
- Science and Innovation for Peace.
Up to 8 different workshops, lectures or discussions were held simultaneously in each focus area, and participants could choose the topic independently.
UNFPA Ukraine Honorary Ambassador Masha Efrosinina also visited the Forum. She held an inspiring meeting with young people, answered their in-depth and thoughtful questions about self-identification, relationships and self-realization.
All these activities had only one purpose: to provide an opportunity for young people from Donetsk and Luhansk regions to recreate and to encourage them to make progress, protect their rights and build their native communities.
Some figures relating to Myropolis:
- 2 active days
- More than 150 young girls and boys
- 4 thematic areas of 28 sessions, master classes and workshops
- 7 new sports (cheerleading, frisbee, rugby, floorball, korfball, badminton and petanque)
Plenty of emotions and opportunities for development!
All these activities had only one purpose: to provide an opportunity for young people from Donetsk and Luhansk regions to recreate and to encourage them to make progress, protect their rights and build their native communities.
The Forum was held within the frame of the United Nations Recovery and Peacebuilding Program. Four UN agencies are implementing the United Nations Recovery and Peacebuilding Program: the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the UN Entity for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment of (UN Women), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
The Program is supported by twelve international partners: the European Union (EU), the European Investment Bank (EIB), and the governments of the United Kingdom, Denmark, Canada, the Netherlands, Germany, Norway, Poland, Switzerland, Sweden and Japan.
It should be recalled that in 2019, UNFPA Ukraine presented an innovative curriculum called ProSkills and conducted a 6-day training for 60 trainers from 18 recreation camps situated in Donetsk and Luhansk regions. During the summer of 2019, UNFPA conducted field visits to those camps in order to monitor the implementation of the ProSkills training programs, and approximately 9,500 young girls and boys (14 to 17 years old) became beneficiaries of the program and received key life skills and 21st century skills to help them be more resilient and more prepared to take an active part in the life of their community.
