For youth activist Oleksandra from Zboriv, Ternopil Oblast, the war began when her sister called her with the words: "Everything has begun."
On February 24, everything was crossed out
“I didn't even have to wonder what had started. Everything was obvious⎯the war had begun. Of course, my first emotions were horror and fear. What do I have to do? What is my plan? Before that, plans and strategies for youth councils were being developed. On February 24, the war crossed out everything, and we had to build this plan entirely anew.”
Participation in the Bank of Ideas 2.0 project: Molo, diy!
“I joined our youth organization in 2019, when the youth congress of Zboriv region was just starting its work.
We had the idea to create a bomb shelter hub , "Zborivska Kryivka." We knew there would be an Idea Bank 2.0 project, so it was an excellent opportunity.”
To respond to current humanitarian challenges and integrate young people into society, the Zboriv Youth Council created the youth hub "Zborivska Kryivka."
It is a certified bomb shelter with areas rest and relaxation, a space for communication, an art location, a mini-cinema, board games, and hammocks. For a month, more than 150 community residents aged 16-24, including IDPs, attended events in the space and found safe shelter there during air raids.
“The emotions were of extreme joy because it's so cool when you start to lead an idea from a small discussion in the office to this point when they say “yes” and give you the green light. So therefore, it was extremely pleasant and inspiring that we had the opportunity to implement our project.
I advise teenagers not to stop before obstacles because there will be many of them. You need to be ready for this. I would wish them not to lose sight of their goals, regardless of the situation. No matter in what sphere you will evolve, join youth organizations. And not only while you are at school but also in the future, since no one will create a future and environment better than you can."
The project "Bank of ideas 2.0: MOLO, diy!" was implemented in 2022 by the MoloDvizhCenter.Lviv as part of the initiative to determine the Youth Well-Being Index in the cities of Ukraine, which is being implemented by UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund in Ukraine.
