https://www.linkedin.com/in/tetiana-konovalenko-357308152?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=android_appThe initiative “Deep Community Engagement: A Youth Social Innovation Model in a Front-Line City” was implemented by the Young Researchers’ Council and Students’ Council of Bogdan Khmelnitsky Melitopol State Pedagogical University in cooperation with the NGOs “Proactive Youth” and “We Help the Patriots of Ukraine Now and Forever”. These youth change-makers have become a beacon of hope for frontline communities. Operating from their relocated base in Zaporizhzhia, their initiative has had a tangible social impact, improving the lives of over 3,000 people in Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kherson regions. Their comprehensive approach addresses a wide range of needs, with a special focus on vulnerable groups like veterans, internally displaced people, children with special educational needs, and national minorities. The initiative's impact is particularly significant among youth, who make up 60% of their target audience. They've engaged young people through workshops and strategic sessions on topics including peace-building, national identity, human rights, and the ethical use of AI. The team's efforts have created a vital platform for horizontal interaction, fostering a strong wide youth networking “YoUA ZP project” which stands out as the sole information channel in the front-line region dedicated to uniting, inspiring, and supporting youth. The initiative's leaders demonstrate their active citizens’ position contributing to state youth policy, mentoring with various organizations and serving on the Youth Council under the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. Their commitment civic activism has been demonstrated in 93 events held for the target audience and 14 national and international projects.
4th PLACE
Ukrainian Social Innovation and Engagement Award Award
Deep Community Engagement: A Youth Social Innovation Model in a Front-Line City
4th PLACE Ukrainian Social Innovation and Engagement Award Award
Bogdan Khmelnitsky Melitopol State Pedagogical University - Ukraine
"Youth-Led Social Innovation Fosters Front-Line Community Resilience"
Engage on social media
https://www.instagram.com/studrada_mdpu?igsh=dGdyeXdwcmo1enN4(BKMSPU Students’ Council page)
https://www.instagram.com/pro.activeyouth?igsh=aWlzeWg1eTQxdDFi&utm_source=qr(NGO “Proactive Youth”)
https://www.facebook.com/share/1BMNyePqB7/?mibextid=wwXIfr(BKMSPU Students’ Council page)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/349347848036870/?ref=share(Young Researchers’ Council)
https://www.facebook.com/share/g/19Kkh3qzeL/?mibextid=wwXIfr(NGO “We Help the Patriots of Ukraine Now and Forever”)
(BKMSPU Students’ Council channel)
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Summary
Key People
Anastasiia Sukhomlinova
Member of the Young Researchers’ Council, ex-leader of BKMSPU Students’ Council, main specialist at the Directory of Culture and Youth of MCC, founder of NGO “Proactive Youth”
Young Researchers’ Council, Directory of Culture and Youth of MCC,
Bogdan Khmelnitsky Melitopol State Pedagogical University, Melitopol City Council, NGO “Proactive Youth”
Oleksandr Kyriienko
Head of the Young Researchers’ Council, co-founder of NGO “We Help the Patriots of Ukraine Now and Forever
Young Researchers’ Council,
Bogdan Khmelnitsky Melitopol State Pedagogical University, NGO “We Help the Patriots of Ukraine Now and Forever”
Oleksandr Bielov
Head of BKMSPU Students’ Council
Students’ Council ,
Bogdan Khmelnitsky Melitopol State Pedagogical University
Yana Ustiugova
Deputy Head of BKMSPU Students’ Council
Students’ Council ,
Bogdan Khmelnitsky Melitopol State Pedagogical University
Olha Nehriy
Deputy Head of Young Researchers’ Council
Young Researchers’ Council,
Bogdan Khmelnitsky Melitopol State Pedagogical University
Iryna Nehriy
Member of Young Researchers’ Council
Young Researchers’ Council,
Bogdan Khmelnitsky Melitopol State Pedagogical University
Natalia Falko
Rector
Bogdan Khmelnitsky Melitopol State Pedagogical University
Tetiana Konovalenko
Deputy Head of the “UniCom-Centre”
UniCom-Centre,
Bogdan Khmelnitsky Melitopol State Pedagogical University
Acknowledgements
Youth Centre “People.UA”, Melitopol City Council, Zaporizhzhia City Council, Zaporizhzhia Regional State Administration, NGO “Right Here”, Zaporizhzhia Regional Youth Council, NGO “Mriia”
Images
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IMPACT STORY
Impacting lifes
Youth of Bogdan Khmelnitsky Melitopol State Pedagogical University under the leadership of its Students’ Council and Young Researchers’ Council demonstrate a tangible social impact on the front-line community despite the university's relocation to Zaporizhzhia because of the temporary occupation of Melitopol. Their initiative is implemented in various social projects and events devoted to human rights; social cohesion; inclusion; national and European values; sustainable development goals; volunteering; science and education promotion; soft skills development; physical and mental health care; psychological support, art-therapy and emotional reviving; and networking.
The initiative changed the lives of 3000+ people of the communities, mostly located in the front-line area of Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kherson regions. Special attention is paid to the vulnerable groups of people: veterans, internally displaced people, children with special educational needs, representatives of national minorities, etc.
60% of the initiative target audience are representatives of youth. They participated in the the outreaching events devoted to the role of science in peace building and sustainable development, the Day of Honour and Freedom, history of Ukraine and the European Union, national identity and active citizenship, ecological issues, advocating human rights, AI use and ethical issues, etc. Such interactive workshops as “Body and Brain in the Sports”, “AI in your Studies”, “Science in the University’s Heart” helped them to develop a wide range of soft skills. A series of strategic sessions on national and civic identity was organized jointly with local government, veterans, volunteers, civic activists, researchers. Volunteering actions and social projects were especially impactful.
LEARNINGS
Lessons learned
In the conditions of relocation, closely to the war hostilities, the team is a beacon of hope for young people, vulnerable groups, front-line communities. They created a platform for horizontal interaction both inside university community and for networking with other initiative and active young people. A. Sukhomlinova is a coordinator of the YoUA ZP project - a new youth media platform used for communication, inspiration, advice, success stories, and support for the mental health in Zaporizhia region and beyond, which has become the only information channel that unites the youth, motivates them to develop, and forms a strong voice of the new generation.
The Young Researchers’ Council popularize science, unite young researchers and implement innovative projects. They have a strong impact at the university; they are members of the Council of Young Researchers under Zaporizhzhia Regional State Administration; O. Nehriy is a mentor in the organizations "Building Ukraine Together" and "UPSHIFT Ukraine", a member of the initiative group under the Ministry for the Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine; I. Nehriy is a member of the Youth Council under the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, participates in the state social program "Youth of Ukraine" - influence the formation of state youth policy.
They are the leaders of civic activism: A. Sukhomlinova is a founder of NGO "Proactive Youth", dealing with civic engagement, self-development, and support for vulnerable groups of youth; O. Kyriienko is a co-founder of NGO “We Help the Patriots of Ukraine Now and Forever”.
FUTURE PLANS
What's coming?
The youth of BKMSPU see their future in supporting European integration aspirations of Ukraine, scaling social initiatives aimed at strengthening social tolerance and cohesion, support of diversity and inclusion, mental health and well-being, national identity and resilience, other socially important issues, in particular by attracting financial support through grants, scholarships and projects from state bodies, NGOs, through endowment and fundraising campaigns. The Councils’ and their partners activities are aimed at strengthening their influence at all possible levels, including state policy, and participating in the reconstruction of the country. The initiative youth team plans to continue taking part in reconstruction programs, such as "State-Creator" and "VidNOVA:UA". The BKMSPU representatives’ membership in the Council of Young Scientists under Zaporizhzhia Regional State Administration and the Youth Council under the Chairman of Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine indicates their desire for further growth, social responsibility and integration into state structures to share their innovative insights, strategic ideas, spread a positive influence and be leaders of change-making in European state Ukraine.
Cooperation with educational institutions, youth NGOs, local communities, business structures, national and cultural associations ensures development and socialisation of youth, making their voice stronger and more impactful. Volunteer projects, social, intellectual and creative initiatives aimed at preserving and supporting the unity of Ukrainian society is planned to be implemented and some of them have already been started. One more important direction is being developed now - the international cooperation with the youth and youth organizations from all over the world.
