Ukraine: Restheses for young democratic commitment
What is followed after a youth in war? The Stan organization supports committed young people to lay the basis for a future in a free and democratic Ukraine. Many are internally displaced persons who hope for the reconstruction of their homeworkers.
The war throughout Ukraine is now increasing for more than three years. The non -tearing attacks also mean Russia: a generation of teenagers and adolescents - with the experience of war, destruction, displacement and uprooting - is growing up.
While the struggles have serious consequences for practically all population groups, adolescents form a particularly vulnerable group. For many, the immediate, foreseeable future lies in the army. Many more stand in front of uncertain educational paths, while they take on roles far too early that are filled by adults in other times. They take care of siblings alone, take on jobs, help with construction work or distributing relief goods. Her parents fight at the front, had to stay in other parts of the country or were killed in the war.
Most young people are in grief or concern about friends or relatives, often separated from them by the military front. Few have the chance to develop their age according to their age, to develop their own ideas, to forge future plans. It is all the more important for everyone not to lose sight of what the hopes after the end of the war are resting: the dream of a free, safe and democratic Ukraine.
The foundation of a democratic future
The Terre Des Hommes partner organization "Stan" tries to offer some of these young people support and new contact points. In addition, a network of committed young people is being built up, which are already proactively campaigning for participation and democracy. The participants learn something about youth activism and human rights, conflict resolution and transition justice, equality and tolerance, minority and LGBTQ+rights, diversity, inclusion and intercultural dialogue. For this purpose, Stan supports eight basic initiatives for social cohesion in West Ukraine. If necessary, the participants also find help for their own mental health.
"I know that maybe years will pass until many of the ideas we have are finally implemented," says Kateryna Shulakova, one of the participants of Stan. The student of computer science in Kiev has brought in a project idea for a decolonization forum - in her home region of Luhansk, which is largely under Russian occupation today.
»These are the thoughts for the distant future, but they are so important to me. I used to dream of moving to a larger city. Now that I am in Kiev, I only really understand what value our word can have at local level. We have the greatest influence where we spent most of our lives. "
Young people like Kateryna form the largest group of the Stan participants: young people who were sold within Ukraine often from the south or east of the country. The project is mainly implemented in Wolodymyr near the Polish border, one of the cities and regions that have taken up an enormous influx of internal displaced people since 2022.
"Many people want to return."
A second focus of the project is therefore the dialogue and acceptance of cultural minorities, conflict prevention and the promotion of understanding between different groups and generations. It is a foretaste of a diverse, multicultural future. And at the same time a snapshot: many people who are displaced hope that one day they will find their way back and to rebuild their hometowns.
»Many young people have moved to new cities, new countries. But our task is to ensure that there is a place to return to a place with perspectives, " says Kateryna, " for my parents, for the people I know ... For all of us, it would be so important to come back and rebuild the city. Many people want to return. I hope the best. I hope that will come true at some point. "
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