EU4Youth in Ukraine
Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has drastically changed the lives of young people in the country since February 2022, creating new challenges and immediate needs, while exacerbating existing difficulties faced by youth.
In response to the challenging situation in the country, the European Commission, together with the Central Project Management Agency (CPMA), swiftly repurposed funds within the framework of the ‘EU4Youth: Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship’ project, allowing for the release of €2,000,000 towards initiatives in Ukraine.
Direct grant projects
Through direct grants to non-profit organisations, the EU4Youth programme will be able to address the societal and economic repercussions of war, strengthen resilience amongst youth and encourage their active participation in the country’s recovery.
More specifically, funded actions will foster employment support services for internally displaced young people and businesses, the rehabilitation and reintegration of young veterans, the creation of support systems to address mental health, trauma and psychological distress in youth, and the involvement of young people in humanitarian and other civilian community support.
One of the first projects under the direct grant scheme was launched in July 2023 to strengthen the capabilities of young graduates and university students in community-based care services for people with intellectual and/or psychosocial disabilities.With the ongoing war disrupting the functioning of care, many youths with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities have lost access to essential services. As a result, these individuals, as well as their families, are facing increased isolation, vulnerability, and distress, impacting their mental health and overall well-being.
The ‘Youth Employment in Times of Crisis’ project is implemented by the All-Ukrainian NGO Coalition for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities, together with the Djerela Charity Association. It enrols some 300 young graduates and university students specialised in social work, pedagogy, and psychology in a tailored training programme to enhance their knowledge and skills related to the care of people with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities.
Among the selected students, at least 75 individuals will be employed in their respective professions, following the completion of the training, while around 200 others will be offered volunteer opportunities with collaborating NGOs that provide personal assistance to persons with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities. Through these community-based social services, the project will be able to offer respite provision for a minimum of 380 family members to allow them to take a short relief from their caregiving responsibilities. In collaboration with Ukrainian universities, the project will moreover modify the curriculum of prospective care professionals to better address the needs of people impacted by the war.
Since its start, the project has completed eight cycles of its training programme. So far, 8 graduates of the programme have signed employment agreements with local partner NGOs, while 49 volunteers are providing personal assistance to families.
Adding to this initiative, two more projects have started their work in early 2024, while three other direct grant projects are currently in the concept phase. These projects will help address the needs of young Ukrainians from diverse policy angles:
- entrepreneurial skill development for young veterans and internally displaced persons
- reintegration of young veterans in the Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine
- strengthening of youth centres for improved youth mobilisation and engagement
- creation of post-conflict educational programmes and trauma-informed pedagogies
- development of initiatives aimed at facilitating the return
- successful integration of young Ukrainian professionals into the country’s public sector
Together, these projects will play an integral part in responding to both immediate and long-term needs in the country, placing young people at the forefront of resilience and recovery efforts.
EU4Youth in Ukraine
Focus on veterans: ‘Returning from the War’ study
Many of the target actions will address the distinct needs of young veterans who will require particular support to reintegrate into society and the labour market, following their return from service.
In order to gain a more nuanced understanding of the lived experiences and challenges faced by veterans in Ukraine, the ‘EU4Youth: Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship’ project commissioned the study ‘Returning from the War’, in cooperation with the National Research Centre’s Olexandr Yaremenko Institute of Family and Youth Policy in Ukraine.
Conducted from January to May 2023, the study finds that despite existing support structures, many veterans in Ukraine struggle to obtain medical aid or register social benefits. Job scarcity upon their return, combined with insufficient qualifications among support professionals and limited access to reintegration services further exacerbate these challenges, leaving many veterans grappling with unemployment and mental health struggles.
The study consequently proposes a comprehensive state policy in support of young veterans, ensuring job security and employment assistance, enhanced access to social support, and a simplified process for obtaining veteran status.
Additionally, it recommends better reintegration of discharged military personnel through a national mentorship programme, specialised training, psychological screenings, a veteran association registry, and online tools for job and educational updates.
Given the specific needs of youth in Ukraine, as well as the ongoing accession negotiations with the country, the EU4Youth programme will continue tailoring its interventions to address the challenges faced by youth and support their active involvement in the country’s path towards EU membership.
EU4Youth in Ukraine