Fellowship Programme
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| Country | Ukraine |
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“Civic activism is an opportunity to give back to society, something you often cannot fully do in your professional work”, says Vitalii Razik, 2021 EaP Civil Society Fellow from Lviv, Ukraine, who has been combining a successful legal practice with civic work for the past 23 years.
Civic activism for Vitalii started when he and his fellows at Ivan Franko National University established the Association of Law Students in 1995. Shortly after his graduation, Vitalii started working with Lviv-based Law and Democracy Foundation, first as a pro bono lawyer and since 2010 as director of the Foundation. Soon Vitalii realized that providing legal consultations to citizens was not enough, as most problems stemmed from more systematic faults of the Ukrainian legislation and practice. Thus, the Foundation expanded its activities, adding to its mandate human rights protection, access to justice, legal and court reforms, monitoring of the penitentiary system and its reform, preventing and counteracting corruption.
Had it not been for an event in 2010 that changed everything, the Foundation would have been working today the same way as hundreds of other smaller-scale CSOs in Ukraine. But in 2010 the Foundation’s lawyers helped Ivan Samardak from Lviv to win his case against Ukraine at the European Court of Human Rights. It was a successful story with plenty of lessons learnt, and Vitalii wanted to share their experience with lawyers in other regions, who dealt with similar cases and problems.
“Working with civil society organisations was the most efficient way of sharing this important information”, recollects Vitalii. For the Foundation, it was the first action focused on experience sharing. “We established good communication with the organisations, and realised that acting as a network benefits every organisation, as we can mutually share our best practices, and then apply and further distribute them in our regions, thus acting as catalysts.”
In 2012 the first twelve human rights CSOs – partners of the Foundation – signed a memorandum of cooperation and established a network to coordinate human rights activities and disseminate experience to strengthen Ukrainian civil society and CSOs. Today, the Network of Human Rights NGOs has about 20 active member CSOs from 8 Ukrainian oblasts, “Cooperation between CSOs creates a more effective civil society, opportunities to share experience, helps to solve problems and engage communities to address systematic problems.”
In 2018 the Foundation co-founded another network, Toloka Coalition of Regional Initiatives. Three years later, in 2021 Vitalii received the EaP Civil Society Fellowship award, with a project idea to assist and inspire local CSOs, first of all members of the two Foundation’s networks, in preventing corruption at the grassroots level. He was about to start his fellowship when Russia commenced the full-scale war in Ukraine. Corruption did not disappear, but priorities changed.
Among other numerous challenges, Ukraine had to deal with the refugee crises unprecedented in recent history. People were coming to western Ukraine in the thousands, and needed all kinds of assistance: humanitarian, informational, legal, psychological. “Before the government managed to stabilise the system to make it functional, there was no one except civil society to provide support to internally displaced Ukrainians,” says Vitalii. Many of those CSOs had little or no experience of working with IDPs, and Vitalii saw an immediate need to help these organisations adapt their activities and practices to the realities and needs of war.
Vitalii’s project included several components: training civil society activists in providing legal and psychological support to IDPs, media outreach and advocating for IDPs’ issues at local level, consulting CSOs on legal issues, e.g., related with martial law, and on psychological aspects of CSOs’ work in crisis, running awareness and information campaigns, etc. “Before providing much needed help to others, the organisations needed to be trained in how to do that properly,” says Vitalii. It was inspiring to see that activists who had come to the trainings feeling lost found the focus and started supporting IDPs successfully and tackling other urgent problems.
His approach proved its effectiveness: by the end of the Fellowship project in October 2022, 17 participating CSOs reported they had provided support to over 8,000 IDPs, and the number of beneficiaries was increasing. Vitalii explains, “If I had decided to help IDPs directly, I would have been able to help only very few. This approach allowed me to help thousands.”
The network of CSOs supporting IDPs in Western Ukraine established within the Fellowship project continues working today, with members and individual activists keeping in touch and helping each other when needed.
“In my opinion, civic and charity organisations are the basis of civil society, and we must keep working on enabling them to mature as after our victory [in the war] civil society will become the driver of Ukraine’s reconstruction and development processes on its road to further European integration.”
| Country | Ukraine |
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| The budget development decisions | 0 |
| Country | Ukraine |
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| The budget development decisions | 0 |
Yuliya’s Fellowship project was aimed at peacebuilding and integration, both in Ukraine and EU countries. The project encompassed field research, the development of youth-friendly methods for involving young IDPs (internally displaced persons) and refugees, and the creation of a Facilitation kit for conducting dialogue in peaceful communities.
The Fellowship project allowed Yulia to study institutions working on peacebuilding and youth involvement in Finland, Sweden, and Denmark. She analyzed practices from 20 institutions and was involved in stakeholder talks with 28 youth workers and local stakeholders from Ukraine and Finland, sharing their experiences and ideas on youth involvement in peacebuilding and integration. Methodologies for inclusive youth participation were designed based on user experiences and good practices and piloted through dialogue events with over 115 young people in Ukraine and Finland.
As a final product, Yulia and her colleagues from the Youth Organization STAN network published a Facilitation Kit for Peace Dialogue with Youth. This publication, available in paper and PDF format in English and Ukrainian, serves as a practical tool for youth workers (facilitation kit free to print and use is available on STAN website here in English and here in Ukrainian). It has already been presented in four countries, with participants from 11 different CSOs representing at least seven countries.
Direct beneficiaries of the project include young people of Ukrainian origin, young refugees, and IDPs, as well as youth workers in Ukraine who organized various activities for over 2,000 young IDPs in Volyn, Zakarpatia, and Ivano-Frankivsk regions.
| Country | Ukraine |
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Bohdan Kutsenko’s fellowship project, Association of Culture, aimed to strengthen solidarity among cultural actors – artists, managers, and activists – during the ongoing war in Ukraine. The initiative was born from the need to address the humanitarian crisis by harnessing the power of culture to support displaced persons (IDPs) and promote solidarity within the cultural sector.
The project began by fostering cooperation among stakeholders in Vinnytsia, focusing on identifying the needs of local and displaced artists. This collaboration resulted in the creation of the Association of Culture (KUT), a platform for mobilizing artists and volunteers to provide direct aid to IDPs. The team developed a framework for action, which included the distribution of humanitarian aid, art therapy programs, and the organization of cultural events aimed at healing the community.
The second phase saw the legal registration of the association and the implementation of its action plan, which involved hosting public events, art exhibitions, and creative workshops. Through its initiatives, KUT offered psychological support via art and culture, helped integrate displaced artists into the local scene, and provided temporary accommodation to over 400 people.
Through social media campaigns, podcasts, and public engagements, the project raised awareness about the critical role of culture in times of crisis. Bohdan’s project not only helped sustain cultural identity in the face of war but also united artists and the wider community in a shared mission of resilience and recovery.
| Country | Ukraine |
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| The budget development decisions | 0 |
Implemented by Hanna Harus, this Fellowship project tackled the pressing issue of youth unemployment in Ukraine, exacerbated by the ongoing war. The initiative focused on identifying the skills gaps that hinder Ukrainian youth in their job search and career development, both in Ukraine and abroad. With the support of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Fellowship Programme, Hanna conducted a comprehensive social survey to understand the obstacles faced by young people and provide actionable solutions.
The project began with a social survey designed by a professional sociologist, conducted between November and December 2022. A total of 391 respondents aged 18-29, hailing from diverse regions of Ukraine, participated. The survey assessed their levels of digital literacy, job search abilities, technical competencies, and soft skills, while also identifying systemic barriers such as sexism, ageism, lack of job-specific knowledge, and the war’s impact on employability. The survey was designed as an interactive test, allowing participants to evaluate their skills and receive personalized feedback. At the end of the survey, all participants received a checklist titled “How to Get a Job Without Experience,” equipping them with practical steps to enhance their employability. The survey also served as a platform for collecting qualitative insights on the challenges Ukrainian youth face, which included discrimination, misinformation about vacancies, and employers’ reluctance to hire individuals from war-affected areas.
Based on the survey findings, Hanna Harus collaborated with experts to create a series of infographics and training materials recommending the top skills required for employment and efficient ways to acquire them. To further engage participants, the project offered career consultations with Hanna Harus and Dr. Stephane Bordas, a globally renowned professor in computational mechanics and data science. A randomized lottery allowed two participants to win personalized consultations, while almost 300 survey respondents expressed interest in similar career guidance. During the consultations, participants received tailored advice on building their career strategy, enhancing their skills, and leveraging job experiences to advance professionally.
By leveraging the survey insights, expert consultations, and outreach campaigns, the project equipped Ukrainian youth with the tools to bridge their skills gaps and become more competitive in the modern job market. The fellowship’s outcomes—available online for a wide audience—offer sustainable guidance for career development, empowering young people to overcome challenges and build successful careers in a rapidly changing environment.
| Country | Ukraine |
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Fellowship Summary: Mobilising community and local authorities to make a collective response to the war through environmental activism – public flower garden and vegetable growing.
In spring 2022, as uncertainty loomed across Ukraine, Olena and her team at the Charity Fund Radomyshl is our Home launched a powerful community initiative – Victory Gardens of Radomyshl Hromada. Implemented from May to October 2022, the project aimed to help residents and displaced individuals turn every available plot of land into a source of food, stability, and solidarity. “The idea was simple but powerful,” said Olena. “If each family could grow even a small garden, it would not only bring food to the table but also hope and a sense of agency during a time of crisis.”
The project reached 490 internally displaced people and low-income families – providing them with seed kits and access to land for cultivation. Residents quickly rallied behind the effort, transforming the initiative into a symbol of collective strength. To bring the community closer together, a large flower-planting event was organized at the heart of the town. Over 200 local residents – including children, teachers, community group members, and employees of local enterprises – gathered to plant 1,100 flowers in Cathedral Square and at the Glory Memorial. Children were also actively involved through a series of environmental master classes, where nearly 100 young participants between the ages of 6 and 14 learned about sustainable practices, nature, and gardening. These workshops gave children hands-on experiences while encouraging curiosity and connection to the environment.
Olena emphasized that the true success of the project lay in the community spirit it sparked: “People liked the project activities so much that they’re already asking if we’ll continue next year. I think what worked best was bringing people together around a common goal. We had a strong team of like-minded individuals and clear planning—right down to the packaging of seed kits and organizing the award ceremony.”
Beyond the immediate impact, the project also laid the foundation for future initiatives. New connections were formed with environmental organisations and local producers – at least five local manufacturers offered their support, helping streamline implementation.
Looking ahead, Olena is planning a School Garden project to involve children in agricultural activities and meaningful leisure time. She’s also committed to helping others access similar opportunities: “I’m currently organising informal meetings and trainings to help more active residents of my hometown take part in European programs. International support is more important than ever—for our communities and for every person in Ukraine.”
The Victory Gardens of Radomyshl Hromada became more than just a gardening effort—it was a movement rooted in resilience, cooperation, and a shared vision of recovery.
| Country | Ukraine |
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| The budget development decisions | 0 |
Denys Andrushchenko’s City Dream Platform is a crowdsourcing initiative in Ukraine, serving as an effective communication tool between businesses, local government, and community residents. Launched in April 2023, the platform empowers active residents to highlight critical community issues through social projects, fostering collaboration among stakeholders to address these challenges by inviting them to join the project and contribute their resources. This approach has already yielded tangible results, with success stories inspiring greater civic engagement and citizenship.
The City Dream Platform has not only initiated impactful campaigns but has also received acclaim from volunteers and activists in Cherkasy. The platform’s success lies in its ability to bridge gaps and stimulate solidarity among diverse groups.
Through the City Dream Platform, Denys has sparked a seed of change, inspiring active citizens to persist in working with public servants and holding them accountable. Despite challenges, including the impact of war on Ukraine and its people, Denys remains committed to promoting the City Dream platform and the crowdsourcing approach.
| Country | Ukraine |
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| The budget development decisions | 0 |
Fellowship Summary: Enhance the awareness of the war impact on the environment among Ukrainian students by implementing the information campaign “enWAR_mental”.
Nataliia Yaroshenko has been active in civil society since 2015. Her early years of activism were mostly focused on supporting cultural events, such as the Sumy Rock Fest, but then she experienced the ‘Active Citizen’ programme of the British Council in Ukraine and turned her attention to mobilizing youngsters to collaborate on community development projects.
As a result of this activism Nataliia became the Coordinator of the ‘School of City Ambassadors’ in her home city of Sumy in Ukraine. But this isn’t her only ambassadorial connection as in 2021 she also joined the ranks of the Young European Ambassadors programme.
“As I’m a biologist the next obvious step for me was to unite my civic activism with my passion for the environment. So, with a team of like-minded colleagues, I ran a campaign to promote the concept of the Green Office. This was a great way to help people in Sumy to make the connection between taking local actions and the global movement to protect the environment”
In being awarded a 2021 Civil Society Fellowship, Nataliia was ready to further her journey of finding creative methods for having young people engage in environmental issue, when the Russians invaded Ukraine and her world turned upside down. But Nataliia was not perturbed. She recognized the need to stimulate a dialogue about the impact of war on the environment and her Fellowship shifted its emphasis to become the ‘enWAR_mental’ initiative.
“‘enWAR_mental is all about helping the younger generation understand that the damage to our environment by war will not only have long-lasting effects but that the damage is wide-reaching. Bombs falling on fields and forests in Ukraine will eventually also impact on ecosystems outside of Ukraine. We need to help students and youth understand the issues and the long term consequences, and to build their capacities to advocate for this understanding within their communities.”
Nataliia’s Fellowship has had a strong focus on combining creative talents with scientific evidence and documentation. She has mobilized a team to research, design, and create comic strips that raise awareness to the environmental damage of war. “Such graphics are not only a great way to engage with young people, but they also help to make the difficult topic more digestible”.
She also produced short videos featuring young activists from other countries previously impacted by war, such as Kosovo and Georgia, and other posts on the enWAR_mental Instagram pages. A competition for younger students across Ukraine resulted in more than 50 posters being created and submitted to enWAR_mental, demonstrating a range of perspectives of how young people see the war impacting on their local environment. All the visuals on Instagram have helped to grow enWAR_mental’s followers. “Just last week we saw that we attracted views from about 1,500 new visitors and we see the rise in searches around #environment#war.”
Nataliia also reflected on the personal impact of her Fellowship: “it has helped me through a very traumatic time and the volunteers who have helped me have grown in confidence. Together we are going to continue the work of enWAR_mental”
| Country | Ukraine |
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| The budget development decisions | 0 |
The Art Project: Paint Their Life aimed to inspire children and youth from the Ukrainian orphanages, rehabilitation centers, children’s homes through their engagement with the local artists. To transform the interior of the above public facilities and bring joy to its inhabitants, Stefaniia and her friends painted 7 rehabilitation centers in Kyiv. The art project was followed by the development of the PTL official website to showcase project impact and raise visibility/financial resources for their future interventions. At the final stage of the action, Stefaniia organized a Project Exhibition at the Main Hall of the National Academy of Arts and Architecture engaging the project beneficiaries, volunteers, the Union of Artists of Ukraine and other stakeholders.
The action delivered the official website fundptl.com.ua ensuring the project sustainability and active involvement of the respective donors/private contributors to the social initiative. During the fellowship, #PaintTheirLife artists visited 7 buildings, painted more than 10 walls, created the scenery for the Children’s Charity Festival, and inspired hundreds of young people. Also, the excursion to Kyiv and exhibition at the National Academy of Arts and Architecture engaged 20 teenagers from Rehabilitation Centers of Kyiv interested in art and creativity; they had the opportunity to watch how future artists study, work and what they should do to become a professional artist. As a result, young people raised their awareness on the study opportunities at the Academy through the direct networking with the university lecturers and students.
| Country | Ukraine |
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| The budget development decisions | 0 |