Story of one project - Zanyk Khrystyna, 2007 program winner

After winning in 2007 contest Khrystyna has stayed devoted civil society activist and Ukrainian Women's Fund supported her initiatives twice already. In 2011 within "School of Active Youth" project she organized a complex of events directed at educating active youth in Kolomyia town (Ivano-Frankivsk region) 

The School supposed active education for girls and boys during a month. The school curriculum cntais a series of trainings, which include both theoretical and practical modules, topics that concern civil society activism and personal development and help young people to realize their creatiove and intellectual potential as effective as possible.

Besides, the School participants conducted three successful actions. They were "Morning run" sporting action, charitable action "Give your smile to a child" and educational action "Love Ukrainian-made things".

«In the School of Active Youth I found new friends, learned a lot of interesting things about civil society activsm and first time conducted own action - morning run - together with others. It turned out to be not so easy as it seemed. I am happy that I became participant of this project. I hope that I would continue my civil society activism: it is useful and interesting», - tells the School participant Olena Pechenyuk.

About actions from their participants:

Morning run of the School of Active Youth

"On Sunday, May 8, at 9:00 we had mass morning run in Kolomyia. peopl of different age, tastes and professions went out to run. The action was organized in 3 stages: first young activists made energizer and ran one cirle round the lake; then there was a training that helped loosen up and get a lot of energy for the whole day. Exercise was conducted by PT teacher and trainer of youth break dance team  «Adwanced crew» – Yuriy Yastremskiy. in the ned of the action the team members showed their skills in 10 minutes' dance and pursuaded everybody that sports is health and be healthy is cool:)"

Koryagin Dmytro,

Graduate of the School of Active Youth

 Charitable action of the School of Active Youth

"For us, fully safe people, it is difficult to imagine the feelings of a child, whose parents refused him/her or were deprived parental rights. And almost helpless child stays alone with severe environment, with too little love, care and safety. There are orphans all over the world, and our country is not an exception.

There are a lot of charitable organizations in our town, but very often inhabitants ignore them, and some peple don't know how to join charitable activities.

The action itself took place in the center of the town, in the form of maraphon. It was a walk from town's council to town orphanage with posters, bright baloons and slogans. The main action's slogan was «I wish every child in our country feels happy and has a chance for full-fledged future». Students and pupils of local educational institutions also joined the action. Each action participant came with some contribution – either toy, or clothes, or sweets. All charitable gifts were given personally to children with special physical and psychological needs from Kolomyia orphanage".

Yulia Semchuk,

charitable action participant,

Graduate of the School of Active Youth