Erasmus+ unites strongly youth of Ukraine and Portugal

Today is a special day for Erasmus+ Community – Ukraine: birthday of already a half-Ukrainian friend and real partner of Ukraine – Luis Alves, Director of the National Erasmus+ Agency – Ukraine!

On behalf of the #ErasmusUA we wish you, dear Luis, mnogaya lita, full of youth creativity, inspiration and bridging nations and continents for peace and solidarity together!

We would like to share the story when strong cooperation with the National Erasmus+ Agency – Portugal started and become the best practice of real support and actions for Ukrainian Youth ever after!

It was 20 March 2023 when National Erasmus+ Office – Ukraine team received the email from Portugal beginning with: “The cruel, unprovoked, unjustified, and premeditated invasion of Ukraine is causing suffering and death. At stake is not only the independence of your country and the freedom of your people, but also our values, beliefs, and common future. This aggressive outrage, which we thought was no longer possible to see again in Europe, has forced thousands of innocent citizens to seek protection for their lives in the EU. Waves of solidarity, volunteering movements, personal/individual initiatives, and local activities have spontaneously emerged to help and support them, to express undivided solidarity with the people of Ukraine, to stand up for our shared ideals, and to defend a world of peace and dignity. European Youth programs also play an important role in this process, not just as a tool for humanitarian assistance, but also as an instrument for demonstrating the force of democracy, solidarity, and respect for human rights that guides the strength of our unity of purpose”.

It also described a number of activities already performed to support Ukrainians in Portugal within Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps as well as organisation from Ukraine under Mobility and Cooperation Partnerships Actions of Erasmus+.

There was a suggestion to organise a mission to Ukraine of Luis Alveis, Director of National Erasmus+ Agency – Portugal, responsible for Youth and Sport to explore on spot the opportunities and possibilities for cooperation with Ukrainian youth during martial law!

We started with online meeting to make sure that he is determined to come to Ukraine, despite of a lot of challenges and unsafety situation in Ukraine due to martial law.

It was a match of value from the 1^st online meeting and have grown into the significant activities for young people and organisations working with youth from 13-30 years old!

The 1^st mission organised in cooperation with NEO – Ukraine, Ministry of Youth and Sport of Ukraine, City Administrations, youth organisations and universities to Kyiv, Zhytomyr and Lviv was followed by several meetings and events as well as a interviews, publication and film about Ukraine but most importantly – the trust and admiration to Ukrainian youth, their strength and resilience!

As a result, it burnt into strong collaboration that brings our countries closer and confirmed that we have a lot of in common, especially shared values!

Large events, more missions supporting and promoting Ukraine from schools, VET, universities, youth organisations, Unbroken center, municipalities, ministries and others!

In June 2023, National Erasmus+ Agency in Portugal organised a workshop “EFFY – Erasmus+ Future Focused Youth – Ukraine”. Two-day webinar with dedicated platform was held in close cooperation with the Ministry of Youth and Sport of Ukraine, the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, Salto-Youth Resource Centre, Information Center Erasmus+ Youth and European Solidarity Corps in Ukraine, Erasmus Student Network Ukraine, EU Neighbour East, Young European Ambassadors, Ukraine Youth Council Association. About 700 participants of 63 nationalities from 69 countries of the world registered to participate in the event, including 329 participants from Ukraine: organisations and authorities working with Youth, Youth Leaders, Youth workers, Municipal youth workers and Trainers from Erasmus+ Youth Programme countries and from Ukraine.

In April 2025, Luis Alves carried out an official mission to Ukraine as part of the launch of Lviv – European Youth Capital 2025. The mission focused on meetings in Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk with authorities, public, private, and civil society organisations active in the fields of education, youth, and sport. During the visit, Luis Alves engaged in high-level meetings with Glenn Micallef, European Commissioner for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport; Matviy Bidnyi, Minister of Youth and Sport of Ukraine; Andriy Chesnokov, Deputy Minister; as well as with representatives of national and international institutions and state and local authorities involved in shaping Ukrainian youth policy and cooperation with the EU.

In July 2025, organised by the National Erasmus+ Agency in cooperation with the Embassy of Ukraine to Portugal, Salto-Youth special session devoted to the Ukrainian Youth Policy within Recovery Ukraine Summit in Rome helped to voice Ukrainian youth resilience during martial law.

In September 2025, the Enlargement CEmp 2025 initiative organised by the National Erasmus+ Agency in Portugal, with the support of the Embassy of Ukraine in Portugal, the Lviv City Council, EU Delegation to Portugal, and the National Erasmus+ Office in Ukraine took place in Lviv. The programme brought together 40 young people representing Portugal and Ukraine, alongside mentors, representatives of the Portuguese media, and prominent public speakers. The aim of the agenda was to engage Ukrainian and Portuguese youth in a joint dialogue regarding the future of Ukraine in Europe, EU enlargement, and the significance of European values and the pan-European project for the continent’s prosperity. Additionally, the programme provided an insight into the wartime realities of Ukraine, fostering solidarity and mutual understanding between the youth of both nations.

In December 2025, the AUGO.EU and International Voluntary Day, largest event in Portugal brings together different stakeholders to reflect and discuss on the future of democracy, the value of volunteering and recognising the role of youth and sport organisations in building a “A More” fair, participatory and supportive Europe. Ukrainian delegation joins the event and the Unissued Diplomas Exhibition provided true stories of the students of Ukraine.

In January 2026, for his active work in bringing together the youth of Portugal and Ukraine and for developing international cooperation between our countries, in recognition of the significant personal contribution to the strengthening of international cooperation, the support of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, solidarity action and the promotion of the Ukrainian state at the international level, Luís Alves has been awarded the Order of Merit, 3rd Class, by the President of Ukraine – The Decree of the President of Ukraine No. 68/2026.

In 2026 the activities continues and many initiatives are under finalisation stage to be performed soon, stay with us!

Thanks again to Luis Alves and his fantastic team of the National Erasmus+ Agency – Portugal for strong solidarity and constant support in actions!

We value our collaboration and it makes us stronger together!

About cooperation with Erasmus+ Juventude/ Desporto & CES and activities organised together with Portugal and Ukrainian partners are below:

Contacts

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