All-Ukrainian festival “SVOI” to the Day of Europe in Ukraine 2026 (9.05.2026, Kyiv, offline)
On May 9, 2026, on Europe Day, the All-Ukrainian Youth Center together with the National Erasmus + Office in Ukraine and partners with the support of the EU Delegation to Ukraine, the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine held the All-Ukrainian Festival “SVOI” (One of Us / Our People).
The co-organizers of the event were: the EU Delegation to Ukraine, the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, All-Ukrainian Youth Center, National Erasmus+ Office in Ukraine, Ukrainian Youth Foundation, Youth Council under the President of Ukraine, National Youth Council of Ukraine, SALTO-YOUTH Resource Center, Erasmus+ Youth Information Center and the European Solidarity Corps, National Center Europass and Euroguidance in Ukraine, Erasmus Student Network in Ukraine, Young European Ambassadors, Erasmus Mundus Alumni in Ukraine and Ukrainian Red Cross Society.
During the event, participants learned how to be on the same wavelength with Ukrainians around the world and move change together; where to look for EU opportunities for training and volunteering; how to deal with career and start a professional path without stress; how to get a grant for your own projects and find a team of like-minded people to start.
The event was attended by more than 130 participants from different cities of Ukraine: students, graduates, youth activists, volunteers and changemakers; young veterans and combatants; internally displaced youth; residents of territories affected by the war (frontline, de-occupied and temporarily occupied); young people from big cities, small communities and rural areas; youth with disabilities; youth with experience of losses, injuries and difficult life circumstances; youth abroad (temporarily displaced or diaspora); representatives of various social, national, religious, cultural and linguistic communities.
AGENDA of the event – upload.
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REELS of the event – at the link.
The official start of the event began with a Minute of Thanksgiving, Respect and Honor and the Anthem of Ukraine performed by the folk amateur folk band “Kolyada”, led by Oksana JUL, and the Folk Amateur Bandura Chapel “Boguslavka”, led by Yulia ZAVADSKA.
The Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine Matvii BIDNYI stressed the critical importance of supporting Ukrainian youth both in Ukraine and abroad in these difficult times of war: “Today, every young Ukrainian should remain in demand and useful, cherishing a culture of mutual assistance and solidarity. The use of powerful tools of the European Union opens unique ways for professional and personal development, and that is why this synergy of European experience and national resilience will allow young people to become the main driving force in the reconstruction of a free, modern and strong Ukraine”.
A special moment of the event was the extremely emotional speech of Vladyslav STOTSKYI, Hero of Ukraine, Deputy Company Commander for Combat Training of the 8th Company of the 3rd Battalion “Svoboda” of the 4th Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine “Rubezh” of the 2nd Corps of the National Guard “Charter” Senior Lieutenant. Addressing the participants, he emphasized the need for young people to be vigilant, not to give in to hostile propaganda and to maintain unwavering faith in our Victory. The Hero stressed that now is the time to act decisively and consciously in the interests of a free, independent Ukraine, because sincere devotion to a common cause is the most reliable weapon against the aggressor. His words became a powerful manifesto of the unity and responsibility of the younger generation for the fate of the future.
The program of the event was continued by a series of online greetings from partners and co-organizers. Oleksandra HUSAK, Director General of the Directorate of European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, stressed the importance of educational diplomacy and called on young people to actively use European resources to strengthen Ukraine’s integration into the intellectual area of the EU. Chairman of the National Qualifications Agency Yurii BALANYUK focused on the development of new competencies and the recognition of non-formal education as a foundation for the recovery of the country’s professional capital. Oleksandr SANCHENKO, People’s Deputy and Co-Chairman of the Youth Council under the President of Ukraine, noted the strategic role of youth leadership and called for active participation in the creation of youth policy. In conclusion, Andriy PAVLOVSKY, SALTO-YOUTH Resource Center, emphasized the endless opportunities for volunteering and non-formal learning, which help young people become real changemakers at the international level.
Continuing a series of speeches directly at the event, Denys MININ, Director of the All-Ukrainian Youth Center, stressed the importance of building modern youth infrastructure in Ukraine, which should become a space for the implementation of initiatives and professional growth of young people even in difficult times. Kateryna ZHDANOVA, Coordinator of Youth and Sports Actions of the National Erasmus+ Office in Ukraine, spoke in detail about the specific support provided by the Programme, which will definitely provide new knowledge and a network of like-minded people who will become the foundation for the successful future of Ukraine.
All the speakers unanimously wished the participants energy, faith in their own strength and effective use of Erasmus+ tools to approach our common Victory.
The practical program of the event included 3 blocks of speeches and discussions:
- The Block 1: “SVOI”in the World: Building Bridges
- The Block 2: “SVOI”and EU: the Space of Opportunities
- The block 3: “SVOI” at home: Let’s Make Changes
BLOCK 1 was dedicated to the panel discussion on “Ukrainian youth in Ukraine and abroad: ’ communication, opportunities, influence” moderated by Leia ZANKO, All-Ukrainian Youth Center with the involvement of a circle of experts: Olena KAZMAZOVSKA, German Society for International Cooperation GIZ; Olena CHERNYKH, Head of the Council of Europe Project; Daryna VARENYK, NGO “HQ FUTURE”; Oleksiy CHEREDNYCHENKO, Ukrainian Red Cross Society; Yaroslav MOROZOV, Young European Ambassadors; Daryna AIGARS, Erasmus Student Network in Ukraine; Paraskeva BISTROVA, Erasmus Mundus Alumni; Anna SHEVCHENKO, Vice President of the Ukrainian Youth Association in Romania, Ihor LAMEKO, Co-founder of the Ukrainian Youth Group in Lithuania; Artur PODSOKHA, Co-founder of the Ukrainian Youth Organization in “UA.Youth” in the UK.
The second block of the event entitled “SVOI” and EU: the Space of Opportunities” has become a practical guide to key support tools. Kateryna ZHDANOVA, National Erasmus+ Office in Ukraine, and Anna KOVBASIUK, Erasmus+ Youth Information Center and the European Solidarity Corps, presented opportunities for Ukrainian youth within EUs Erasmus+ Programme. The speakers presented the Erasmus+, its priorities and key actions. Kateryna and Anna spoke about the pool of opportunities for individual participants, provided step-by-step recommendations and advice for successful participation in Erasmus+ youth, young workers mobilities and European Solidarity Corps. Daria BELYAYEVA, Erasmus Student Network Ukraine, and Paraskeva BYSTROVA, Erasmus Mundus Alumni, spoke about their experience that changes the scale of the world in the Erasmus Story format. The issue of youth diplomacy and how to represent Ukraine within the framework of the initiative “Being an Ambassador” was presented by Daria LYNNYK, Young European Ambassadors. The final part of the block was devoted to building a career map using Europass and Euroguidance tools, which were highlighted in detail by Daria HAMULA, Europass National Center, and Yana BOBYRETS, Euroguidance National Center.
The third block of the event entitled “SVOI” at Home: Let’s Make Changes” was dedicated to internal resources and initiatives that help young people implement their potential in all regions of Ukraine. Denys VAKULKO, Oleksandr BATYUKOV and Valeriia KUPRIIANOVA spoke about the opportunities for young people from the All-Ukrainian Youth Center, focusing on supporting local initiatives and infrastructure development. The topic of attracting resources for the development of the organizational sector was covered by Mykola KOBYSYA, Ukrainian Youth Foundation, presenting current grant programs for youth organizations. The role of representing the interests of young people and new projects was outlined by Lyubov BOHOIKO, National Youth Council of Ukraine. At the end of the block, Vitaliy PAPP, Ukrainian Red Cross Society, presented opportunities for young people in the field of humanitarian activities and volunteering, emphasizing the importance of social responsibility in times of challenges.
The bright final chord of the event was the performance of the folk amateur folk group “Kolyada” and the People’s Amateur Bandura Chapel “Boguslavka”, underlining the indomitability of the Ukrainian spirit and the depth of our national traditions.
The All-Ukrainian Festival “SVOI” became not only a platform for the presentation of support tools, but also a symbol of the unity of Ukrainian youth around common values. The event demonstrated that despite all the challenges of the war, young changemakers remain active participants in the recovery of Ukraine, able to effectively use the capabilities of the EU and national programs for their own development and strengthening of the state. The synergy of efforts of state institutions, international partners and the youth sector has confirmed: to be “SVOI” — is to act together to win, grow professionally and build the European future of Ukraine today.
Thank you to everyone for your participation! We express our gratitude to each individual and maintain unwavering faith in Ukraine, its citizens, the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and our partners! We continue to support one another and work together to achieve results for our common Victory. Everything is and will be Ukraine!