Meeting with the Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine and Visits to Lviv Open Lab, Youth Space “Vidkryti”, and the Bosco Vocational Education Centre (3.04.2025, Lviv)
On 3 April 2025, the Bureau of European Integration of Lviv City Council supported a series of key meetings involving the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, Agência Nacional Erasmus+ Juventude/Desporto e Corpo Europeu de Solidariedade, the National Erasmus+ Office – Ukraine, and representatives of educational institutions, NGOs, private, and public organisations working with young people.
The first meeting took place at the Youth STEM Centre and brought together:
- Matviy BIDNYI, Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine
- Andriy CHESNOKOV, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports of Ukraine
- Nataliia RADCHUK, Head of the Department for International Cooperation and European Integration
- Vladyslav YATSUK, Head of the Youth Policy Department
- Anastasiia KOLOMIICHENKO, Head of the Regional Youth Policy and Youth Initiatives Division
- Anastasiia DOLZHENKO, Head of the Minister’s Office
- Mykola KOBYTSYA, Director of the Ukrainian Youth Foundation
- Oleksandr SIRYI, Director of the All-Ukrainian Youth Centre
- Luís ALVEIS, Head of Agência Nacional Erasmus+ Juventude/Desporto e Corpo Europeu de Solidariedade – Portugal
- Svitlana SHYTIKOVA, Coordinator of the National Erasmus+ Office – Ukraine
- Kateryna ZHDANOVA, Senior Manager of the National Erasmus+ Office – Ukraine
Participants discussed the achievements and current impact of Erasmus+ capacity building projects in the fields of youth and sport, and explored opportunities for strengthening cooperation with Portugal. They emphasised the importance of launching strategically significant joint projects between the Ministry and Portuguese partners, particularly in youth and youth workers mobility, and support to existing and new youth and sport initiatives.
Following the official meeting, the teams of the National Erasmus+ Office and Agência Nacional Erasmus+ Juventude/Desporto e Corpo Europeu de Solidariedade met with leaders and teams from youth and educational organisations in Lviv who are actively participated in the EU’s Erasmus+ Programme and the European Solidarity Corps.
The first visit was to Lviv Open Lab – a city youth centre promoting science and STEM education. The centre includes the Ideya Volunteer Centre, the Sverlyk Creative Workshop, and ST Lab – the first youth lab in Ukraine. It collaborates with major institutions such as the Copernicus Science Centre in Warsaw, Experimenta in Germany, the LEGO Foundation, the Museum of London, and NEMO in the Netherlands. Together with the Tvory! Team, Luís ALVEIS discussed potential collaboration with Portuguese youth centres in mobility projects for young people and youth workers and cooperation partnerships. They exchanged ideas on integrating STEM subjects into youth non-formal education and increasing youth participation in vocational training and volunteering through Erasmus+.
The next stop led the delegation to the “Vidkryti” Youth Space, created by the Ukrainian Volunteer Service in partnership with the Bureau of European Integration and Lviv City Council, with support of UNICEF Ukraine and UNHCR Ukraine. “Vidkryti” focuses on supporting volunteers, youth leadership, civic initiatives, and coworking open space events. During a meeting with Kyrylo VUZKYI, project manager of “School Volunteer Clubs”, participants discussed opportunities not only for youth exchanges, but also for joint volunteer initiatives with Portuguese youth organisations interested in partnerships.
The final visit of the day took place at the Bosco Vocational Education Centre and led by Father Andrii BODNAR, Head of the Centre, and Mariia BODNAR, Deputy Director for Academic Affairs who explained the capacities of the Center and shared their experience under Erasmus+. Bosco Centre trains future chefs, electrical mechanics, carpenters, wood artists, and software operators, focusing especially on supporting socially vulnerable youth. During the meeting, participants underlined the need to scale up innovation in vocational education, integrate STEM disciplines into training programmes, and engage young people in hands-on learning, internships, and volunteering through EU programmes such as Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps. These efforts help young people build modern skills and connect with the broader European education and employment space.
Throughout all day meetings, the National Erasmus+ Office – Ukraine provided consultations to each institutions on opportunities under Erasmus+ calls and discussed next steps to ensure sustainable and long-term cooperation.
The day’s events in Lviv clearly reflected strong interest in strengthening cooperation between Ukraine and Portugal in youth, sport, and vocational education.
Moving Forward Together!