Representatives of Seven Countries Joined the DP5YOU International Conference (18 September 2026, Chernivtsi)
On 18 September 2026, the international conference “European Experience in Working with Migrant and Refugee Children in the EU, Ukraine, and Moldova“ took place at Chernivtsi City Council in a hybrid format. The event brought together approximately 100 participants from seven countries, including researchers, educators, young people, students, youth workers, and representatives of civil society organisations and public authorities.
The conference was held as part of the “Digital Platform of Knowledge and Skills Development for Youth Working with Child Migrants and Refugees at European Level“ (DP5YOU) project, co-funded by the European Union. The project is coordinated by the NGO “YOUTH. SCIENCE. SPORT. HEALTHY MOVEMENT OF UKRAINE“.
The event opened with remarks from Viktoriia Riasna, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sport of Ukraine, who emphasised the importance of the project, international cooperation, and preparing young people to work with migrant and refugee children. Anastasia Simakhova, Head of the Council of Young Scientists at the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, also welcomed participants and spoke about the opportunities offered by the DP5YOU digital platform for young people and youth workers.
Natalia Frunze, Director of the Department of Social Policy of Chernivtsi City Council, delivered a welcome address. Marina Skrypnyk, Deputy Director of the Department and Head of a Division, and Natalia Sabadash, Head of the Family and Youth Department, also took part in the conference.
During the plenary presentation, representatives of the coordinating organisation – Iaroslav Galan, Olena Yarmak, and Liliana Hutsuliak – presented the results of DP5YOU, including its digital learning platform, international and national activities, educational materials, and research findings.
Project partners also shared their experience. Joana Galvão represented ASSOCIAÇÃO CHECK-IN – COOPERAÇÃO E DESENVOLVIMENTO (Portugal). Olena Prysiazhniuk of INSTITUTUL DE INSTRUIRE ÎN DEZVOLTARE MILLENIUM (Moldova) delivered a presentation entitled “From identity to belonging: an integrated practice model for Ukrainian children and youth living in Moldova, 2022–2026”. Oleksandr Tuz spoke on behalf of the Ministry of Youth and Sport of Ukraine. Representatives of the National Agency for Programme Development and Youth Work (Moldova) also joined the conference. The partners’ contributions provided an opportunity to discuss approaches to youth work, social integration, and support for children across different countries.
Other presentations focused on practical ways to support children. Andrii Ohnystyi and Kateryna Ohnystapresented European experience in organising sports clubs for children with special educational needs. Oleksandra Tsybaniukdiscussed the role of physical education and motor adaptation in the psychosocial rehabilitation of migrant and refugee children, while Olena Platonova shared practices for providing psychological support and helping children recover during wartime.
A key part of the event was the presentation of Youthpass certificates to young people who completed training on the DP5YOU digital platform and developed skills for working with migrant and refugee children.
Project awards for contributions to its implementation were presented to Yurii Moseichuk, Professor and Dean of the Faculty of Physical Culture, Sport and Rehabilitation; Andrii Slobozhaninov, Honoured Coach of Ukraine; Olha Nikoliichuk, Honoured Master of Sport of Ukraine; and Associate Professors Olena Moroz, Svitlana Duditska, and Oleksandra Tsybaniuk.
More than 20 conference abstracts were prepared. The conference proceedings have been published on the official DP5YOU project website.
The conference provided a space to present research findings, exchange professional experience, and strengthen partnerships supporting migrant and refugee children.
Prepared with the use of materials from the website of the DP5YOU project