23.02.2026

Carrying the Present, Shaping the Future: Youth Engagement, Youth Policy, and International Partnerships in and with Ukraine

Colosseum Berlin
Gleimstraße 31-33
10437 Berlin Germany
Organizer: International Renaissance Foundation, The German Marshall Fund of the United States, German-Polish Youth Office, National Ukrainian Youth Association (NUMO), IJAB - International Youth Service of the Federal Republic of Germany

Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine has been facing profound social, economic, and political challenges that have deeply affected everyday life, particularly for young people. The war has reshaped youth engagement, weakened human capital through displacement and disrupted education, and placed immense responsibility on a generation that is already central to Ukraine’s present and future.

Against this backdrop, this panel discussion brings together young people from Ukraine, youth civil society, policymakers, and international partners to examine how wartime conditions are transforming youth work, youth policy, and youth engagement and what international support is needed today. Young people are carrying a significant share of the wartime burden while simultaneously driving volunteer initiatives, local recovery, social cohesion, and civic participation.  

The discussion will highlight the current situation of youth in Ukraine, the state of youth policies and participatory structures, and the role of youth centers, youth organizations, and entrepreneurship in fostering resilience, leadership, and recovery. It will also explore how international partnerships, exchanges, and cooperation can strengthen sustainable youth work, inclusive policies, and young people’s role in rebuilding Ukraine’s social and economic fabric during and after the war.

The panel discussion will take place as part of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation's Cafe Kyiv event. Tickets for the event are no longer available.

Language: English

Contact:

IJAB - International Youth Service of the Federal Republic of Germany

herrmann@ijab.de

Ukraine
war
peace
youth policy
commitment