Champions of change: young people leading gender equality in Ukraine
28 April 2026In Ukraine, amid conflict and displacement, young people are stepping up as drivers of change in their communities through gender-equality initiatives like Champions of Change.
On 24 April, European Youth Week kicked off across Europe. Organised by the European Commission every two years, the initiative celebrates youth engagement, participation, and active citizenship in Europe and beyond.
This year’s theme “Solidarity and Fairness” comes at a critical moment. In Ukraine, young people are navigating the impacts of conflict, displacement, and disrupted education, while simultaneously stepping into leadership roles within their communities. This leadership is taking many forms, including through Champions of Change, a project active in 41 countries working to advance gender equality through youth engagement. The initiative aims to empower girls while engaging boys to question and challenge harmful gender norms helping to build more equal and inclusive societies.
Why this work matters now
In a context shaped by conflict, displacement, and disruption, young people in Ukraine face significant and often overlooked risks to their mental health and well-being. Exposure to violence, prolonged uncertainty, social isolation, and interrupted education continue to affect their safety, emotional resilience, and future opportunities – particularly for girls and young women, who are disproportionately affected by gender‑based violence and exclusion.
At the same time, many boys grow up with rigid expectations around masculinity that discourage emotional expression and help-seeking. In Ukraine, these pressures are further intensified by more than four years of conflict, reinforcing harmful ideas about what it means to be a man. These ideas, directly linked to stigma around mental health, strengthen inequalities and increase the risk of isolation and untreated distress.
Addressing these challenges requires safe, inclusive spaces where young people can reflect on their experiences, connect with peers, and begin to reshape the norms that influence their lives.
Creating space for change
Champions of Change responds to this need by creating safe, inclusive environments where adolescents can learn, share experiences, and build confidence together. Through youth clubs, participants explore topics such as gender equality, leadership, and rights. The programme follows separate but connected learning journeys: girls strengthen self-esteem, build awareness of their rights, and develop collective power while boys critically reflect on social expectations, challenge harmful norms, and promote positive masculinities.
Over time, these learning processes come together Participants move from reflection to action leading peer discussions, community initiatives, and advocacy efforts.
Adapted for Ukraine’s cultural and conflict-affected context for the first time, the programme has already reached over 500 adolescents across Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Sumy regions. For many participants, this was their first experience of quality non-formal education.
Following their participation in the program, young people have developed communication and leadership skills and launched their own initiatives from photo exhibitions raising awareness on social issues, to environmental actions and local advocacy campaigns promoting equality and inclusion.
From ideas to action
On World Earth Day, students at Staiky Lyceum in the Kyiv region turned ideas into action planting trees as part of their project “Green Space for Change: Restoring the School Botanical Garden”.
Developed through the Champions of Change programme, the initiative was led by students themselves. In just a few weeks, they moved from discussing environmental responsibility to designing and implementing their own solution.
Working together, girls and boys shared ideas, made decisions, and took collective responsibility challenging traditional roles and demonstrating what equal collaboration can look like in practice.
More than an eco-activity, the day showed how change happens when young people act together.
As their slogan puts it:
“Change begins where girls and boys act together”.
Yehor’s story
Schools need programmes that raise awareness about gender equality and encourage young people to speak up
For 15-year-old Yehor, the programme was transformative.
After being displaced from Kharkiv and switching to online schooling, he found himself increasingly isolated. Through Champions of Change, he connected with peers, explored questions around gender equality, and discovered the power of collective action.
As his confidence grew, so did his sense of responsibility to speak out. Today, Yehor advocates for education that empowers young people to think critically and challenge inequality: “Education is the starting point – schools need programmes that raise awareness about gender equality and encourage young people to speak up”. He adds: “Youth are part of society, and our voices should be heard and included… our voice matters”.
From solidarity to lasting change
Yehor’s story reflects a wider reality: when young people are given the tools, space, and trust to lead, they become powerful drivers of change.
In line with the spirit of European Youth Week, Champions of Change shows what solidarity and fairness look like in practice: young people supporting one another, challenging harmful norms, and building more equal communities together.
But sustaining this change requires sustained commitment. Targeted investment from donors and policymakers is essential to support youth-led, gender-transformative initiatives and inclusive programmes that reach those most affected by inequality and crisis.
Learn more and take action
Explore how young people are driving change and why it matters:
- Discover more stories as part of the Champions of Change programme
- Learn about Ukrainian young men’s struggle for mental health support
- Read about mental health challenges and support for boys and young men in the Invisible Wounds Report
- Learn more about Plan International’s humanitarian impact in Ukraine, Poland, Romania and Moldova
- Share these voices to help amplify youth leadership across Europe and beyond
Because when young people lead change doesn’t just happen, it lasts.
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