Youth-run community clubs encourage Ukrainians to speak up
Youngsters who took part in UNICEF’s youth innovation programme are bringing people together through a speaking club.
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On Sundays, a group of 20 young people gather on the checkered carpet of a historic building in Kharkiv, Ukraine. Seated in a circle, they exchange greetings, smiles and stories. They may seem like old friends, but many of them are meeting for the first time.
In this speaking club, everyone has the opportunity to have their voice heard.
"Every Sunday, we select a new topic, a different room and invite new guests,” explains Artur, one of the founders of the group. “But one element remains constant – we provide a secure and inclusive space where we learn to speak to each other and dispel myths about Kharkiv.”
“UNICEF provided funding to organize meetings”
The club was created by a group of young students from Kharkiv, who took part in the UPSHIFT youth innovation programme run by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and received support from the Norwegian Government.
Artur and his two ‘Cultural View’ teammates – Liza, and Anton – all study theatre and share a common dream of a modern, culturally-rich Kharkiv, free from stereotypes.
"When we learned about the UPSHIFT Bootcamp, we immediately knew what idea to come up with,” says Artur.
“We identified a problem – the lack of promotion of Ukrainian culture and the lack of opportunities for young people to communicate. Participating in the boot camp helped us refine our idea, and UNICEF provided funding to organize meetings, compensate lecturers, advertise and produce merchandise. That's how the idea turned into a project.”
Their project is aimed at Kharkiv residents who speak different languages but would like to learn more about the culture of their own country. Artur says that while he believes almost all of the city's residents know their own culture in one way or another, he also thinks they do not have enough knowledge to speak about it with confidence.
"We encourage people to speak in a gentle and engaging way,” says Artur. “We invite interesting speakers and professionals in their field. For instance, if there's a famous chef or an actor in town, you can talk to them. Through such interactions, people become more immersed in the Ukrainian context of modern Kharkiv.”
“War affects everything”
Today is the fifth gathering of the Cultural View team's speaking club. The guest speaker, famous Kharkiv film director Artem Vusyk, has attracted an unexpectedly large crowd.
The UPSHIFT team says that the popularity of the project is touching and inspiring, especially considering the air alerts and explosions often heard in Kharkiv. Yet, people still come to talk.
"War affects everything, even the clubs’ conversations,” says Anton. “It motivates more and more people to be interested in their own culture, to learn about their identity.”
Initially, meetings were mainly attended by students, but over time the circle has widened.
"Now, we're witnessing the formation of a community of like-minded people who continue to engage beyond the speaking clubs' meetings,” says Artur. “In this way, we are building and developing the Ukrainian-speaking environment.”
“I feel in touch with my city”
Sofia, a 20-year-old student currently living in Poland, always attends the club's meetings when she is back home in Kharkiv.
"In Poland, I use Polish more than Ukrainian in my daily life,” she says. “So, for me, these meetings are a connection to my home. I feel in touch with my city. It's fascinating to see how strangers come together around Ukrainian values at these gatherings.”
Thanks to the club, Sofia now speaks Ukrainian.
"When you're starting to speak Ukrainian, don't ask too much from yourself,” she advises, with a smile. “It's okay to make mistakes. Begin with simple interactions, like saying hello in a shop or thank you on a trolley bus.”
Artur and his UPSHIFT team have now started creating souvenirs with their logo on and raising funds for future sessions.
"To speak more confidently, my advice is to immerse yourself in good Ukrainian content, of which there's plenty now – music, books, even games,” says Artur. “But it's easier to start speaking in a circle of like-minded people, like at our meetings. So, we'll keep introducing people to Kharkiv's culture.”
UPSHIFT is a youth innovation programme run by UNICEF. The full-scale war has caused a number of serious humanitarian challenges across Ukraine. Since youth are one of the driving forces in communities, UNICEF is engaging UPSHIFT graduates to address these challenges. Last year, 459 teams (2,003 young people aged 14 to 24) participated in the UPSHIFT programme and developed their projects, reaching more than 30,000 beneficiaries.
