Ukrainian Youth Network (UYN) is a youth-led non-governmental organisation advancing democratic participation, human rights education, and international cooperation among young people aged 15–30.
UYN operates at the intersection of youth empowerment, civic education, and cross-border cooperation — creating spaces for young people to lead, learn, and advocate.
We strengthen young people's capacity to engage in democratic processes — from local governance to European-level advocacy. Our programmes develop civic competences and active citizenship skills among youth in the Zakarpattia region and beyond.
Priority 1 · Revitalising DemocracyThrough non-formal education methods — workshops, training courses, peer learning — we build young people's knowledge of human rights, media literacy, and intercultural competences, with a particular focus on youth from rural and underserved communities.
Priority 2 · Access to RightsUYN fosters cross-border partnerships with youth organisations across Council of Europe member states, creating opportunities for intercultural dialogue, knowledge exchange, and joint initiatives addressing shared European challenges.
Priority 3 · Living TogetherWe develop targeted interventions supporting young people from Ukraine affected by the ongoing armed conflict — including psychosocial support, community integration programmes, and platforms for youth voices in recovery and peacebuilding processes.
Priority 4 · Youth WorkEvery initiative we undertake is rooted in the fundamental values of human rights, democracy, and the rule of law.
We promote awareness, education, and protection of human rights among young people, ensuring that every voice is heard and every right is respected.
We believe in youth-led governance. Young people are the decision-makers in our organisation — designing, implementing, and evaluating all our programmes.
We ensure gender balance, accessibility, and the participation of young people from minorities, rural areas, and disadvantaged backgrounds in all our activities.
Our work directly addresses the four thematic priorities set by the Joint Council on Youth for 2024–2027.
Advancing young people's participation in political processes, supporting democratic youth civil society, and expanding the civic space for youth organisations in Ukraine and across Europe.
Implementing human rights education with young people, fostering media and information literacy, and addressing mental health needs with an intersectional approach.
Countering discrimination and exclusion, promoting intercultural and intergenerational dialogue, and supporting European unity and global solidarity among youth.
Strengthening the quality and recognition of youth work, developing competences of youth workers, and creating innovative approaches to engage young people in their communities.
Ukrainian Youth Network (UYN) was founded in 2023 in Uzhhorod, Zakarpattia — a region at the crossroads of Central and Eastern Europe, bordering four EU member states. This unique geographic position shapes our mission: connecting Ukrainian youth with the broader European democratic community.
While UYN is a young organisation, our leadership team brings extensive experience in project management, international cooperation, and youth work. Since our founding, we have successfully organised over 10 youth events — including charitable initiatives, workshops, training courses, community forums, and cross-border exchanges — reaching more than 800 participants and demonstrating our operational capacity to deliver impactful youth initiatives at scale.
Our organisation is governed by young people aged 15–30 who take all strategic decisions. We operate with full transparency, democratic internal processes, and a commitment to gender equality and inclusion at every level.
We are open to partnerships with youth organisations, networks, and institutions across Council of Europe member states. Reach out to explore collaboration opportunities.
dzerin19@gmail.comUkrainian Youth Network · 146B Sobranetska St., 88017 Uzhhorod, Ukraine