Prospects of Child and Youth Policy Development in Ukraine

April 24, a meeting took place at the Our Kids Centre between Ms. Barbara-Maria Monheim, founder of the German-Polish-Ukrainian Society, Mr. Konrad Pawlik, Deputy Minister for Co-operation and Polish Diaspora, Mr. Maciej Nowak, advisor of the Eastern and South America Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland, Ms. Małgorzata Twardowska, Deputy Director of the Eastern Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland, Mr. Dariusz Górczyński, Сhargé d'affaires of the Embassy of Poland to Ukraine, and Mr. Mykola Kuleba, Ukrainian President’s Commissioner for Children’s Rights.

Currently, the Structural Subdivision of the German-Polish-Ukrainian Society in Ukraine (GPUS) is implementing a number of model innovation projects, including the following:

• The Centre for Child Protection "Our Kids";
• A socio-cultural child rehabilitation and development project  "Inclusion"; 
• Mobile Youth Work;
• Ukrainian Child Rights Network (UCRN);
• Sport is Our Choice;
• Implementing Green Technology.

During the meeting, the visitors learnt about the work and achievements of the Centre "Our Kids", the living conditions of children in social families, and the assistance provided to displaced children and families from the combat zone. We also showed the visitors our geothermal system that provides heating and hot water all year round.

The visitors exchanged their opinions on the implementation of the new GPUS project, namely the European-Ukrainian Youth Policy Centre (EUYPC), intended to become an international platform for youth work in Ukraine and the Eastern Partnership countries. We showed the visitors several conference halls located on the premises of the Centre "Our Kids" that are suitable for seminars and training. Generally, it is expected that the EUYPC will focus mainly on the development of children, youth, and family policy in Ukraine.

As a result of the meeting, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland and Structural Subdivision of the German-Polish-Ukrainian Society agreed to further co-operation which will involve support to the implementation of the EUYPC project including the funding toward the purchase of equipment for seminars and conferences.