NUMO Executive Director Olena Podobyed-Frankivska appeared as a guest on Ukrainian Radio. Together with host Vladyslav Krasnitskyi, she discussed youth participation in community life, attitudes toward migration, and young people’s vision for their future in Ukraine. The conversation was based on the findings of the study "Interests and Civic Engagement of the Ukrainian Youth," conducted by NUMO in cooperation with the Kharkiv Institute for Social Research.
One of the key topics was young people's participation in decision-making. According to the study, only 9% of young people believe they can influence decisions made by local authorities. At the same time, for many, participation in community life remains largely symbolic, while existing participation mechanisms are either little known or fail to give young people a genuine sense of influence.
The discussion also focused on the level of civic engagement among young people. The study found that 39% of respondents had not participated in civic activities over the past year. According to Olena Podobyed-Frankivska, this does not necessarily reflect a lack of willingness to get involved.
I think that, in reality, the issue isn’t whether young people want to get involved or not. The issue is whether they know where and how they can get involved. And here, it’s very important to discuss the capacity of civic organizations—such as student or school self-governance bodies—to welcome those who want to participate,
she noted.
Special attention was also given to young people's attitudes toward migration. According to the study, 26% of young people have not yet decided where they plan to build their future. As Olena Podobyed-Frankivska noted, for many young people the key factor is not a desire to leave Ukraine, but the search for security, opportunities for personal and professional development, and self-fulfilment.
Young people need clarity about their future. It is important for communities and the state to show young people what role they can play in Ukraine,
emphasized Olena Podobyed-Frankivska.
The broadcast also highlighted the need to develop youth infrastructure and create effective mechanisms for participation and support for civic initiatives that enable young people to become active members of their communities.
