Youth Connect EU-Ukraine (YOU) is a 24-month Erasmus+ co-operation partnership that supports young people affected by the war in Ukraine by strengthening their resilience, inclusion and agency across Europe.
The project brings together youth organisations, higher education institutions and community-based partners from Poland, Romania, Czechia and Ukraine. It is led by the British Council Foundation in collaboration with a regional network of partners committed to youth empowerment and cross-border co-operation.
The need for action
The war in Ukraine has displaced and disrupted the lives of millions of young people. Many now face isolation, trauma and uncertainty about their futures. Youth organisations working with this population urgently need greater support, co-ordination and the tools to respond to this complex and evolving crisis. The YOU project was born out of this pressing need – to offer young Ukrainians opportunities for growth, dialogue and leadership – while equipping the organisations that support them with essential skills and resources.
Project objectives
YOU focuses on three key areas:
- strengthening youth organisations working with Ukrainians across Europe and within Ukraine
- promoting intercultural dialogue and inclusion between Ukrainian and local youth in host communities
- fostering cross-border collaboration to create a co-ordinated response to the challenges facing Ukrainian youth.
The project features
- mapping and needs analysis of youth organisations
- capacity-building workshops on trauma-informed care, intercultural communication, diversity and inclusion
- a practical toolkit and a guide with best practices
- 5 intercultural exchange programmes and 15 youth-led inclusion initiatives
- 4 international forums anda collaborative digital platform
- awareness campaigns and a final conference to disseminate results.
Who is involved
Led by Fundacja British Council (Poland), the project consortium includes:
- Fundatia Nationala pentru Tineret (Romania) – a national youth network supporting young people and Ukrainian refugees
- UCT Prague (Czech Republic) – a university providing integration support for displaced Ukrainian students
- Volyn Youth Center (Ukraine) – a youth-led organisation offering leadership training and community engagement
- Sustainable Development Agency ‘Skyscraper’ (Ukraine) – specialising in youth policy, civic engagement and volunteerism.
Why this matters
YOU not only addresses the immediate needs of Ukrainian youth but also invests in long-term, sustainable change. It fosters trust, mutual understanding and solidarity among diverse youth groups. By bridging non-formal and formal education, YOU opens pathways to empowerment and integration for vulnerable young people.
Help strengthen support for Ukrainian youth – take part in our survey!
As we launch the Youth Connect EU-Ukraine (YOU) project under the Erasmus+ programme, we seek to better understand the needs and challenges youth organisations face in their work with young people from the refugee community.
We warmly invite you to complete a short SURVEY, which will help us understand real expectations and the situation of organisations across Poland ➡ https://forms.office.com/e/WT4ZRkZYS8
Based on the survey results, we plan to prepare and deliver a free series of capacity-building activities for organisations, including:
- a consultation meeting during which, together with representatives of organisations, we will discuss specific needs, challenges and potential development paths
- online workshops for staff and volunteers focused on working with young people with experiences of trauma and on building intercultural communication skills.
The project aligns with the British Council’s efforts to support inclusive, resilient, and future-ready youth communities across Europe.
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the Foundation for the Development of the Education. Neither the European Union nor the Foundation for the Development of the Education can be held responsible for them.
