Roots Local Capacities for Peace Ad Hoc Project with YMCA Ukraine
We are proud to announce the launch of “Back to Active Life: Fighting COVID-19 Challenges” project organised by YMCA Ukraine in partnership with YMCA Europe Roots for Peace. The project will be implemented between May 4 2021 – January 4, 2022.
The aim of the project is to strengthen the capacity of the YMCA Ukraine, as well as of young people in Ukraine and Russia; and to cope with the challenges caused by the COVID-19 and remain operational during and after the pandemic.
Background
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought upon the challenges of extraordinary magnitude all over the world, including Russia and Ukraine – where the strict regulations introduced by the governments in attempt to stop the spread of the infection, have led to numerous problems in the economic, social and personal lives of people.
Lockdowns, restrictions in travelling and face to face communication, increase of unemployment, lack of job opportunities and forced isolation resulted in a wide range of psychological problems and depression among people – with young people especially affected.
It turned out very difficult for the young people to adapt to the new realities: online education, remote work or lack of it altogether, financial instability and restrictions or even ban of live communication with peers, friends and relatives. Many of them feel anxious, isolated and frustrated – unable to succeed in their studies, finding jobs, while experiencing problems in personal development and social interaction.
Pandemic made the international travel and live contacts between Russian and Ukrainian youth, that were already rather low because of tense interstate relationships, very difficult and basically non-existent.
This project strives to remedy the situation and facilitate the communication, dialogue and understanding between Russian and Ukrainian youth by means of their joint participation in online discussions about the common negative consequences of COVID-19 and to devise the ways on how to overcome them.
Implementation Plan
Through various training schemes, the youth volunteer leaders will be educated on relevant issues, such as: psychosocial support & mental health, soft life skills & employability improvement, conflict prevention/resolution, etc.
Eventually, the project beneficiaries will become the multipliers of gained knowledge and skills among their peers in the local communities to assist the youth in adapting to new life realities.
In total, 700 young people aged 19 – 24 and mostly with disadvantaged backgrounds (Internally Displaced, affected by recent military conflict, etc) will be engaged in various activities within the project framework.
