2025 Reflections
Meet the young people behind the map
In this blog, you will meet some of the young Ukrainians behind these cities and regions - students who are already shaping their country’s future in their own way. Their stories are not just about surviving a difficult time; they are about leading through it and building things that can outlast a war.
From social activists and entrepreneurs to filmmakers, designers, and a future pilot, the 2025 cohort includes:
Diana (Svitlovodsk) - social activist & entrepreneur
Mariia (Soledar) - aspiring filmmaker
Valeriia (Kharkiv) - leadership & ecology advocate
Pavlo (Chernivtsi) - community organizer & athlete
Khrystyna (Lviv) - technology & leadership enthusiast
Stefaniia (Donetsk) - project manager & activist
Anastasiia (Bucha) - volunteer & community leader
Alisa (Kyiv) - business & youth opportunities advocate
Yelyzaveta (Kharkiv) - translator & diplomacy‑oriented leader
Daria (Dnipro) - women’s volunteer & activist
Maksym (Boryspil) - Youth Council member, future pilot
Daryna (Kyiv) - education leader & public speaker
Anastasiia (Kolomyia) - cultural activist
Mykola (Kharkiv) - entrepreneur & changemaker
Oleksandr (Ivano-Frankivsk) - designer & strategist
Mariia (Khmelnytskyi) - social activist & volunteer, gymnast, aspiring entrepreneur
Together, they represent a generation that is not waiting for change - they are creating it.
One of the most defining parts of YouLEAD was simple, but powerful: each student had the chance to stand up and speak about themselves. For many, it was something they had never imagined doing before, not just introducing themselves, but sharing:
who they are
what they care about
what young people in Ukraine need today
Something shifted. Students who once hesitated to speak began to share openly, reflect deeply, and express ideas they had never voiced before. One student compared Ukraine to a lemon - bright on the surface, but layered, complex, and sharp with meaning inside. Another said that, despite being far away, being in Minnesota “felt like home” because of the people.
These weren’t prepared speeches. They were real, honest reflections, and they ended up defining the program.
A few student reflections capture what YouLEAD became:
MEET OUR STUDENT FROM LVIV AND DNIPRO
YouLEAD taught Khrystyna Shpyrka from Lviv a crucial lesson: you can’t call yourself a leader if no one grows when you’re around. During the program, the most effective moments were those built on shared decision‑making and transparent communication, and they shifted her idea of leadership from directing to elevating - from control to growth.
For Daria Levadna from Dnipro, it was about looking inward and recognizing her own impact: “Being selected is an honour: it gives me the chance to share the story of my city, exchange perspectives, and discuss how we can continue developing our home - Ukraine. It feels like becoming part of a powerful web of changemakers.”
MEET OUR KHARKIV STUDENTS
Valeriia Makarenko discovered self‑awareness at the heart of effective leadership: “I didn’t expect a simple set of colours to explain so much about how I lead. The YouLEAD workshop on personality tests made leadership feel personal: understanding my own ‘colour’ showed me how crucial self‑awareness is for effective communication and decision‑making. It also gave me a practical way to understand others and build genuinely balanced teams.”
For Liza Zolotarova, YouLEAD became a “mini‑life” of connection and growth: “During those two months with YouLEAD I found a real family among the hosts, participants, the team, Richard, and Iryna, and the program gave me connections, opportunities, offers, and lessons in even the most basic things. This ‘mini‑life’ in Minnesota taught me the value of connections, to ‘just show up,’ and to ask questions that matter. When I think of YouLEAD, I think about the ‘web’ we are weaving, and as part of the partnerships team I’m working to maintain these connections because I never expected to receive this much.”
MEET OUR STUDENTS FROM SOLEDAR AND CHERNIVTSI
For Mariia Bilytska from Soledar, YouLEAD became a second family and a stage for her creativity: “It wasn’t just an exchange - it was friends, a host family, inspiring speakers, and countless opportunities. I saw my short film shown on a big screen, and from that moment I knew: once YouLEAD, forever YouLEAD.”
Pavlo Aizenberh from Chernivtsi found the right words for what changed: “The program became the end of an old era and the beginning of a new one. It changed my life 360 degrees by introducing me to the most amazing teens from all around Ukraine and leaders from across the world.”
Across backgrounds and cities, these young leaders share one common experience: YouLEAD teaches courage, connection, and impact. It is a space where leadership is personal, collaborative, and transformative, and where the bonds formed stay with participants long after the program ends.
As participant Diana Bulai put it: “YouLEAD is more than a program – it’s the people: Richard and Irina, my wonderful host family Mr. Jim and Ms. Ann, the inspiring leaders and speakers I met, and the new friends who became my second family.”
These aren’t just reflections. They are shifts in mindset - the kind of shifts that shape how a generation will lead. From organizing community events and launching new initiatives to joining international projects and media, students returned home ready to act - in their schools, cities, and networks.
The real outcome: a living network, and if there is one word that defines YouLEAD 2025, it is connection.
What emerged from the program is a “web” of young leaders across Ukraine and beyond - supporting one another, building projects together, and staying engaged long after the program ended.
And that web? It is only getting stronger.
Why it matters now
At a time when Ukraine needs leadership the most, these students are already stepping up.
They do not wait.
They build.
They lead.
And they remind all of us that even in the hardest moments, the future is still being created - by young people who choose to act.
Donate to Global Synergy Group
YouLEAD 2025 has already selected the new 2026 cohort, a group chosen from nearly 600 applications from students across Ukraine. This record‑breaking number of applicants reflects both the growing demand for leadership opportunities and the dedicated, unmatched work of the YouLEAD teams in Ukraine and the United States, who built trust, outreach, and visibility across the countries. And we are now fundraising to cover costs for all students and program activities. Your gift or sponsorship of a student - directly invests in the next generation of leaders in Ukraine and in your own community.
THANK YOU for your support.
