On World Children’s Day and National Children’s Rights Day in Ukraine, 20 November, members of the newly established National Child and Youth Consultative Council – created with the support of Terre des hommes (Tdh) – met with the leadership of the Ukrainian government at the Club of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.
Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, Deputy Prime Minister Taras Kachka, Advisor and Commissioner to the President of Ukraine on Children’s Rights and Rehabilitation Daria Gerasymchuk, and key ministers held an open dialogue with young people – signalling a new approach to public policy built on genuine cooperation with children.
Through this initiative, Tdh continues its long-standing commitment to strengthening children’s participation in Ukraine, particularly in decision-making that concrens their rights, protection, and wellbeing.
"The government’s task is to provide support, resources, and platforms so that young people can realize their most ambitious dreams here, at home, in Ukraine. It is important that the opinions of young people are heard in public policy and have an impact," emphasized Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko.
Council members raised issues that most affect the lives of children, including:
- Security: Countering recruitment of Ukrainian teens for sabotage by Russian special services.
- Education: Combating bullying and introducing comprehensive sex education.
- Mental health: Strengthening psychological support in communities affected by war.
- Social issues: Early detection of child rights violations and expanding family support programs.
- Equal opportunities: Creating mobile youth spaces for teenagers in remote areas.
"The National Child and Youth Consultative Council was created, so that children from all over the country could have their say at the same table with the government, and we, as adults, could responsibly seek solutions together with them. Such steps are made possible thanks to partners, in particular Terre des hommes in Ukraine, who consistently support a culture of child participation," said Daria Gerasymchuk, Advisor and Commissioner to the President of Ukraine on Children’s Rights and Rehabilitation.
Tdh highlighted that meaningful and safe child participation should become an integral part of governance and public policy in Ukraine, playing a key role in rebuilding the country and strengthening its democratic institutions. "Each member of the National Council brings the experience, dreams, and demands of their peers. Their role is to listen, speak boldly, and think innovatively. It is this kind of participation that will help build a country where every child feels safe, has opportunities for development, and believes in their own future," said Caroline Haas, Tdh Head of the Delegation in Ukraine,
The Journey to the National Child and Youth Consultative Council
The National Child and Youth Consultative Council in Ukraine emerged from the BootCamp of the Network of Child and Youth Advisory Boards, organized by Terre des hommes with the support of Advisor and Commissioner to the President of Ukraine on Children’s Rights and Rehabilitation.
The camp, held on 22–24 October in Kyiv, brought together 45 teenagers from the Kharkiv, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Mykolaiv oblasts, all of whom were members of Child and Youth Advisory Boards in their communities as part of Tdh projects in Ukraine.
During the camp, participants identified shared priorities, agreed on cooperation rules, mapped key topics, and transformed them into concrete work streams. They worked in groups, tested safe online collaboration tools, and began developing prototypes of joint projects. By the end, they had a clear path from idea to pilots at the community level and onward to national-level solutions.
"Over these three days, we became friends as if we had known each other for ten years. The atmosphere was wonderful and warm. We learned a lot of new things, and it was great that our opinions were listened to and taken into account," shares Artem, a 15-year-old boy from the Ivano-Frankivsk oblast.
"This is probably the first time in a long time that I can be myself. So many amazing things -I’ve never felt anything like this before. Everyone around me is so kind. It’s so wonderful to be part of the team," shares Diana, a 14-year-old girl from Kharkiv oblast.
Tools for meaningful child participation
Child and Youth Advisory Boards (CABs) are one of the key mechanisms actively used by Terre des hommes teams and their local partners across Europe to promote children’s participation rights. To further support this approach in Ukraine, Tdh has also developed “Walking the JOURNEY amidst Challenging Circumstances”, a methodological toolbox designed to guide work with Child & Youth Advisory Boards in Ukraine. The toolbox offers a range of knowledge and practical activities on how to safely, ethically, and meaningfully engage children and youth in advisory roles and decision-making processes.
