Empowering Youth in Humanitarian Action in Ukraine

Now I see a sense in it for myself: to do something
to overcome the effects of the war”

woman, 17 y.o., research participant

Methodology

● The study examines youth engagement in humanitarian action in Ukraine post-2022 full-scale Russian invasion.● Focuses on how young people contribute to humanitarian efforts, their motivations, challenges, and impact.● Conducted from September to December 2024 by Open Space Works Ukraine and NGO “Kyiv Educational Center Tolerspace.” and supported by the Humanitarian Leadership Academy (HLA).● Involves literature review, interviews, and participatory workshops with youth and humanitarian organizations.

Data Collection

● Desk review of 5 think tank reports, 6 INGO reports, 3 statistical bulletins, legal documents, and 2 public opinion studies.● 40 key informant interviews (KIIs):- 20 young people (14-24 years old) involved in humanitarian activities.- 20 representatives from organizations implementing youth initiatives.● Participatory workshops for two age groups (14-18 and 19-24) using creative methods to identify engagement barriers and solutions.

Analysis Methods

● MAXQDA software used for systematic coding and thematic analysis of interview transcripts.● Thematic analysis applied to workshop outputs to identify barriers, enablers, and recommended solutions.

Interview Sampling

● Geographic diversity: safe zones, frontline, and de-occupied areas.● Participants included both local and displaced youth.● Organizations included 9 national NGOs, 5 international organizations, and 6 local NGOs from various Ukrainian regions.

Study Limitations

● Parental consent for underage participants may have limited representation.● Findings are indicative rather than fully representative due to sampling constraints.● Ongoing security challenges prevented comprehensive coverage of all conflict-affected regions.● Data collection provides a snapshot rather than a longitudinal analysis of youth engagement trends.