Educational intensive “I did it!” for teenagers who suffered from the war
According to the research of the Dobrodiyi Club, the war is a key focus of the worries of Ukrainian teenagers. For 87%, the biggest changes in their lives happened during a full-scale war: fear for life, uncertainty, loss of community and friends, lack of offline communication, and the inability to plan the future.
To help teenagers who suffered from the war to find an inner point of support, to develop resilience and confidence during the hard times, the Dobrodiy Club held a 5-day intensive “I succeeded!”
The participants were teenage IDPs from the east and southeast of Ukraine, who currently live in Kyiv and the nearest suburbs.
The teenagers from Mariupol, Kramatorsk, Toretsk, Nikopol, Berdyansk, Zaporizhzhia, Severodonetsk, Lysychansk, Krasnohorivka and other cities of Ukraine took part.
“This is the first intensive “I did it!” that we conduct during a full-scale war. Yes, this year we adapted the program to the new reality. These 5 days of transformation are aimed to help teenagers find an inner point of support, to provide them with the useful knowledge and tools to succeed even during the war” – says the founder and head of the Dobrodiyiv Club, Maria Artemenko.
“I did it!” in facts and numbers:
- 50 teenagers whose lives were changed by the war
- 5 transformative days
- 17 powerful and inspiring speakers;
- Dozens of stories of those who managed not to move on despite the war;
- 18 mentors and volunteers;
- 1 road map for success adapted to the context of war.
In addition to lectures and workshops from speakers, participants had been working on their own projects in groups – in order to present them on the final day of the intensive.
8 powerful projects were born in just 5 days: 2 restaurants, 2 sustainable fashion brands, 2 spaces for teens, 1 park and even VR-projetct.
“I feel alive again” – one of the participants shared on the last day.
“I learned to interact better with people, and found new friends. I can say that I have felt my superpower during this time – it is communication.”– says participant Nastya.
Shy and a little quiet on the first day – with karaoke, honest questions to star speakers and loud laughter on the last. “I don’t want it to end,” shared the participants of the intensive on the final day, hugging each other.
“We strongly believe that the energy and warmth of “I succeeded!” enough for you” – Maria Artemenko addressed all the participants at the end.