An event titled “Youth of Lviv Region: Challenges and Prospects” was held at the Lviv Regional Council, dedicated to forming a systematic approach to implementing youth policy in the territorial communities of the region. Details can be found on sport.lviv.oda.
The results of a study on the state of implementation of state youth policy in the Lviv region were presented, particularly in terms of financing youth programs, the functioning of youth centers and councils, as well as management approaches at the local level. The study was organized by UNICEF, the NGO “Youth Platform,” and the Department of Finance of the Lviv Regional State Administration.
Special attention was paid to the relationship between the presence of a systematic youth policy and the overall dynamics of community development. About 644,000 young people aged 14-35 live in Lviv region, which constitutes nearly 27% of the region’s population. Youth policy should be considered a strategic investment in the future of the territories.
“Perhaps the most important thing felt during the conversation is that for most communities in Lviv region, youth policy has ceased to be terra incognita and has become a clearly understood priority. This means a change in approach: from the formal existence of a direction to understanding youth policy as a tool for community development and their capacity. Supporting youth today is no longer about development; it’s about preserving the future. Because when youth see no prospects, they seek them elsewhere — and then we lose not just people, but a chance to rebuild the country,” said Roman Khimyan, Director of the Department of Sports, Youth, and Tourism of the Lviv Regional State Administration.
Currently, the region has youth centers of communal ownership and youth councils as advisory bodies. During the discussion, the implementation of the regional program “Youth of Lviv Region” was summarized, and priorities for the next year were outlined, which include supporting youth initiatives, increasing youth infrastructure, strengthening civic resilience, national identity, and developing digital and life skills of youth.
“Youth centers and councils play a key role in enhancing community capacity. Over five years of implementing the regional program “Youth of Lviv Region,” almost 12 million UAH were allocated for its execution, and more than 20,000 direct participants were involved in the events. In 2025, the program’s funding amounted to 3.5 million UAH, with funds directed to support projects of civil society institutions, the development of youth councils in communities, training for youth spaces, and national-patriotic education. For 2026, 3,839,500 UAH is planned,” says Roman Khimyak.
The event served as a platform for professional discussion of practical mechanisms for implementing youth policy at the local level and forming a basis for further management decisions regarding the creation and updating of youth support programs in the territorial communities of the Lviv region. The event was organized by the Lviv Regional Youth Center in collaboration with the Department of Sports, Youth, and Tourism of the Lviv Regional State Administration and the NGO “Youth Platform.”