Support for young leaders of Cherkasy region to drive democratic change in local communities

During 2024-2025 Support Ukraine Now (SUN) implemented the SUN Leaders Program with support from the European Endowment for Democracy (EED) to strengthen youth civic participation and leadership in the Cherkasy region and across Ukraine.

Over the course of the project, 20 emerging leaders received mentoring, training, and financial support to develop their initiatives in local governance, civic engagement, and community building. The program combined weekly mentorship, offline gatherings, and expert-led webinars on democracy, leadership, and public policy.

The culmination of the program was the All-Ukrainian SUNconference Молодь України – NOW WHAT?, which brought together around 300 participants from over 100 organizations, including NGOs, educational institutions, youth councils, charities, and student groups.

Key results include:

• Formation of an active youth leaders’ network in Cherkasy region;
• Two new youth councils at city and regional levels;
• Over 75% of participants reporting improved understanding of democracy and governance;
• Growth of SUN’s social media reach to 31,000+ people;
• Partnerships with EU-supported initiatives, local authorities, and independent media;
• Preparation of Ukrainian delegates for the European Youth Event (EYE) 2025 in Strasbourg.

Beyond the grant, SUN continues to build sustainability through an Leaders Endowment Fund and new collaborations with European partners. The program has demonstrated how mentorship, visibility, and inclusion can transform young Ukrainians into confident community leaders ready to shape the country’s democratic future.