SUN Leaders Program enables young leaders of social initiatives in Ukraine to focus on growing their projects, and rebuilding and transforming Ukraine.

It is a 6-months fellowship program that offers: regular mentoring sessions, online meetups and offline events with knowledgeable speakers, and a monthly stipend to cover personal or project expenses.

<aside> ✅ In 2024, 20 leaders are going through the program. In 2020, 3 leaders have successfully completed the program. We are currently preparing to support 50 leaders in 2025-2026.

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<aside> 💶 We are fundraising for the leaders' stipends fund and administrative costs. Consider donating to our crowdfunding campaign.

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Why is the Program needed?

About the Program

About the Program in detail

Logic Model

Program structure

Who are the leaders?

What projects do the leaders work on?

The process

Program Pilot

We are looking for partners!

About us

❓ Why is the Program needed?

• 🌍 See the big picture: War in Ukraine has been going on since February 2022. While the immediate response is now mostly covered, we need to step in and focus on longer-term goals and impact that is neglected “because of war;” this includes the work on specific issues resolving which enables democracy in the country.
• 📉 Projects are underfunded, especially those on the early stages of their existence. Some initiatives provide ton of support to their community, but don't yet qualify for big-donor grants.
• 🧠 Leaders need guidance, mentoring and learning opportunities. Some leaders started volunteering without any expertise or knowledge, just because it had to be done. Other activists have been in the field for some time, but had to change their focus due to new realities of war. Many of them burn out due to overworking themselves and being underfunded.

We want to bridge these gaps by supporting leaders and projects that create immediate results, but also have long-term impact for rebuilding and developing Ukraine.

📊 About the Program

SUN Leaders Program is a 6-months Fellowship Program for young leaders of social projects in Ukraine.

What does the Program offer?

🙌 We support leaders in growing and scaling their projects: by offering them mentoring, educational resources, network of expert and fellows.

💶 We allow them to focus, remove some of their financial anxieties: by offering a monthly stipend of €500. Leaders can spend the stipends as they want: e.g. cover their basic living expenses, or cover project costs.

🎯 What we aim to achieve:

• 50 young leaders are supported, developing their skills of leadership.
• Their 50 projects became sustainable, scaled and multiplied their impact.

What we've already achieved:

• In 2024, 20 leaders are currently going through the program.
• In 2020, 3 leaders have successfully completed the program.
• Community of leaders and experts was created.

About the Program in detail

🔙 Previous Programs

Cherkasy region Program 2024

SUN Leaders Porgram Cherkasy

Right now 18 young leaders of social initiatives of Cherkasy region are going through the Program. They are committed and work on changing their community, region, and country for the better. Their projects are in the field of education, psychological health, ecology, journalism, youth activation.

SUN Leaders Program x Cherkasy is funded by the European Endowment for Democracy.

• Detailed description of leaders

Pilot Program 2020

Our partners Leaders Fund have piloted the Program in 2020. Some of previous fellows:

• Olga Ilyukhina, with the project "Healthy food for kids". SDG target 3.4. Reduce mortality from non-communicable diseases and improve mental health
• Olena Shulha, with the project "Engineering Week". SDG target 4.3: Equal access to affordable technical, professional and higher education

During the Program, the leaders scaled their project nationwide, won grants to fund their activities, hired new team members, launched a social enterprise, partnered with the government and businesses.

After the Program, on of the leaders started working for WHO in Ukraine, another got shortlisted in BBC book contest.

🤝 Interested in supporting SUN Leaders Program?

We are looking for partners and sponsors.

SUN Leaders Program | for Partners

If you are interested in joining us, please email at [email protected].

Donate to our crowdfunding campaign ****

FAQs:

• We want to help you [fundraise]. Let’s partner?
• How do I join SUN LP as a participant?
• How to tax-deduct your donation to SUN Leaders Program?
• Who are you going to support for the SUN Leaders Program? Can I see these people and projects?
• How does your direct work impact Ukraine?

About us