At the initiative of the teachers of the Department of International Relations, a round table on the topic of “International and public-state support for the youth of Ukraine during the war” was organized within the walls of the Oles Honchar Dnipro National University.

The large-scale event brought together representatives of state authorities, local governments, public organizations, foreign institutions, domestic educational institutions, as well as active youth of the region.

According to the rector of the university, such a topic is more important and relevant than ever, since supporting talented and active youth is the key to our future. Moreover, a number of initiatives of socio-cultural, educational and sports events aimed at the comprehensive development of youth are being implemented within the walls of our university.

"We provide comprehensive support to our students and encourage them to study. Despite the difficulties during the Great War, we help them develop comprehensively. For example, many sports sections operate on the basis of the university: we opened the rowing season, hold competitions in table tennis, billiards, football, basketball and volleyball.

Cultural enrichment is also an important area. We organize a number of cultural events: festivals, exhibitions, art events that unite young people and support their creativity. Now cultural exchanges and cultural diplomacy have begun to actively develop, and for this purpose the Ukrainian Institute was created and operates, which helps to gain experience and establish relations with representatives of other states.

Our youth is also actively involved in volunteer initiatives, which allows them to gain new experience and help our state. For example, a number of charity fairs are held at the university, we also had the campaign "Close the sky over Ukraine", collecting funds to help internally displaced persons. This is only a small part of the initiatives implemented at our university," said the rector of the Oles Honchar Dnipro National University, Serhiy Okovity.

Vitaliy Krivoshein, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and International Relations, who supported the idea of ​​holding a round table, also agrees that young people are the engine of progress and our future.

According to him, the main goal of the round table is to discuss the current challenges faced by the youth of Ukraine in the context of Russian military aggression, as well as to identify ways to support it both from the international and domestic communities and the Ukrainian state.

“We see that our graduates have a high level of training and we are not ashamed of them, on the contrary, we are filled with pride for the people who, after receiving an education here, go to work and occupy prestigious positions. Therefore, I believe that it is very important that young people, despite the challenges of war, receive an education here and such work should be continued. Moreover, I believe that we should provide social mobility for young people, open up prospects for them and inform them of opportunities. For example, the EU Center is successfully operating at our faculty for this purpose.

“I think that such measures are necessary for further development and solution of current problems,” concluded Vitaly Krivoshein, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and International Relations of the Oles Honchar DNU.

During the round table, the participants discussed current issues in the field of youth policy, as well as the involvement of young people in the socio-political life of the city, region and country.

Representatives of youth organizations of Dnipro and the region, as well as officials and representatives of foreign institutions, made their requests. All of them emphasized the importance of supporting domestic youth and creating favorable conditions for their comprehensive development.

"One of the key tasks for the state, society and international partners is to create conditions that promote active participation of young people in decision-making at all levels. Young people should have access to mechanisms for influencing political processes, the opportunity to contact government bodies, and participate in the development of development strategies at both the local and national levels.

In my opinion, it is necessary to expand the opportunities for young people to contact various institutions, including government agencies, public organizations and international organizations, to implement their ideas and proposals," said local activist and second-year student of specialty 291 "International Relations, Public Communications and Regional Studies" Anastasia Bilan.

The head of the Association of Sports Journalists of Dnipropetrovsk region Dmitry Timokhin also joined the event and noted the importance of physical development of young people.

"Our youth should see modern sports stars and look up to them, if this does not happen, then it will be difficult to attract them to sports and a healthy lifestyle, and this is the basis. I am glad and grateful that there are a number of sections and competitions in various disciplines at the Oles Honchar DNU. We understand that this is especially difficult to do during a war, but it is very necessary.

I believe that holding sports competitions not only stimulates physical development, but also helps with psychological relief. After all, thanks to this, a person gets all the emotions: positive, negative, and this has a beneficial effect on the general condition of young people. We must understand that without art, culture, sports there will be no human development and there will be no life. Therefore, together we must do everything in our power to improve the situation," said Dmitry Timokhin.

Following the discussion at the Department of International Relations, a resolution was adopted on the directions of assistance to young people during the War.