Award for Ukrainian Young People
The Stand by Me project – a possible response to the challenges of our times
The past few years have been difficult for the whole world. Even so, an important lesson has emerged: life as we know it can continue and flourish only when we join forces, act responsibly, and support one another as a community.
The Award programme, together with the organisations delivering it in Romania, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic, has partnered with UNICEF to provide community‑based support in response to the situation in Ukraine.
Stand by Me is a special two‑year project designed to connect young people in Romania, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic with Ukrainian young people who have been displaced or affected by the war in Ukraine.
Through the project, Ukrainian young people aged 14 to 24 can team up – “buddy‑up” – with a Romanian, Czech, or Slovak friend. Together, they set learning goals, take part in regular physical activity, volunteer in their communities, develop new skills, and complete outdoor expeditions.
By taking part consistently, participants improve their physical and mental wellbeing, build confidence, strengthen their problem‑solving abilities, develop teamwork skills, and form friendships that can last a lifetime.
Safety and protection for participants
Working closely with UNICEF, the Stand by Me initiative uses the Award programme as a tool for non‑formal education and learning, helping to build cohesion within communities. It enables displaced Ukrainian young people to continue their studies and prepare for work and for life, supported and guided by a Romanian friend and a mentor.
Project benefits and impact
For the Ukrainian young people involved in the project:
- Increased resilience
- Receiving moral support during difficult situations related to adapting to a new culture
- Increased self-confidence
- Development of transferable skills
- Acquisition of problem-solving and critical thinking skills
- Achieving a sense of social and personal well-being
Project benefits and impact for organisations
- Your institution will be a partner in one of the most prestigious learning programmes for young people
- International recognition for your involvement
- Volunteering activities will bring added value to the local community
- Leadership training for adult volunteers
- Expansion of your professional networking
The added value of the project lies in encouraging young people from Ukraine, Romania, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia to contribute to the local communities where people displaced by the war are living.
Once they join the Stand By Me project, leaders receive training and benefit from a toolkit of methods and resources for working with young people, online or in‑person training sessions, regular networking meetings, and other useful materials, including guidance and preparation on UNICEF’s specific safety and protection measures for working with children and adolescents.
Discover the Award, sign up today, and choose to make this time count for you!
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Presentations of Stand by Me
Join U-Report, Your voice matters
U-Report Europe is UNICEF’s digital platform to engage Ukrainian refugees moving to the rest of Europe seeking safety from the ongoing war, providing them and their families with lifesaving updated information from host countries.
Know MoreU-Report is UNICEF’s flagship digital platform started in 2011, to engage young people in programme priorities, emergency response and advocacy actions. It supports adolescent, youth, and community participation; and works as a tool to share information, raise awareness, and collect quantifiable data on specific areas that impact children, including the most vulnerable.
The received responses are analysed in real-time, mapped, and displayed on a public dashboard, ensuring the young people’s feedback can be actioned by local and national decision-makers.
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