Empowering Ukraine's Next Generation Through Parliamentary Education

Until 2022, Yevheniy Berber lived in Chernihiv, a city in northern Ukraine located less than 100 kilometers from the borders with Russia and Belarus. When the full-scale invasion began, many families fled Chernihiv to protect their children from the horrors of war. The city was under Russian siege for over a month.

Yevheniy became one of more than a million Ukrainian children who fled the war and were granted temporary protection in the European Union. Now 18 years old, Yevheniy lives in Greece, but staying connected to Ukraine remains crucial for him.

Like many young Ukrainians, Yevheniy continued his education remotely, studying with a Ukrainian school. However, with a renewed interest in his country he also regularly participated in lessons offered by the Educational Center of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (Ukraine’s Parliament).

“When I see my like-minded peers, I realize that although I’m physically far from Ukraine, mentally, it feels like I’m right there with them in the same room. This warms my heart and soul,” Yevheniy shared after attending one of the Center’s lessons.

In July 2024, the Educational Center of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine celebrated its fifth anniversary. This parliamentary institution aims to raise citizens'—especially the youth’s—awareness of the principles and functions of parliament and democracy while also strengthening public trust in the Verkhovna Rada.

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has been supporting the Parliamentary Educational Center since its inception. The USAID "RADA: Next Generation" Program has played a crucial role in developing and implementing a sustainable strategy of the Center, enhancing its capacity to execute large-scale parliamentary education projects. USAID has provided the necessary equipment, professional expertise, international exchange programs, and other forms of assistance.

“USAID is proud to continue supporting the Educational Center so that they can keep providing Ukrainian youth with essential information. In this way, USAID invests in Ukraine’s democratic future, giving young people the tools to fully participate in decision-making processes. This will ensure Ukraine’s transparent and accountable restoration on its European path, both during and after the brutal Russia’s war,” said Julie Koenen, USAID Mission Director in Ukraine, during the event marking the Educational Center’s 5th anniversary.

Thanks to its partners’ support, the Educational Center has made significant strides over the past five years, despite the challenges posed by the pandemic and the ongoing war. During this period, the Center has conducted 840 online and offline educational events, attracting approximately 335,000 participants.

“The idea of enlightenment will ensure the continuity and sustainability of Ukraine’s parliamentary history. The Parliament is always open to those who seek knowledge. And it’s not just about openness but the transfer of energy and experience,” emphasized Ruslan Stefanchuk, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. “I saw the enthusiasm in the children’s eyes, and this is important because they are our next generation, our future parliamentarians and officials.”

To engage more young people, the Educational Center offers a variety of activities that cover a wide range of topics. The team organizes parliamentary lessons across Ukraine’s regions, shares news about important educational changes on social media, launched “diplomacy through drawings” (where drawings by Ukrainian children were presented to foreign parliamentarians to garner support for Ukraine), recorded the first parliamentary podcast, and conducts courses on psychological support, information hygiene, and combating manipulation and corruption, among others.

Online lessons dedicated to significant historic dates have proven particularly popular with the younger generation. For instance, on May 9, 2024, over 50,000 people joined a lesson on Europe Day, including many Ukrainian students who had fled abroad due to the war. Yevheniy participated from his temporary home in Greece, and during a lesson on the history of the Central Rada (Ukraine’s revolutionary parliament in 1917-1918), he won a quiz and received prizes from the Educational Center. Yevheniy proudly shared that because he had 450 competitors in the quiz. “I firmly believe that a nation with no knowledge of its history has no future,” the 18-year-old stated.

For Yevheniy, the Educational Center’s lessons are not just an opportunity to gain new knowledge but also a way to connect with others his age, maintain his ties to Ukraine, and learn how he can contribute to his country’s victory even be it from across the border. He noted that Ukrainian MPs often attend these lessons, sharing their experiences and explaining how to pursue a career in the Verkhovna Rada. Yevheniy dreams of becoming a diplomat to advocate for Ukraine’s interests. He is currently preparing to enter university and build a career in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Through its support, USAID aims to help Ukrainian students—both those who remain in Ukraine and those like Yevheniy who were forced to flee—pursue their dreams and equip them with the necessary tools for professional growth. The Parliamentary Educational Center has created a space where Ukrainian youth learn to be active citizens, recognize the importance of Ukraine’s independent, prosperous, democratic future, and are ready to contribute to its realization.

“Parliamentary education helps develop civic competencies and teaches responsibility,” said Marten Ehnberg, Director of USAID “RADA: Next Generation.” The program will continue to support the Educational Center, Marten said, for that reason, and because “the democratic development of Ukraine depends on the younger generation.”