Ksyusha Lohvinenko: What Happens to a Leader during Wartime?

In times when so little can be controlled and so much pressure falls on the shoulders of the younger generation, Ukrainian youth have an answer. 

YouLEAD, an annual program for Ukrainian Youth Leadership Engagement and Development, brought 16 participants to the USA in 2025. This opportunity fosters an environment for professional growth but for many, this was a breath of peace and normalcy away from the realities of war back home.

“The YouLEAD program showed me that despite any difficulties, you can remain active and influence the world around you. Even during daily shelling and blackouts, our community does not give up. We discuss plans, apply for projects, and inspire each other with new ideas every week.”

-Valeria Makarenko, 16 Kharkiv

Shoulder to shoulder, sixteen parts of one whole, continue making a difference for the common good. Some share their stories, inspire others and end up featured in local media like Maksym Zahorodnii. Others organize large-scale events such as Job Atlas to apply the skills they’ve gained – like Alisa Sherbak. They return home to build strong teams, like Stefaniia Durytska, who led a local forest cleanup. They share their knowledge within NGOs, like Diana Bulai. 

Above all, YouLEAD participants continue to contribute to the program’s future and stay engaged, shaping the reality of the next generation.

They rise, they lead, and they remind the world what courage looks like. 

Ukrainian Youth

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