Platform for Social Change joins INTERREG Danube Programme to boost youth employment in Ukraine
We’re proud to announce that the Platform for Social Change is now an official Ukrainian partner in the COOPOWER — an Interreg Danube Region Programme project co-funded by the European Union.
It is led by the Center for the Study of Democracy (Bulgaria) and involves nine partners from eight countries: Ukraine, Bulgaria, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Austria, Romania, and Serbia. COOPOWER aims to improve youth employment opportunities for vulnerable groups aged 15–30 across these countries and targets young people in disadvantaged or rural areas who face systemic barriers to employment such as limited access to education, weak support networks, or social exclusion.
To officially launch the initiative, the project partners gathered for a kick-off meeting in Budapest on May 15–16, hosted by HÉTFA Research Institute. This event marked the start of a collaboration between civil society organizations, academic institutions, public authorities, and social economy actors from across the Danube Region. Together, we will co-develop and test practical solutions for inclusive employment that are grounded in cross-sectoral cooperation and shared learning.
For Ukraine, this is more than a European partnership, it’s a crucial opportunity to localize effective models of social and cooperative employment, especially in regions with limited access to services or labor market opportunities. By participating in COOPOWER, the Platform for Social Change will bring proven European knowledge into the Ukrainian context, ensuring that youth is involved in the recovery and development of our communities.
In the coming months, we’ll be launching research, engaging stakeholders, and piloting new models of support for youth employment in Ukraine. Stay tuned, we’ll be sharing updates and insights along the way.
COOPOWER is supported by the Interreg Danube Region Programme co-funded by the European Union.
The project is implemented together with:
- Center for the Study of Democracy (BG),
- Centre for Social Innovation (AT),
- HETFA Research Institute Organisation (HU),
- IREAS Institute for Structural Policy (CZ),
- PULSE Balkans (RS),
- Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania (RO),
- Slovak Business Agency (SK),
- Union of Bulgarian Black Sea Local Authorities (BG).
