Youth as a Catalyst for Rural Transformation: What We Learned from Our Bootcamp Program

In many rural areas of Ukraine, young people face limited access to quality education, employment, and career development opportunities. This is especially true for NEET youth — those not in education, employment, or training. According to the data, 15.5% of people in Ukraine aged 15 to 24 were considered not in employment, education or training (NEET). This may especially relate to the youth in rural communities, where access to digital skills, entrepreneurship training, or psychological support is particularly deficient. Without these tools, many young people struggle to realize their potential or contribute meaningfully to local development.

At the Platform for Social Change, we believe that giving young people the skills and confidence to succeed is one of the most powerful ways to strengthen communities from within. That’s why we launched a project in the Khmelnytskyi region in 2024, designed to support rural youth, especially those at risk of social exclusion, by equipping them with practical knowledge, career support, and community engagement tools.

A key component of the project was the Bootcamp Meetings program, designed to equip Ukrainian youth with essential tools for employment, entrepreneurship, and personal growth. To ensure the program responded to real youth needs, we developed the curriculum based on both youth employment trends and data from Ukrainian educators. Each bootcamp was crafted to balance hard and soft skills, with topics chosen to reflect high-demand areas like digital marketing, environmental responsibility, social entrepreneurship, and leadership. We aimed not only to provide knowledge, but to spark interest in future careers, stimulate public activity, and make learning genuinely relevant to youth.

That is why we conducted five intensive workshops, each focusing on critical areas for youth employability and community engagement:

1. Social Media Masters: Your Digital Presence at the Highest Level: this workshop focused on digital marketing, social media management, content creation, analytics, and online safety. 
2. Communication Skills for Success: How to Build a Career with Soft Skills: an event where we emphasized public speaking, teamwork, emotional intelligence, cross-cultural communication, and problem-solving. 
3. Social Entrepreneurs: How to Build a Business That Changes the World: this bootcamp introduced participants to the fundamentals of social entrepreneurship, business idea development, impact-driven business models, and fundraising.
4. Eco-Innovators: Green Skills for the Future: a bootcamp on sustainable practices and green careers.
5. Leaders in Action: Project Management for Real Change: a practical introduction to project management, teaching youth how to plan, organize, and use diverse digital tools.

In total, 571 students participated in our bootcamp program.

Psychological Support and Career Counseling
Understanding that youth development is not only about technical skills but also emotional resilience, our Bootcamp series integrates innovative mental health support. The emotional toll of war has been profound. A 2024 survey by Gradus Research found that over 77% of Ukrainians have experienced stress or severe nervousness. Ignoring this reality would mean ignoring a major barrier to youth engagement and future planning.

That’s why we partnered with Anima Help, a Ukrainian social enterprise leading in social innovation. Their AI-powered platform uses advanced tools, including eye movement tracking and attention analysis, to assess emotional states and provide personalized mental health recommendations. This cutting-edge approach helped young people better understand their psychological state and make informed choices about stress management, motivation, and career direction.

As part of the program, more than 700 hours of individualized counseling were offered through Anima’s platform, ensuring each participant had access to tailored support. By combining AI technology with human-centered care, we are setting a new standard for youth programs in Ukraine — one that takes mental well-being as seriously as professional development.

The project has brought significant positive results:

• 40% of surveyed participants expressed confidence in their ability to contribute to and improve their communities.
• 32.6% reported significant personal growth, feeling more empowered to overcome challenges and pursue career opportunities.
• 30 meetings with students with 45 hours of training.
• 8 speakers, who are true experts in their fields.
• 570 participants from six rural areas.

Today, the impact of our work continues to grow. Inspired by what they learned, many school teams have been developing their own school-based social enterprise projects. These initiatives allow students to apply their skills in real-life settings while addressing local social issues. In the next phase of the project, several of the most promising initiatives will be selected to receive financial support, helping turn ideas into sustainable impact.

This is just the beginning. As Ukraine’s rural communities face the immense challenges of rebuilding and renewal, we believe that empowered youth will play a key role in shaping a more resilient and inclusive future.