his year NGO Stan has equipped and set up a resource youth center in Ivano-Frankivsk. That’s a place for young people to work and relax. Here they can share a moment of happiness or get through tough times, come for a visit and feel at home. Read our text to learn the newly created resource center’s history, present, and past.

Origins of the Young Diversity Ambassadors program and community

The history of STAN has begun in 2008 in Luhansk. Back then, it was a protest literature group that had grown into a non-governmental organization focusing on non-formal education, human rights activism, and supporting active youth and communities at risk. When Russia waged war against Ukraine, STAN had to move their headquarters from Luhanks to Ivano-Frankivsk. At the time, the organization consisted of several people who rented a cramped office on the outskirts of the city. Soon afterward, in 2019, they created one of the main educational programs of STAN: Young Diversity Ambassadors (YDA). Many participants of the first program have extensive experience in the civic sector, volunteering, and managing their own organizations. Some of them have become YDA trainers, mentoring the new generation.

The program itself has grown in scale. The methodology has improved, and the geography has expanded. Initially, it was a local project in the Ciscarpathia region but now, YDA brings together young people from all over Ukraine, including people who had to flee occupied regions or cities near the frontline. The program helped them to reintegrate into civic activism. It allowed people in crisis to get back on their feet, fix their health problems, find housing, get admitted to a different educational program or courses, or even receive long-term psychological support (to learn more, read this text). In times of war, when people are losing their homes, friends, and loved ones, with all of us living in a state of uncertainty, it is important to have someone to lean on. And it is integral to belong to something bigger.

Now Young Diversity Ambassadors has definitely transcended the level of being a national community. Around a year ago it became part of Global Platforms, a network uniting young people from all over the world.

Resource centers: for whom and for what?

Together young people study and implement their projects. They visit each other for experience exchange, internships, and first of all, to communicate and stay in touch. It is integral for them to have someone to lean on, somewhere to be.

For instance, the first resource center opened by STAN on Tarnavskoho St. in Ivano-Frankivsk played a significant role at the beginning of the full-scale invasion. For some people, the center became an office or a coworking, a shelter or a safe space, and to an extent, a volunteering hub for humanitarian initiatives.

That’s why soon after the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion the STAN team has set a goal to establish and equip another resource center in Ivano-Frankivsk. In the summer of 2024, the dream has become a reality. Now it’s a three-storeyed space on Chornovola St., where young people can work, hold workshops, and come to STAN on internships. They are also able to spend some time in safety: the main event hall which can fit up to 30 people is located in the well-fortified basement.

“Recently I opened our group chat and realized that we started making the renovations two years ago. Two years have passed,” recollects Maria Kelii, operational manager of the NGO STAN. “Back then we understood that our space on Tarnavskoho St. no longer covered all our needs.”

The new space was opened on September 21. It was a cozy celebration with the team and closest friends. “We remembered how we got the idea to create a resource center, how we got the resources for that,” Maria says. “We had a lovely celebration together with the team. We also had a brainstorming session, discussing what to bring to the center. Everyone could say what they needed to feel safe, what they were ready to give to the space, how they were willing to contribute. We also had a collaging session with the artist Masha Vyshedska, depicting how we see activism.“

Coming to the office, coming to people

There are two co-working areas in the resource center. The first one is able to host 30 people, the other is a hall with a fireplace on the second floor. There are also offices, 7 bathrooms, and a kitchen. There are rooms where one can spend the night. “When ambassadors from the other Ukrainian cities come to STAN, they can arrive a day earlier or leave later,” Maria Kelii explains. “This way, we don’t have to arrange their accommodation separately. Oftentimes, we lack the budget, but we still have an opportunity to host them, and they feel our care. We appreciate that. We want them to come to the office, but first and foremost, we want them to come to people. To someone who will offer them a comfortable working place, ask if they are not cold, serve them tea. In our times, human relationships are integral. They help us not to feel alone and reduce anxiety.”

On being open and inclusive

These days, different NGOs are holding their events in the resource center. Its doors are opened not only to STAN and its partners. These are workshops, seminars, and speaking clubs. “We held the meetings of the “Young Diplomacy” council in the space,” says Oleksiy Tutov, head of the social politics and cultural diplomacy committee in the aforementioned organization. “They have a projector and you can use any media materials. You can have a small break and go to the kitchen, get some rest, and boil yourself some tea. It’s really cool in there. We are already planning to hold several events in the upcoming semester. Our committee is thinking about debates. We are also talking about organizing movie nights.”

Of course, anyone may get in contact and organize their event or meeting (to do it, fill in the form). If you need it, knock, and it will be opened to you. “I want this place to be a resource for people, particularly for beginner volunteers that don’t have their own space,” says Viktoriya Illesh, the manager of the resource center. “When I was a freshman at the university, I also had such needs. At the time, I couldn’t even imagine the centers that provide you with space for free. That’s how I envision a resource center, a space where you can organize an event, come with friends, or spend some time in silence.”

Viktoriya has recently participated in the “Young Diversity Ambassadors” program. She says that it had a personal influence on her and her perception of civic activism. “I met a whole bunch of interesting people,” she says. “Some were young, some were older. I met a girl who was 15 or 16 years old. She is already part of the youth council and has implemented many projects. That inspired me. It doesn’t matter how old you are, you still can do something cool. Or vice versa, people are 25 years or older and they are only now beginning their volunteering career — it has also helped me understand that it is never too late. Another thing is, I have never really thought about inclusion. But we discussed it at the workshop, and now, whenever I am having a walk in the city, I notice such things.” By the way, at the renovation stage in the resource center, STAN has consulted Mariia Nikitina and NGO “Protection” who has provided the most professional inclusion expertise.

The resource center is a warm, safe, inclusive, and cozy space equipped with modern technology. It’s a place you can come to and implement your ideas. Why not? After all, walls and equipment are worthless without people using them. And it is nice when there are more such spaces.

“We also have a resource center in Volodymyr,” Maria Keliy says. “When we set up this space, we understood we thought about this office and office in Frankivsk as a central headquarters of the organization filled with different resources. There is a space for events. There is equipment we can lend. There are people with multiple years of experience in the civic sector that provide counseling for the activists.”

Movement and calmness

Volodymyr resource center is much smaller compared to the one in Ivano-Frankivsk. However, after a year of young people using it looks completely lived-in. “I am glad that this space exists, and that it finally has begun to work the way I planned for a year,” says Anastasiya Pasalska, the YDA coordinator in Volodymyr. “Young people have finally understood that they can come here when they feel good and bad. To study, spend some time, kill some time, talk or drink some tea. It is cold now, so where should they go? Here is the perfect space.”

After getting into space, we notice a drum set. There is a piano nearby. A sofa, several desks. A girl with a laptop is working behind one of them. “A band holds rehearsals here, and this space may also be used as a coworking,” Anastasiya explains. “And Daria comes here to work.” We greet Daria but don’t want to disturb her from work. “And what a nice wall we have, hand-painted by Ivanka Chuiko,” Anastasiya proceeds.

Young people hold movie club meetings, book club sessions, and board game nights, as well as YDA workshops. It looks like this space belongs to the young people. They are co-creating and contributing to it. If they come here for rehearsals and have the energy to paint the walls, it means they love to work and study here but also to have fun. Показати бічну панель
Last but not least, there are also leisure activities. STAN is currently working to set up a youth resource center in a village in the Ivano-Frankivsk region with easy connections, but far from the hustle and bustle of the city. That will make it a good space for work and rest. Young people can take a walk in the forest and pick mushrooms, get a moment’s peace, recharge, and understand how they feel and where to go next.

The project “A network for democracy: Building a future with the European leaders of tomorrow” is implemented by the NGO “STAN” and ActionAid in partnership with the NGO “Center for Social Transformations TENET”, NGO “Insight”, NGO “Chernivtsi Association “Zakhyst” with the support of the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Denmark). This project is a part of the program “Young Diversity Ambassadors”

This is a program for youth and youth workers to strengthen social cohesion to create an inclusive, peaceful society, minimize the likelihood of conflicts arising between different groups, and accelerate the integration of young IDPs. The program is implemented by the NGO “STAN” in partnership with the Alliance for Rights, Equality and International Solidarity “ActionAid” with the support of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), Global Fund for Children (USA), Terre Des Hommes (Germany) and IM Swedish Development Partner (Sweden).