In Ukraine, youth are finding their voices in the digital democracy

This interview is part of a series of spotlights on the work of some of the grantees of the Digital Spark granting scheme, as part of the Regional Support Mechanism EECA project, implemented by the Metamorphosis Foundation and TechSoup, in partnership with CIVICUS and under the Digital Democracy Initiative (DDI) that covers the Global South. It is being published on Global Voices as part of a content-sharing agreement.

The war in Ukraine has created a myriad of challenges for youth and their participation in public life and democratic processes, bringing displacement and misinformation as well as decreased opportunities for political engagement, economic activity, and access to information. At the same time, there are still avenues youth can pursue to contribute to political decisions and shape the fate of their communities.

Despite the war, people can still submit petitions, participate in public consultations, or advocate for their needs online, but there is a lack of awareness about such opportunities. Furthermore, vulnerable groups — including displaced persons, minorities, and rural communities — know they have a voice, but struggle to find it.

In 2026, the local non-governmental organization beYOUnd implemented a project to help youth from vulnerable groups acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to find their voices in this new era of digital democracy. Global Voices conducted an email interview with Yevheniia Holovenko, the chairwoman of beYOUnd, to learn more about their initiative. The interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.

Global Voices (GV): Please tell us about your organization and why you chose to get involved with the Digital Sparks project.

GV: What issue/challenge in your community prompted you to undertake this project?

GV: What are the key changes/activities that your organization implemented during your participation in the project?

GV: How did your participation in the project impact your organization’s beneficiaries and the community that you serve? Please provide examples.

GV: How has your own knowledge, awareness, and experience with digital democracy and civic space changed, thanks to your participation in the project?

GV: What are the most valuable lessons and experiences you are taking away from this project?

GV: What comes next? How will you apply the learning and digital capacity you have built in your future work and within your community?