The Aspen Institute Kyiv and Klitschko Foundation Held the Online Component of the Aspen Teens: Fight for UA Dream Project for Teenagers and Teachers
Teenagers evolve—and bring change- transforming themselves, their communities, and the world around them. The ability to think deeply, broadly, and—most importantly—apply knowledge in practice has become the foundation of leadership in the modern world.
120 high school students from across Ukraine have completed the online component of the Aspen Teens: Fight for UA Dream project. The Aspen Institute Kyiv and Klitschko Foundation developed this new format for teenagers ready to take responsibility and act, as well as for their teachers. Within the project, participant teams work on social initiatives they will implement in their communities.
Two weeks of intensive online learning brought the teens together around topics that will support their project work:
- leadership in times of change
- emotional resilience and mental health
- advocacy, inclusion, and the common good
- media literacy, creativity, and entrepreneurship
- global challenges that demand local solutions
The youth shared their ideas, shaped visions for future projects, and explored ways to influence youth policy, from access to culture and education to ecology, transportation, and combating discrimination.
At the Aspen Institute Kyiv, we believe that critical thinking, ethical behaviour, and effective collaboration are essential skills—and the earlier they are cultivated, the better. That is why we create spaces where teenagers can speak and be heard, find like-minded peers, and develop the competencies needed for modern leadership.
The online phase of Aspen Teens: Fight for UA Dream is now complete. Next up is the offline camp at the end of July, where 12 teams of students and their teachers will work on developing community-based projects.
We are grateful to each participant for their inspiration, willingness to act, and sense of responsibility—and to our partners at Klitschko Foundation for their ongoing and fruitful collaboration!
