Aspen Teens

Aspen Kyiv Challenge — your chance to join a team and create a real social startup!

In 2025, the program launches for the first time in Bucha and Borodianka — cities that have endured some of the toughest trials of war.

Do you feel capable of more than just attending classes?
Do you have ideas that could transform your school, your street, or even your city?
Don’t keep them to yourself — team up with others and make them real!

Through Aspen Kyiv Challenge, you’ll become part of a team that researches community needs, develops innovative solutions, and launches them the way real startups do.

This is a program where you’ll learn teamwork, overcome challenges, and see your idea grow into a real project that changes lives around you.

What is Aspen Kyiv Challenge? It’s an educational leadership program for high school students that turns ideas into action. Here, you’ll go all the way: from first thought — to building a team, from problem — to solution, from vision — to real community impact.

We’re looking for 8th–11th grade students who are ready to act, learn teamwork, and create innovations for their community.

How does it work?

1. Team formation
   Six teams of 8 participants will be selected. Each team will be guided by two mentors from their community.
2. Forum “Community Challenges”
   A two-day event where you’ll meet leaders and experts, hear real success stories, and choose the challenge your team will work on. This is where your “social startup” begins: each team will receive a seed grant to launch their idea.
3. Work on solutions
   Over two months, teams will research community needs, design, test, and promote their own innovative solutions. Mentors and experts will be there every step of the way.
4. Forum “Solutions in Action”
   The final event, where you’ll present your team’s results to the judges and the community. The best initiatives will receive special recognition.

• When?
  Program duration: September 2025 — March 2026
  Application deadline: September 21, 2025
  Participant selection results: by September 30, 23:59, 2025

What’s in it for the winners?

• Participation in the Aspen Action Forum in May 2026 in Ivano-Frankivsk;
• New contacts, knowledge, and skills for your future;
• And most importantly — the chance to see your idea become a real social startup.

We invite 8th–11th grade students from Bucha and Borodianka to apply here.