Training Program for Ukrainian Government Officials and Academia Counterparts on Civic Education Policy

The policy is being developed by a Working Group under the Ukrainian Presidential Administration, comprising representatives from major government stakeholders, experts from the third sector, and academia. The group is tasked with harmonizing priorities and developing a unified strategy with effective youth engagement models. The main goal of the training program is to strengthen the capacity of the Ukrainian government, academia community, and civil society organizations to jointly develop a national youth civic policy and strategy through exposure to European experiences. Participants will be familiarized with modern European practices, mechanisms, and instruments to develop civic skills, boost civic motivation, and build civic habits and mindset. The program will equip participants with an understanding of how the virtues of civil society should be presented to young people. The training program will focus on the French youth policy and strategy, which Ukraine is modeling its own policy on. Participants will learn about the key approaches, tasks, and components of the French youth civic policy and strategy, as well as the mechanisms implemented to involve youth in development and implementation of the state youth policy and strategy. They will also explore the instruments used to promote the youth civic strategy in formal and informal education settings, including community activities, volunteering, and other extracurricular activities. The program will cover various aspects of youth civic education, including the role of schools and universities, local communities, voluntarism, and extracurricular activities. Participants will also learn about the history, role, tasks, and results of voluntarism in France, as well as the legislation regulating activities of volunteers and volunteer organizations. The program will also examine the roles and activities of youth centers and camps, organizations working in the area of cultural and historical heritage preservation, and the media's role in youth civic education. By the end of the program, participants are expected to share information about best practices with colleagues and their professional community, inspiring discussion in their organizations about instruments and goals of the youth civic policy. Within six months after training, participants are expected to implement their Action Plans, which will contribute to the development of a unified youth civic policy and strategy in Ukraine. The training program will be conducted in France, which was suggested by the Ukrainian Ministry of Youth and Sports due to its similar demographics and the fact that Ukraine is modeling its youth policy and strategy on France's. The program will be implemented in collaboration with the French Ministry for Urban Affairs, Youth and Sports, which has a similar structure and responsibilities to the Ukrainian Ministry of Youth and Sports.