The Academy is the energy of active youth.
It is the place where young ambitious Ukrainians with new values eager to change themselves and the country.
The Academy
is communication with young Ukrainians, who are already developing their communities, creating socially important initiatives and striving to realize their potential in Ukraine. They are the drivers of the country — inspired, ambitious, and dreaming of creating a better world. The Academy is an environment of people who develop Ukraine.
Value-driven entrepreneurs, government and communities team up with the Academy to invest in youth and education as a guarantee of the country's development.
Andrii Zdesenko
"Did you create or discover yourself first?" students of the Ukrainian Academy of Leadership asked me during our meeting. This is the question that helped me look at my path again and understand the reasons for success and failure. So much energy, sparkling eyes, interesting and unexpected questions you will not feel and will not hear at any conference.
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Our graduates generate bold ideas for society and business
Right now, these young people are developing valuable projects in IT, media, agro-industry, ecology, raising socially important topics. They are innovators who know how to form teams, organize processes, find resources and get the job done.
Ilona Shevchuk
In the Academy, we used an old sewing machine to make 275 toy angels as presents to the residents of Kharkiv. It reminded me of my childhood. If was my first push to sewing. Later I made a blanket for my friend using pieces of fabric and that's when I figured out that one can sew from junk materials.
And after lectures on recycling and conscious consumption, I got interested in the idea of reducing waste and started altering the used clothes. Friends from the Center helped me to buy my own sewing machine through crowdfunding. That's how I came up with the idea of a sewing workshop. The first backpack was made of leftovers from the production of frameless furniture, where I used to work part-time. Now we are sewing fanny packs and bags from these very scraps. However, now it's not a hobby but my main work.
Our products are sold all over Ukraine and abroad. I am glad that we are doing something more purposeful than just backpacks. We create something useful from useless and show the importance of recycling. The Academy gave me confidence, taught me to dream and not be afraid of sharing my idea, because there will always be people who are ready to help.
Ivan Horovskyi
As a representative from the Academy, I have volunteered at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Back then I was interested in podcasts and wanted to create one about entrepreneurship. In the Academy, I learned a lot how to improvise and be flexible, not to feel the remoteness of people who might seem distant at first.
As a result, at the Forum I have spontaneously recorded my first interview for "The Founders" with Yura Fyliuk from the "Teple Miso" and later with Yaroslav Anzhaniuk, founder of a Ukrainian startup Petcube. In my podcast, I talk about Ukrainian entrepreneurship from the perspective of creating value for people, not from the perspective of earning.
"The Founders" podcast already has 22 episodes that were listened to 25 thousand times and it has already got its first advertiser. I believe that podcasts can become an alternative for quick content consumption as they are better for conveying important values and telling stories.
Andrii Stashkiv
It was March 2020, the beginning of the pandemic. When my friend's parents got sick in Italy, I understood that tomorrow the same may happen with my nearest and dearest here, in Ukraine. At the Academy, I gained practical skills in creating projects and understanding that I can make changes around me.
I decided to combine these skills and my IT experience — so my friends and I created an online platform to counter the pandemic. This is a website with a map of healthcare facilities in the frontline, which indicated their current needs. Also, caring entrepreneurs could help buy masks, gloves, or whatever was required, and volunteers could bring doctors by car or buy food for the elderly.
This was an experience of the fastest possible project development in a critical situation as we were talking about the health and life of people. Our initiative was successfully launched in Lviv, Kyiv, and later in Bulgaria. After the Academy, IT for me now goes beyond a classical understanding of work to earn money, it's my way of creating a product that can solve real problems and influence positively the lives of those around me.
Yurii Andrienko
During the expedition to Israel, I saw the innovations with my own eyes, visited a greenhouse in the middle of the desert, where vegetables are grown in extreme conditions. I got truly inspired and realized that the future is in the agricultural sector.
After all, what is the use of mobile apps if there is no food? And the climate is constantly changing! I have read dozens of books on entrepreneurship, and my mentor timely suggested an agriculture expert who could help.
My friends and I created the technology of growing plants at -15 degrees. We even partnered with the European Aerospace Agency to test plants at the pressure and humidity of Mars. Now, this startup lives without me and may soon be sold to NASA.
Victoria Monastyrska
"Why are you wearing a T-shirt without a bra? Are you a feminist?" asked me a guy in the Academy. I was surprised with how these things may be interrelated and started exploring feminism and women's leadership. We launched our own project in the Academy.
After an inspiring lecture on fundraising, I came to my friends and said: let's do camps for girls! We saw how they invite lectors and how the program is formed at the Academy, so we knew where to start. The first camp gathered 6 girls. Roman Zinchenko, the founder of Greencubator, who taught us public speaking, was one of the first ones who believed in us and even brought his daughter to the Camp!
Mariia Nasiedkina, the founder of Dyvovyzhni NGO, came from Kyiv to Uzhhorod only to give a lecture at our Camp. Later we won a grant and organized camps with a more extended program. We want to support and motivate girls at the age of 13-16, help them believe in achieving big dreams through self-love.
Vladyslav Nimak
Our space has become revolutionary in Kalush! A platform for creativity, self-education and development has appeared in the provincial town. Here one can through a home-style art show, tell about their own educational program, present a startup or take part in a guitar master class.
At our place, young people can speak English and watch movies. It was at the Academy where the thoughts about the value of non-formal education emerged. I also learned to communicate with government and business, seek resources, communicate with the media, and not be afraid of my own crazy ideas.
All this helped to carry out the idea of the space. We are rapidly improving ourselves and aim to make "Poshta" financially independent.
Your support creates a whole new generation of responsible young leaders
Thanks to you, talented Ukrainian teenagers will discover their potential and see opportunities in Ukraine. These children will gain practical experience in projects, volunteering, expeditions, internships, communication with thought leaders and entrepreneurs. With your help, young people will be able to implement the best world experience in Ukraine.
Your support creates a whole new generation of responsible young leaders
Thanks to you, talented Ukrainian teenagers will discover their potential and see opportunities in Ukraine. These children will gain practical experience in projects, volunteering, expeditions, internships, communication with thought leaders and entrepreneurs. With your help, young people will be able to implement the best world experience in Ukraine.
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Together we will make teenagers from all regions of Ukraine capable of implementing their ideas in the Leadership Development Centers
What do the Academy's partners, teachers and friends say?
I listened to project presentations from students of the Ukrainian Leadership Academy and, you know — I have no doubt that Ukraine will soon become an example for others! I wish the whole country was like this so that Ukraine was charged with such energy. It is necessary for people like them to get a quality education, feel free and have access to all the opportunities. They will stay here and build Ukraine of the future, which we will all be proud of.
On May 15, 2018, we ate the European Council were visited by the group of students from Kyiv wearing red t-shirts branded “I am Ukraїne I love freedom”. I had a chat with them. For a long time, I haven’t seen such an enthusiasm and positive emotions among young people.
I wish there was the Ukrainian Leadership Academy when I was 17. I believe, the Academy exposes the world experience of gaining education when a diploma is not the cornerstone. This education implies understanding and perceiving the world, not limited by fear of it or its challenges. It's about personality growth. Even if you are facing a lack of knowledge — you are equipped with a way to get it. You know the philosophy of how to keep up in society. The Academy is something non-trivial, something new. However, I have never met people who got disappointed in it.
The Academy helps these young people to better understand themselves, to find an area in which to develop, to hear the inner voice. Students learn to be flexible, respond to the challenges of the world and become true leaders of the 21st century.
I value the Academy for the fact that young people have a year to get rid of illusions, to feel how the state processes work. It is very important for young people not to be on the sidelines, but to take an active part in creating change, to take responsibility, to learn from mistakes. It is impossible to get it just sitting at a school desk. So the Academy is the right way.
The Ukrainian Leadership Academy is one of the best things that has happened to Ukraine for the last 7 years. This is a very important program to educate the leaders of the future who will lead Ukraine to the top league of nations in the next generation. Without such leaders, there will be nobody to hand things over from those who are trying to lead Ukraine today.
I was the first lecturer who Roman Tychkivskyi contacted when the idea of the Academy emerged. I had no doubts because Ukraine was in great need of such a program. I have been working in education for over 20 years, I went from a bachelor's degree to a doctorate in philosophy in one of the Western countries and I see an issue in entering university at 17. According to research, young people who use the gap year become way more successful. They expand their horizons before going deep into a particular speciality. This is a common approach in the world. I am pleased that this year my son also became an Academy student. In two months, I noticed some changes, even at the household level. If this is the effect of only two months, then it is difficult to imagine what is awaiting after the entire program.
For me, the Academy is a brand of freedom and educated choice, as the Academy forms a personal liberty. At extracurricular activities and parent meetings, I tell high school students and their parents about this program. The global practice and child psychology suggest that gap year after school is reasonable, as at the age of 18-19 years old a person has a better understanding of what he or she wants to do compared to 16-17 years old. There are two Academy graduates, who tell about it from their own experience. I like that the Academy's program is based on the experience of Israel, a country that has been at war for decades but still is successful. It is important for me that the Academy speaks to children in the rhetoric of a strong state.
Any communication with these students evokes your memories and inspires you to look into the future. Students of the Academy represent the Ukraine in which I would like my children and grandchildren to live. I want them to have someone to communicate with, make friends with, start a business, fall in love and have families. It is a big responsibility to be among such students. When I took my first steps in business, I had no one to consult with and this slowed down the path to the goal. With my support and experience, I aim to facilitate this path for young people.
The Academy expands horizons and opportunities for young people. How teenagers will use the gained knowledge, we will see in a few years. However, even now we have got some good examples: we have a graduate of the Academy working in the company. She is engaged in marketing. We are very satisfied with her level and potential. I believe that investment in youth is important. That is why I support the Academy. The future belongs to it.
Not just talking, but acting is the approach of the Ukrainian Leadership Academy community. After talking about changes in the work of the post office during the quarantine, students initiated a "mail" flashmob #pyshy (write) to exchange greetings from all over Ukraine. Even during our Zoom meetings, I felt their energy, drive and desire to generate new ideas.
This is the matter of survival and existence of our country and nation! Now is the time to train our future ministers, presidents, prime ministers, company CEOs. This must be taught! This is a great job that the Ukrainian Leadership Academy does.
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We need a critical mass of people who will make a difference. We will not break out of our vicious circle without young people. The Academy already has 1048 graduates. And when it reaches 10,000, we will live in a completely different world.
The Academy is developing and changing a small part of the world in Ukraine but this part is obviously very powerful. When the Academy’s students appear in a certain place at a certain time, the world becomes better.
I believe that to build a strong state, we must start educating and developing our youth. We must support things that are important to us. Social responsibility takes you to a completely different level: in the future, it will allow you to communicate with the best people and get an even higher income. I know few if any world-class businesses that would not help their community grow or meet challenges. It's more than a trend, it's almost a mindset of new entrepreneurs.
Today, youth first think about the things like "Who am I?", "What do I need?", or "How can I make the greatest contribution in this world?". The reflection that characterizes today's youth is the key to the future because they think about it. So the main thing is not to just keep thinking but to act. Ukrainian Leadership Academy teaches how to connect reflection and action.
Our main goal is to create conditions for youth development. For this purpose, we need to develop a new competence for our understanding — leadership. Cooperation with the Ukrainian Leadership Academy is a step towards creating new opportunities for Mariupol youth. Through similar formats, we say: "Learn, live and develop Mariupol."
The Academy is the tool for changing people's consciousness, thanks to which they will start thinking: "If the country feels good, I feel good as well." Mykolaiv can become the best city in Ukraine thanks to young leaders. This is a real chance to change Mykolaiv and Ukraine.
The projects like the Academy have a positive impact on the investment brand of Kharkiv. Around the Academy is being formed a proactive community of business, opinion leaders, representatives of influential international organizations, diplomats, and public leaders. This creates a healthy environment and testifies to the city's openness for investments and new projects
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Your contribution is an investment in the successful future of Ukraine
Thanks to you there will be a generation of leaders who create positive changes and take responsibility for themselves and their country.
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