Support Ukraine Now
Annual Report 2025
A year of empowering youth, building connections, and strengthening Ukrainian civil society — through (un)conferences, leadership fellowships, and volunteer matching.
830+
Unique participants
70+
Sessions held
18
Young leaders supported
8
Key partners
About SUN
Support Ukraine Now (SUN) is a Ukrainian NGO (Legal Entity ID 45036786, registered April 11, 2023) that provides effective help to Ukraine by enabling individuals and organizations to contribute. Started as an information platform, SUN has grown into an ecosystem of projects spanning civil society, economy, diplomacy, and welfare.
Initiated by Global Shapers Community hubs in Ukraine (Kyiv, Lviv) and supported by the World Economic Forum community, our network spans 450+ hubs in 150 countries with 10,000+ leaders.
Programs & Events
Youth of Ukraine: NOW WHAT?
Молодь України: NOW WHAT?
330+
Participants
32
Sessions
~50
Hours of content
An (un)conference as part of the SUN Leaders Program, supported by the European Endowment for Democracy (EED). From students to professors — participants joined sessions on democracy, culture, Web3, defense, AI, and youth leadership.
Funding: European Endowment for Democracy (EED)
Youth at Crossroads
Молодь на Роздоріжжі
500+
Unique participants
1,470
Total registrations
40+
Sessions
A hybrid online/offline (un)conference using OpenSpace Technology. Participants didn't just attend — they began creating their own events, sharing personal stories, and building connections. The event sparked a spin-off initiative "Solovy'ini Balachky" (Nightingale Talks) for continued community dialogue.
Funding: Own funds / volunteer effort
Leaders Program — Cherkasy Cohort
Програма Лідерів — Черкаський набір
18
Young leaders
6
Sectors covered
6 months
Fellowship duration
A fellowship program supporting young change-makers in Cherkasy region across education, mental health, ecology, journalism, and youth activation. Each leader developed and implemented their own social initiative with mentorship from the SUN team.
Funding: European Endowment for Democracy (EED)
18 Young Leaders
Through the Leaders Program (Cherkasy cohort), 18 young change-makers received mentorship, resources, and a fellowship to develop social initiatives in their communities.
Mykola Maksyoma
Psychosocial support initiative
Oksana Kudina
International youth programs (ECS, Erasmus+)
Liliya Tytarenko
Youth journalism program (ages 14-17)
Alla Bogomolova
Sporty Kids Initiative
Lilia Naumeyko
Community animal care during war
Diana Oliynyk
"Strangers" communication skills program
Victoria Horobets
Language development initiative
Daria Marchenko
EcoArt Hub (environment + well-being)
Darya Rubtsova
Platform for Change (Smila community)
Elizaveta Svyridyuk
Innovative education program
Ivan Masyuk
"Savvy" gamification loyalty service
Daria Lukyanenko
Memory Hub (funeral services transparency)
Maksym Vanzha
Event department youth development
Oleksandra Smilyanets
English language for rural farmers
Artem Antonevych
Campus Connect (student community)
Tetyana Goncharova
Psychology and Life (mental health)
Oleksandr Rozanov
Small Rivers Protection Initiative
Volodymyr Pivnenko
Alternative Position (inclusive platform)
Youth Research Highlights
During "Youth at Crossroads", we surveyed young Ukrainians about the dilemmas they face. Key findings from 47 respondents:
70.2%
Education vs. Practice
66.0%
Local vs. Global
63.8%
Stay vs. Leave Ukraine
59.6%
Stability vs. Risk
59.6%
Volunteering vs. Personal life
Age distribution: 44.7% ages 18-24, 34% under 18, 14.9% ages 25-34. Primary communication channel: Telegram (95.7%).
Volunteer4Ukraine
Our ongoing volunteer matching platform connects international volunteers with Ukrainian civil society organizations for online collaborations. The platform continued operating throughout 2025 with a unified database of organizations and volunteers.
212
Registered volunteers
38
Partner CSOs
Partners
European Endowment for Democracy (EED)
Funding
Center for Civil Liberties
Educational
European Youth Parliament
Network
Global Shapers Community
Network
IG Alpbach Kyiv (Forum Alpbach)
Network
Bogdan Hawrylyshyn Family Foundation
Educational
Poltava Regional Administration
Regional
Phoenix NGO (Cherkasy)
Regional
Core Team 2025
Maksym Semenchuk
Project Coordinator, Social Entrepreneur
Anastasia Kostenko
Communications Manager, 80+ facilitated events
Georgiy Koskin
Facilitator, 10 years of activism
Yelyzaveta Maksymova
Facilitator, Cultural & Educational Initiatives
Methodology: OpenSpace Technology
In 2025, we validated OpenSpace Technology as an effective format for diverse youth audiences. Across 70+ sessions with 500+ unique participants, the methodology proved that when young people set their own agenda, they create genuine community and lasting connections.
Key insight: participants transitioned from attendees to organizers — they began creating their own events, sharing personal stories, and building peer networks that extended well beyond the conferences.
Financial Overview
SUN operates with a clean financial record and full transparency. Our 2025 activities were funded through a combination of international grants (primarily EED) and volunteer contributions. Public donations are accepted through OpenCollective, which provides full financial transparency.
Detailed financial statements are available upon request. Contact: hello.sun.team@gmail.com
Looking Ahead: 2026
Together at a Distance
Разом на відстані
A series of (un)conferences for Ukrainian diaspora communities across 15+ countries, focusing on identity, culture, media literacy, advocacy, and professional development.
Youth Leaders for Change
Лідери змін
An accelerator program for 10 young leaders across 8+ Ukrainian regions, providing mentorship, resources, and monthly stipends to develop community initiatives.
Get Involved
Whether you want to volunteer, partner, or donate — we welcome your support in building a stronger Ukrainian civil society.
Public Organization "Support Ukraine Now" · Legal Entity ID 45036786 · Lviv, Ukraine
Published April 2026 · supportukrainenow.org